By Patty Wilber
The Pecos Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen hauled water up Bosque Trail for a crew to do work on the Crest Trail in the Manzanos.
WE DID NOT DRIVE TRAILERS TO THE BOSQUE TRAIL TRAILHEAD. The road is decent from the turn off in Tajique to a little past the Cerro Blanco Trailhead, and then it becomes what looks like a fun challenge for off-roaders. There is some evidence that the Forest Service will be working on it in the future, but for now, I’d call it nearly impassable for trailers. There is also a sharp hairpin turn that is tough for larger trailers.
That being said, there are horse pens at Bosque Trail. There was a developed spring, too, a little south, but I didn’t find it this time to see if there was water in it…
Anyway, if you want to ride Bosque Trail, there are two pullout spots just past 4th of July Campground (where horses are not allowed) that could be decent spots to park. Or there is parking at Albuquerque Trail.
If parking at Albuquerque Trail, it would be about three miles up the road to Bosque Trail, and from 4th of July, about two miles. The road not as bad an option as it sounds. It is lightly used and fairly shady. There is a wire gate to bypass the cattle guard, as well.
Along the road. Matt C. in the foreground.
From Bosque Trail to the Crest Trail is about two miles. It has some steep sections, and it is rocky, but not especially technical.
Coming down Bosque Trail
We did some lopping along the trail, so it is more visible–there is one spot where you need to take a sharp left into an oak grove that can be a little deceiving.
Up on the crest, there are some wide open views!
It was a really nice ride of about nine and a half miles, as we started from 4th of July and then rode south on the Crest Trail about half a mile to our water drop spot.
