Rio Viejo Trail

From one side of the canyon the other is a total of .75 miles of breath taking scenery of the local New Mexico landscape.

This is a great scenic walk near the town of Truth or Consequences (which is a unique and fun town to explore). I stopped here to stretch my legs and take my dog on a little walk when we were making a long drive up Interstate 25. However, there is also camping here for $10 a night at a self-pay station for those that want to explore the area or the nearby Elephant Butte Reservoir.

Walk around the downtown area of Truth or Consequences, NM and enjoy seeing the old saps and historic buildings. Take in local history and enjoy some great local food.See the full map for trail options here. 

The site is North of Tularosa, NM and is easily accessible. There is good parking and the trail is not very difficult to walk. There are many petroglyphs to be admired. There are good views of the Tularosa basin and the Sacramento mountains. It is best not to go in the summer as it is very hot and there is no shade. 

This scenic highway goes through some nice country side and several old historic towns, some almost ghost towns. Lots of history and interesting places to stop. There are also festivals being held at different times of the year. Caballo Lake is also along the scenic byway .

Starting out at 7,200 feet you walk through 2 miles of relatively flat, beautiful forests and streams - at mile 2 you begin the ascent to the trail ridge with about an 800 foot elevation climb. Once you reach the top of the trail, you are surrounded by gorgeous panoramic views of both Sierra Blanca, the Capitans and Nogal Peak.Once at the top, you have about 1.5 miles down to the road to finish...