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Recreational Activities
Home : Ranger
Districts : Española Ranger District
: Trails
Trail 154, Frijoles Trail
From Cundiyo to intersection with Trail 158, Capulin Trail
 
Length: 9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Use: Light
Seasons: Summer and fall
Highest and Lowest Points: 9,600 feet to 7,000 feet
Trail Access: The closest access is from Forest Road 307 which
leaves State Route 503 about a mile south of the town of Cundiyo.
No developed trailhead parking areas are available. The road enters
private land at a locked gate: a small pullout just before the gate
affords space for one vehicle. Follow the dirt road through the
private land for the first mile or so to reach the Frijoles drainage.
USGS Maps: Sierra Mosca and Pecos Wilderness Map (2003 edition)
Description:
From the turn off about one mile before Cundiyo, Forest Road
307 winds toward the Rio Frijoles for less than a mile before
ending at a gate and a closed section of road. A small stream
flows to the south at this point, where one vehicle can be
parked, and the Frijoles River is nowhere in sight. If one
continues up the closed road on foot, they will hike above
the river drainage for about one half mile and then drop down
to the river within another half mile. A jeep road continues
along the riverbank for a short distance before fading into
a trail. From here on, this trail follows the river closely
all the way to the intersection with Capulin
Trail 158. Because the canyon is deep, steep and narrow,
the trail crosses from one side of the river to the other
repeatedly.
There are a few natural bridges across the water, but hikers
will find it necessary to get their feet wet. During late
spring and early summer, the stream can be waist deep with
a powerful current. In sections where side canyon feed into
the Frijoles drainage, good camping areas can be found. After
the junction with Borrego Trail
150, the canyon tends to widen out and provides more camping
opportunities. |
Notes:
 This
makes an excellent access to the western Pecos Wilderness
if transportation can be arranged. It is one of the easiest
hiking trails in regard to elevation changes. The trail crosses
the river numerous times which can slow hiking travel considerably.
In
late spring and early summer when snow runoff is high, this
trail is not recommended. The depth of the river and strength
of the current can make it dangerous to cross. It is possible
to remain on the north bank of the river, but when there is
no trail, the cross country travel in the narrow canyon is
very difficult.
By
mid-June the river is generally more negotiable and Trail
154 makes a pleasant hike. Because of the difficult access,
opportunities for solitude in this area are very good. |
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