trailing: old cloudcroft highway and the s-trestle

 

 
 
Be forewarned: this trail is easy to get sucked into. My initial plan was to hike out the Old Cloudcroft Highway (Trail T5002) to the grand outlook of White Sands and then turn back and eat a cookie back at the cabin. But, elated at the view, I ended up doing a big ole loop. If this is your only trip to Cloudcroft, you may want to do this loop since it has everything: views of White Sands, a gawk at the other side of the Mexican Canyon Trestle, a stop into Bonnie's Trestle, and a layover at the famous S-trestle. 
 
Whew!

You can access the loop trails from the small parking lot southwest of the Hwy 82 and Cox Canyon Hwy (130) intersection (you enter through Hwy 82). Another option is to access the trails through the Trestle Depot Recreational Area, which also has limited parking (and bathrooms!) but closes road access early in the evening. 

Reguardless of what access point you choose, work your way down to T5002 and then follow it across and then down the hill. You then head up T5001c (you'll feel the altitude...) and take a left on T5001 to access the Mexican Canyon Trestle. You'll then backtrack on T5001 until you hit new trail. On the way. you'll see access to Bonnie's Trestle. The entrance to Bonnie's trestle sends mixed messages: there's a chainlink fence, there's a "Private Property" sign, and there's interpretive signs. I decided to go in since the gate wasn't locked. Bonnie's Trestle is a restored trestle on the old railway that actually has rails. Be sure to sit and make a wish at Bonnie's Rock.

Heading back, you'll also come upon the S-trestle when the railway snaked along the mountain-front here with the 30 degree turns. There are steps that take you down and then back up if you want a closer look. If not, veer left to avoid that stair-stepping (but I advise going down to get a closer look at the ruins). 

At this point, you are following railbed back to your starting point. 

Be sure to take water and watch yourself. This is one of those trails that easy to go down (it's pleasantly downhill at the start) but is much more difficult to come up.

 


































 

 

 

 

 

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