High Desert Trail System (High Desert, First Mesa, Second Mesa, Third Mesa, Dawn til' Dusk)
Mountain Biking Trail
Details
20.34 mi
1,509 ft
The High Desert Trail System provides a good diversity of mostly flowy terrain with options to customize distance and challenge.
The High Desert Trail System is a unique ride in that it provides the opportunity for a highly entertaining, sometimes remote, and potentially lengthy ride, all within convenient distance from a major interstate highway. The area is divided into a couple stem trails (a long one from the main trail on the east end and a short one at the trailhead on the west end), and four loops (First Mesa, Second Mesa, and Third Mesa, which is itself comprised of two loops). It's easy to compose a ride of anywhere from 4 to 24 miles. Going from east to west, the loops generally get more challenging, with First Mesa being the easiest and Third Mesa THE most difficult. While all loops ride well in either direction, the general consensus is for clockwise travel. If you're not into the easy stuff, simply park at the western trailhead and ride just the 3rd and 2nd Mesa. The eastern stem and First Mesa tend to ride fast. The desert surface has a few soft spots, but much of the trail is nicely packed and the trail banks around natural contours in the topography without too many sharp turns, making for a super fun pedal fest. There's not much in the way of technical obstacles or climbs here, so this part is both singlespeed and fully rigid friendly. As you move to Second Mesa, the climbs become a little more intense and there is an occasional rock obstacle to maneuver, but it's still lower intermediate territory overall. Some fun for the advanced rider shows up on Third Mesa, with more tight spots, sharp (but usually short) climbs, some switchbacks, and at least one sizable rock slab. Still, Third Mesa will likely be a blast for a confident intermediate as well. It's a great place for an advancing rider to develop and show off new skills. This is a desert, so it's very dry, there is no shade, and it gets mighty hot in the summer. On top of that, it's usually windy here, so come prepared with both water and proper attire. With that in mind, any rider can have up to three hours of great fun on this trail system. The good news is that with all the connected loop opportunities, you have plenty of bail out options if it looks like things are going south on your ride. If you're ever passing through New Mexico on Interstate 40, you definitely owe it to yourself to stop and sink your knobbies into these trails! -Written by John Fisch Written by FATMAP Official
The High Desert Trail System is a unique ride in that it provides the opportunity for a highly entertaining, sometimes remote, and potentially lengthy ride, all within convenient distance from a major interstate highway. The area is divided into a couple stem trails (a long one from the main trail on the east end and a short one at the trailhead on the west end), and four loops (First Mesa, Second Mesa, and Third Mesa, which is itself comprised of two loops). It's easy to compose a ride of anywhere from 4 to 24 miles. Going from east to west, the loops generally get more challenging, with First Mesa being the easiest and Third Mesa THE most difficult. While all loops ride well in either direction, the general consensus is for clockwise travel. If you're not into the easy stuff, simply park at the western trailhead and ride just the 3rd and 2nd Mesa. The eastern stem and First Mesa tend to ride fast. The desert surface has a few soft spots, but much of the trail is nicely packed and the trail banks around natural contours in the topography without too many sharp turns, making for a super fun pedal fest. There's not much in the way of technical obstacles or climbs here, so this part is both singlespeed and fully rigid friendly. As you move to Second Mesa, the climbs become a little more intense and there is an occasional rock obstacle to maneuver, but it's still lower intermediate territory overall. Some fun for the advanced rider shows up on Third Mesa, with more tight spots, sharp (but usually short) climbs, some switchbacks, and at least one sizable rock slab. Still, Third Mesa will likely be a blast for a confident intermediate as well. It's a great place for an advancing rider to develop and show off new skills. This is a desert, so it's very dry, there is no shade, and it gets mighty hot in the summer. On top of that, it's usually windy here, so come prepared with both water and proper attire. With that in mind, any rider can have up to three hours of great fun on this trail system. The good news is that with all the connected loop opportunities, you have plenty of bail out options if it looks like things are going south on your ride. If you're ever passing through New Mexico on Interstate 40, you definitely owe it to yourself to stop and sink your knobbies into these trails! -Written by John Fisch Written by FATMAP Official
Route and Elevation
Segments
Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
---|---|---|---|
Gamerco to the flags | 2.85 mi | 105 ft | 0.3% |
Hamilton Road Climb | 0.33 mi | 344 ft | 19.7% |
1st Mesa Clockwise | 2.07 mi | 128 ft | 0.0% |
Connector out | 0.65 mi | 66 ft | 1.8% |
South half of Second Clockwise | 3.15 mi | -164 ft | -0.4% |
i thought you died alone a long long time ago | 12.27 mi | 299 ft | 0.0% |
Third Mesa (South) | 3.31 mi | -246 ft | -0.8% |
3rd Mesa DH | 1.20 mi | -161 ft | -2.2% |
High Desert-climb | 5.90 mi | 282 ft | 0.7% |
Third Mesa (North) | 3.16 mi | 223 ft | 0.8% |
stay frosty | 1.17 mi | 190 ft | 3.0% |
North half of Second Clockwise | 2.77 mi | 141 ft | 0.5% |
Connector back | 0.70 mi | -69 ft | -1.7% |
flags back to gamerco | 2.91 mi | -108 ft | -0.3% |
the separator (aka - house of pain) | 0.36 mi | 89 ft | 4.6% |