FS 195S

FS 195S is an intermediate dirt bike trail within the Elephant Rock Trail System near Questa, New Mexico. Riders should note that the section of FS 195S east of FS 195W (above the Elephant Rock Campground) has severe flood damage and does not connect easily to the main Elephant Rock - FS 195 trail anymore. Thus, this western 3 miles of FS 195S is the main rideable portion of the trail. It’s mostly an old mining road that curves through a scenic forest of ponderosa pine, so it is generally a very wide path. It is an intermediate route because it has a few really steep sections covered in a layer of loose rocks that pin you around and test your traction. Overall, it descends almost 1,600 feet from north to south over 3 miles, with a mix of steep and gradual sections. One of the hardest parts of the trail is at the southern entrance at the intersection with FS 195W, because there is trail damage from the floods. The south end of the trail drops off a steep dirt embankment into the wash, with not much of a trail to follow. It’s almost a vertical drop-off a few feet tall. It will be more difficult trying to go up the embankment if riding from south to north. It can be easy to miss if coming from the wash – there’s no trail sign at the intersection, but there is a metal pinch point on the trail once you climb out of the wash onto the old shelf road, so at least you know you are in the right place.