FS 44 El Rito to Vallecitos

Total Miles
16.0

Elevation

2524.09 ft

Duration

3 Hours

Technical Rating

1

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Trail Overview

This is a scenic, well-maintained US FS road connecting El Rito and Vallecitos. There are no services in either small mountain community besides the restaurant El Farolito (cash only). With a number of other US FS roads branching off FS 44, this route makes for a wonderful jumping-off point. There are plenty of dispersed camping locations along the road and even more of the numerous branches. Beautiful seasonal streams, large Ponderosa Pines, and grassy meadows make for a beautiful day trip in the woods or a place to get away from it all with minimal risk on a weekend trip. Get gas in Espanola or Bode's in Abiquiu.

Difficulty

This is a well maintained dirt road.

Technical Rating

1

Access Description

Drive through El Rito, main, the paved road turns right, and stays straight towards forking dirt roads, one is a cemetery, and the other is US FS 44 or County Road 247.