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Recreational Activities
Home : Ranger
Districts : Española Ranger District
: Trails
Trail 150, Trail 254, Trail 182
Borrego/Bear Wallow Loop
 
Length: 4 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Use: Heavy
Seasons: Late spring, summer, fall and winterr
Highest and Lowest Points: 8,200 feet to 8,900 feet
Trail Access: From Santa Fe take Hyde Park Road (State Road 475)
for 8 miles. After passing Hyde State Park turn immediately into
the paved parking lot on your left. There is parking for about 9
cars.
USGS Maps: McClure Reservoir, Aspen Basin and Pecos Wilderness
Map (2003 edition)
Description:
Beginning at the parking lot, the Borrego
Trail 150 drops down into a lovely shady valley full of
aspen, fir, pine, shrubs, and flowers. In about one-half mile
the trail forks. Take the right fork, which keeps you on the
Borrego Trail 150. The trail climbs onto a ridge with long
sweeping switchbacks. Then a narrow section of trail drops
you down to Tesuque Creek. You must cross over to the north
side of the creek, and a fallen log here makes a handy bridge.
Follow the creek past the edge of an aspen and grassy meadow
often used as a dispersed campsite, and turn left at the next
intersection onto the Winsor Trail
254. This is a designated National Recreation Trail, and
actually winds from the village of Tesuque to the west up
into the Pecos Wilderness to your east and all the way over
to the village of Cowles in the upper Pecos River Valley.
Follow the Winsor Trail to the east along Tesuque Creek downstream
for about a mile. A weathered sign indicates your left turn
onto the Bear Wallow Trail 182. You cross the creek again
and climb a sharp grade, getting away from the creek. Once
you reach Bear Wallow and the junction with the Borrego Trail
150 again, retrace your steps as the trail gently climbs back
up to the parking lot. |
Notes:
 The
Borrego Trail is a historic sheep drive trail from the northern
villages to the capitol of Santa Fe. The word Borrego is a
euphemism for sheep.
This
short loop is one of the most popular hiking trails on the
Forest. It has a wide variety of trees and flowers; and is
used practically year round by local hikers as well as out-of-town
visitors. Because of the heavy use, this trail is not for
someone looking for solitude.
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