Located in the northeast corner of the BLM-administered Gordy's Hill OHV Area, Pipeline Road is a handy little connector that can get you between the upper end of the Arroyo de la Parida and a maintained county dirt road, Johnson Hill Road. It's a scenic and easy drive through the New Mexico desert, and it provides a way to get back to pavement more quickly than wheeling the length of the arroyo or traversing the various 4WD trails leading back to the Quebradas Backcountry Byway.
The Quebradas/Gordy's Hill OHV Area offers diverse recreation opportunities including many trails that traverse deeply dissected canyons, high sandstone and limestone bluffs, terraces, and escarpments. On the higher ridges of the Coyote Hills, there are scenic views of the Rio Grande Valley to the west. There are a variety of 4WD trails here, offering challenges for all experience levels.
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Take Exit 152 (Escondida Exit) off of I-25, and follow the east frontage road north to Escondido Lake. Head east 0.8 miles, passing over the Rio Grande River. At Pueblito, turn left onto Johnson Hill Road (dirt road) and head north/northeast for about 1 mile to the Arroyo de la Parida trail. The trailhead for Pipeline Road is 5.6 miles east, up the arroyo, on the left (north) side.
End of April, no rain but desert turning green. Photos show Pipeline road and the old homestead just north of Parida arroyo, and a zoomed in view. Photos taken from atop south side of Parida canyon from BLM Overlook Road. Homestead about the only thing to see on this short connecting trail other than the pipeline markers, but still a nice little jaunt to get out of the canyon.
There's also the ruins of an old ranch and windmill 75 yards or so west of the road, shortly after you leave the arroyo and head up the hill. Kinda fun to poke around. Will get a couple photos next time I'm there (I live nearby).
This trail is more practical than it is scenic or fun. It's very useful for quickly getting to and from the maintained county road when you're in the northeast section of the Quebradas area..
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Scott Mitchell is a Personal Defense and Defensive Tactics Instructor in Albuquerque. A New Mexico native, Scott lives in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, adjacent to the Sandia Mountain Wilderness Area in the Cibola National Forest.
Scott likes to get out at every opportunity to explore his state's off-road trails. As a Trailsoffroad contributor, his goal is to find and share as much reliable information as possible to help others navigate and enjoy the great New Mexico outdoors.
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