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Recreational Activities
Home : Ranger
Districts : Española Ranger District
: Trails
Atalaya Mountain Trails
Trail 174 St. John's
 
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Seasons: Spring, summer and fall
Lowest and Highest Points: 7,340 to 7,888 feet
Trail Access: Take Camino Cruz Blanca to St. John’s College.
After turning right (south) onto their entry road, enter the first
parking lot to the left (east). The trailhead is at the east end
of the parking lot. From the parking lot to the Santa Fe National
Forest boundary (at the powerline), the trail is on private land,
so please stay on the trail. Also expect to find water flowing in
the arroyos during snowmelt and after summer rains.
USGS Maps: Santa Fe Quadrangle
Description:
From the parking lot, follow the trail east as it winds through
the piñon/juniper and drops down into the Arroyo de
los Chamisos. The trail picks up again on the other side of
the arroyo and then soon crosses it again a second time. From
here the trail enters a smaller side arroyo (Arroyo Cabezon)
to the east and largely follows the drainage. Soon a sharp
left turn will bring you away from the arroyo and up to a
private subdivision road. (This is the Wilderness Gate Subdivision
road along which is located the small parking lot for Trail
170.) Cross the road, climb the steps, and continue on
the trail as it briefly follows the road to the south then
turns east and begins to climb. From here on the elevation
gain is more pronounced. The trail crosses under a powerline
and enters the Santa Fe National Forest. Within a quarter-mile
this trail intersects Trail 170. The summit of Atalaya Mountain
can be gained by following Trail 170 for another steep four
miles. |
Notes:
 This
is a very busy trail and is used primarily with Trail 170
to either create a short easy loop in the foothills, or to
continue on Trail 170 to the summit of Atalaya Mountain.
it
offers a larger parking area that can always accommodate vehicles,
even when the smaller parking lot for Trail 170 is full. No
horses allowed. |
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