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Featured National Recreation Trails

Every kind of trail activity is represented in the listing of designated NRTs. Besides hiking and bicycling, the system includes water trails, motorized routes, snow tracks, greenways, and equestrian paths. The NRT program showcases the diversity of trails across America, from our cities and suburbs to the deserts, waterways, and high mountains.

High Desert Trail System - New Mexico

The three mountain bicycling loops go from easy beginner to intermediate to technical, connecting communities of Gamerco and Mentmore, adjacent to Gallup, New Mexico. Designed specifically for mountain bikes, the trail system is great for an afternoon loop mountain bike ride with the family or all-day epic ride. Designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2012.

photo of bikers and desert canyon

The water trail offers a chanc

The High Desert Trail System, located just north of Gallup, is designed in a series of "stacked loops"— narrow, single track trails with great vistas and cap rocks. The three loops atop the mesas overlooking Gallup are named First Mesa, Second Mesa, and Third Mesa, representing the nearby Hopi Reservation and the Anasazi people that once occupied this region. Each mesa offers increasingly harder terrain to navigate and will engage riders and runners of every skill level.

The course is fast and fun single-track over packed clay, interspersed with some slickrock and sand. There are lots of small climbs and some technical sections. The system is very well marked and has parking and information kiosks at both ends. Map/signs are posted at all intersections.

For years, local trail users were "poaching" trails on properties leased out by the largest private landholding company in McKinley County, Gamerco Associates. This caused tensions with local ranchers and safety issues due to abandoned coal mining operations.

photo of curving dirt trail

A climbing turn on the new trail system

Adventure Gallup & Beyond (AGB), a nonprofit organization assembled for the purpose of creating an economic driver through adventure tourism, was successful in engaging and even adding Charles High, President of Gamerco Associates to the AGB Board. Gamerco Associates provided a legal easement through a tract of private land located on the high mesas between Gamerco and Mentmore.

Stan Smith, ace trail designer, worked with Rich Freedman, county surveyor and archaeologist, to lay out and survey the basic routes. Gallup Trails 2010 oversaw the construction, while local bikers refined the route and established the initial tread. Karl Lohmann and the Youth Conservation Corps provided supervisors, work crews, with the oversight of an ex-Forest Service trail engineer named Strider Brown. Strider designed several monumental stone switchbacks and many state-of-the-art erosion control features. His ability to see a route through a seemingly impossible obstacle is a testament to his experience and creativity.

Events

Annually, the High Desert Trail System is home to the following events:

• Dawn Til Dusk Endurance Race, a 12-hour endurance mountain biking race;
• High Desert Screamer, a series of mountain biking races;
• Squash Blossom Classic, a weekend of running and biking events;
• Gallup Family Fitness Series, to promote wellness through family events each month.

Management

photo of coyote sculptures

steel sculptures by Bill Siebersma

The County has entered into an agreement with Adventure & Beyond to act as the gatekeeper for this trail system. AGB created a “Trails, Venues, & Events Policy” to manage trail and event use and has partnered with Gallup Trails 2010 and Gallup YCC to provide trail policing and reporting, maintenance, and improvement recommendations. AGB also helps promote and coordinate with nearby recreational and lodging opportunities.

Gamerco Associates has several existing grazing leases that run livestock in this same area. Proper planning for fencing and special singletrack cattleguards combined to limit improper joint use and develop holistic use of the land.

New Mexico's Adventure Capital

In 2011, Patty Lundstrom, State Representative, introduced and advocated for legislation to proclaim Gallup as the "Adventure Capital of New Mexico." After debate and deliberation, a unanimous decision was reached by the New Mexico State Legislature - etching in history Gallup's rightful place and igniting pride in its people. Now, Gallup under its new moniker, as “Adventure Capital of New Mexico”, has quite literally put itself on the map. The High Desert Trail System is a centerpiece that has gained national attention, use, and reputation.

Directions:

Gamerco Trailhead: I-40 to Gallup, Exit 20 (Munoz Overpass) to US 491 North for 1.8 miles, turn left at light onto Chino Road. Trailhead on left in 0.1 miles.
Mentmore Trailhead: I-40 to Gallup, Exit 16 to Route 66 (NM 118) West for 0.2 miles, turn right onto Mentmore Road/County Road #1. Continue North on dirt road - Trailhead on right in 0.2 mile.

For more information:

Adventure Gallup & Beyond, Inc.
106 West Historic Highway 66, Gallup, NM 87301
(505) 863-2280
http://www.adventuregallup.org/

McKinley County
207 W Hill Ave., Gallup, NM 87301
(505) 863-1400
http://www.co.mckinley.nm.us/

trail note We frequently add NRT information, photos and maps to these pages. Send suggestions and information requests to American Trails. Research additional NRTs in the NRT database.

Trail managers can update online trail information in the NRT database. You may also e-mail information on minor changes or to update Featured NRT pages.

Related Pages:

Featured National Recreation Trails

High Desert Trail System - New Mexico