Roads to Volcano Hill and Mesa Gallina
[see map below]
[see map below]
01.18.2009 author update:
The road on the south side of Cerro Verde has become heavily rutted.
Use caution. Low-clearance vehicles are not advised.
Alternate approach: 11.5 miles down L54, just after a cattle guard,
a 5-mile road on the left goes around the east side of Cerro Verde.
It starts out good, but after the first of two drop gates, it becomes a
two-track through tall grass and volcanic debris. On the plus side,
it avoids No Trespassing signage and cuts 4.5 miles (each way) from
the given driving directions.
At last check (Jan '09) it was in better shape than the road on the south
side of Cerro Verde.
If you take the alternate approach: Turn left on the south road and
go 1 mile east. The road soon gets worse, so consider parking near the
fork here. The Arroyo Lucero is about 500 feet ahead. Following it from
here adds about 1.5 miles (r/t) to the overall hike.
OR you can drive another mile (0.3 miles past the given coordinates)
to a second major fork. A spacious area for parking can be found there.
The road on the south side of Cerro Verde has become heavily rutted.
Use caution. Low-clearance vehicles are not advised.
Alternate approach: 11.5 miles down L54, just after a cattle guard,
a 5-mile road on the left goes around the east side of Cerro Verde.
It starts out good, but after the first of two drop gates, it becomes a
two-track through tall grass and volcanic debris. On the plus side,
it avoids No Trespassing signage and cuts 4.5 miles (each way) from
the given driving directions.
At last check (Jan '09) it was in better shape than the road on the south
side of Cerro Verde.
If you take the alternate approach: Turn left on the south road and
go 1 mile east. The road soon gets worse, so consider parking near the
fork here. The Arroyo Lucero is about 500 feet ahead. Following it from
here adds about 1.5 miles (r/t) to the overall hike.
OR you can drive another mile (0.3 miles past the given coordinates)
to a second major fork. A spacious area for parking can be found there.
57 Volcano Hill
coordinates correction:
34° 47' 50"
107° 18' 58"
(noted in books printed after 2008)
coordinates correction:
34° 47' 50"
107° 18' 58"
(noted in books printed after 2008)
12.18.2009 scouting report:
"I got to the closed gate you described with the no trespassing sign.
I didn't look REAL close, but it looked to me like there was a padlock
on the gate now, too.* Wonderful. We started to drive around the
other way as well, but I chickened out on the big volcanic rocks on
the back side of Cerro Verde."
* author notes: the padlock is nothing new; though on past visits,
I always found the gate unlocked and open.
"I got to the closed gate you described with the no trespassing sign.
I didn't look REAL close, but it looked to me like there was a padlock
on the gate now, too.* Wonderful. We started to drive around the
other way as well, but I chickened out on the big volcanic rocks on
the back side of Cerro Verde."
* author notes: the padlock is nothing new; though on past visits,
I always found the gate unlocked and open.
