Description:
From the trailhead the Rio Medio Trail 155 switchbacks quickly
down to the canyon bottom and begins to follow the rio upstream.
At this point the river can be quite large especially in early
spring. Farther upstream as you pass numerous tributaries
the river rapidly becomes smaller. For the first 5 miles,
the trail stays mainly on the north side of the river. At
about the five-mile point the junction with Capulin
Trail 158 is encountered.
In another mile a fork in the trail gives you a choice between
Trail 155 and Trail 351. Trail 155 continues up along the
south tributary of the Rio Medio, but Trail 155 past the 351
junction is little used and can be hard to follow. The more
well used and easier to follow route to Trailrider’s
Wall is to take Trail 351 at the 155/351 junction, and continue
on it, passing the junction with Trail 352 to Joe Vigil Lake,
and continuing past the two boggy little ponds sometimes known
as Twin Lakes and on up to Trailriders Wsall and the junction
with the Skyline Trail 251.
However, should you instead choose to stay on the Rio Medio
Trail past the 155 and 351 junction, you will find there are
still a lot of fords but they become easier as the river diminishes
in size. At the head of the canyon, the trail seems to end
in a large, boggy field of skunk cabbage. |
The
incidence of vandalism in this area is slightly higher than
in areas closer to Santa Fe. Hikers planning an extended trip
from this trailhead may want to arrange transportation.