March-April 2021 Hikes
Here’s a glimpse of my hikes through May 1, 2021. Thanks for following along. I’m sharing brief, less wordy summaries and more photos. To me, it’s all about the experience and the photos capture it better than my words can in this format. Happy hiking!
Hike 6 - Lincoln National Forest (no specific location)
Found a small canyon on the side of the road
Explored about a mile in the canyon, walking through a dry creek bed
Discovered plenty of desert plants and fun rocks
Enjoyed a break from the extreme wind in the area (thanks canyon)
Hike 7 - Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Hiked through McKittrick Canyon to Pratt Cabin
The trail is well marked and visible; it’s mostly gravel
Pratt Cabin has shady pines and good views
Take plenty of water and wear a hat!
There are many trail options, but this particular hike is perfect for someone looking for a pretty, quick, and easy day hike
Hike 8 - Oliver Lee State Park
This was less of a formal hike and more of a little romp with the dogs along the creek
The park has a big trial that goes much higher, we just weren’t quite feeling it
Camping and hiking with great views of vastness in New Mexico
Hike 9 - Lincoln National Forest (Zinker Canyon)
This canyon is a sunny, tree-lined path up in elevation (it’s gradual)
I went in the evening, and the golden sun just made it feel like magic
So many big trees along the way
Definitely elk territory; we ran up on some and turned back
Multi-use trails - so be courteous to one another
Dog friendly and kind of secluded, hardly anyone out in that area
Hike 10 - Lincoln National Forest (Osha Trail)
Easy to get to, just west of Cloudcroft, NM
The trail is rocky, but not too bad and good for dogs
There is shade and some open spots with great views of White Sands
A great day hike if you’re headed to Cloudcroft and want to get a little exercise
Hike 11 - Lincoln National Forest (Upper Karr Canyon)
This hike was more of a stroll through a snowy forest than following a trail
We had a few inches of fresh snow, blue skies, and sunshine
The trees were tall and plentiful, as were the moments of enjoyment
There may have been a trail, but I’m not sure, and don’t care (I know there are marked trails in the area)
Can’t beat a cool, crisp day in the forest
This would be a great place to escape the desert heat below in the summer time and is dog friendly
#hike23 - Lincoln National Forest
HIKE 23
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2019
Location: Lincoln National Forest, Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Distance: 4.43 miles
Trails: Switchback Trail
Miles from Home: 549
Weather: Cloudy, cool, breezy
My aunt and I decided we needed to go on a trip together and it needed to include big pines, mountains, and seclusion from the masses. We found ourselves in Cloudcroft, which is apparently a ski town in the winter, but offers affordable accommodations in September. Our goal with this trip was to have drinks, catch up, hike, adventure, and escape the heat/humidity of Texas. We did all of the things, but I’m going to focus on the hike. The Lincoln National Forest is massive, with PLENTY of amazing places to hike. Since we had driven over seven hours to Cloudcroft, we wanted to hike as near to our cabin as possible. We chose the Switchback Trail because it promised a view and it had a cool bridge over US-82.
Road noise is one prominent feature on this particular trail, but that was expected when hiking along a US highway through the mountains. It was not overly bothersome, but remained noticeable for a while. The trail itself was quite easy, with mild inclines and hills. It was shaded, smelled of fresh pine, and did eventually offer fun views. Once off the ridge, the trail splits and there are options for ATVs and mountain bikes. We encountered both, with the ATV riders being much more considerate of the two. Always stay alert and remember even if hikers have the right of way, you can still be run over.
We lucked out with the weather - only cloudy, no real rain while on the trail. Mid-September seemed to be a quiet time in the area, and just before any big fall colors. Aspens were beginning to change, but only subtly. If you’re looking for that pop, wait a couple of weeks. (Probably now, if you’re reading this at date of publish) I can’t wait to get back to the area and explore some more of the trails and take in more great pine aroma!
COOL THINGS on the SWTICHBACK TRAIL
there’s a tunnel to get back to the Bailey Trail parking lot
lots of pine variety
cool, forested mountain views
a bridge crossing US-82
