Lake Fork Mesa Loop - 505A

Trail Overview

This is a primitive and lightly trafficked dirt bike trail in the Santa Fe National Forest. It's unmarked at all entrances, and is difficult to find and follow, as it looks like it doesn't get ridden often. It goes through a dry and sparse forested terrain of ponderosa pines, over lots of dirt and pine needles, weaving between the trees, with several downed trees that you'll have to ride over. Start on the FS 376, where the trail intersects with the 505 singletrack. This section is more beaten in and easier to follow, as it is a wider rutted trail through the trees, with a few bigger log crossings. You'll go through a cattle gate and ride past some scenic giant boulders. After 0.8 miles, the trail turns west at the border of the observatory facility. You can't easily connect to Hot Rock Road because there is a locked gate. This segment of the trail looks more like a two-track. After it passes a couple of water cisterns, the trail then peters out and doesn't exist anymore, so in its current condition, you have to ride it as an out-and-back, as it doesn't easily loop back to 505. If you try to keep following the track south towards 505, it turns into bushwhacking, and comes up to a cliff that doesn't seem passable.

Photos of Lake Fork Mesa Loop - 505A

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Difficulty

The trail itself is not too difficult, as it is mostly gradual, with a few ruts that are easily avoidable; however, there are several bigger logs that likely won't get cut, as this area does not seem very trafficked, so the log crossings increase the difficulty. Additionally, this trail is primitive, and good route-finding skills are necessary.

Technical Rating

Lake Fork Mesa Loop - 505A can be accessed by the following ride types:

• Dirt Bike