Rio Puerco, NM

[Richie]

This is a popular atv/dirt bike/jeeping play area just to the west of ABQ. The trails are mainly sand with a few rocks here and there. There really isn't one trail to fallow and that's the fun with it. Beautiful 360 views of the area definitely add to the experience.

We were out there just a few hours and didn't have the time to explore all the trails. But had fun nevertheless.

The rigs




There were folks out with atv's and bikes




A lower trail leading up to the dunes

[Richie]

I was afraid that I was going to scrape my entire passenger side




A few old, bullet-holed cars lie in some of the canyons




We weren't the only ones exploring

[Richie]

I always take the time to appreciate nature






We decided to head back within a few months for some more exploring. It would take a day or 6!

[KSJeep]

Nice area for exploring, if even just for the day and the trails are enough to keep it interesting.

[mosupernak]

Looks like a fun time! -Marc

[EricG]

I went looking for this place but didn't have any luck in finding it.

[Richie]

I went looking for this place but didn't have any luck in finding it.

It's at the far west end of Southern Blvd in Rio Rancho. The trailhead leading into the valley is on the west end of the dunes. It's a great area to explore! You won't see any of the roads on any maps. At least I haven't.

[captblack]

Great pictures guys. I grew up there and used to play in that area all the time. Rio Rancho was much smaller then and there was not much above Coors Rd. There were tons of places to get out there. Have you gone around the volcanos and the lava flows?

I have a step sister that lives on one of those roads that run north / south above Rio Rancho. Every time I visit I am tempted to keep going west ...

Eric, it's not what you are used to but I am sure you will love it when you get out there. You know all the civilization is down in the valley but all you can see is the mountains and the high mesa. Solitude at it's best.

[Richie]

I'm not aware of any roads that take you by the volcanoes. And now that I think about it, I don't think I've hiked to the craters either. I have been to the petroglyphs.

[Fireman78]

My stomping ground.. I've spent countless days (and a few nights) in the Puerco. (I have a few geocahes there too). You can get WAAAAY out. There is a sweet area called "Mini Moab". where there are more then enough places to rock crawl, explore, camp, ect. A true gem. Two ways to get "there". I 40 , take exit 140, there is a green gate on the north side of the road. It's always "dummy locked" only. Drive north for a long while untill adventure sets in. Another route is southern blvd, west of Rio Rancho, eventually you'll find one road that takes you DOWN/west.. deep into more adventure.