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You may visit this undeveloped “wild” cave by obtaining a permit from the BLM Roswell Field Office. You must provide your own caving equipment and observe the rules of conduct within the cave. Download a cave permit application, or it can be obtained from the Roswell Field Office.

Images

Camping

Fort Stanton is open to overnight camping with a 14-day maximum length of stay. There are two small formal camping areas: The equestrian trailhead on NM 220 and a small campground at the Fort Stanton Cave entrance.

• Equestrian trailhead.
  Groups and individuals can camp in the parking lot. A Vault toilet and facilities for equine stock are present.  Picketing your horses is preferable to using corrals or panels as it is less damaging to the site.
• Cave entrance.
  Several tables and fire rings are located here, as well as a vault toilet. The access road is rough and not suitable to many vehicles. This campground primarily serves those who have been issued a permit to enter the cave.

Roads

There are 20 miles of designated roads within the NCA. Vehicles are limited to designated routes which will be marked with signs stating open or closed.

Location / Access

From Capitan, NM, drive on US 380 east 4.25 miles to NM 220. From Lincoln, NM, drive west 7.7 miles to NM 220.  Drive south one mile to the equestrian trailhead. The historic Fort Stanton is approximately one mile further on NM 220. BLM is investigating the opportunity to provide visitor services information about the NCA at Lincoln, Capitan, Ruidoso, and at the historic Fort Stanton.

More Info: Check out the BLM web page for more detailed info.

Just past the first crossing. the trail passes the ruins of some old buildings. This site was homesteaded originally back in the late 1800s. Notice the remains of an old steel-wrapped wooden pipeline along the trail in this area. The pipeline transferred high-quality water to Carrizozo to be used in steam locomotives. The line was taken out of service upon completion of Bonito Dam.

Entering the White Mountain Wilderness

Just past the second stream crossing, the remains of a diversion structure, which funneled water into the pipeline, can be seen beneath a bluff on the opposite bank.

A mile from the Trailhead, the South Fork Trail intersects with Bluefront Trail (#33). A 12 mile loop is possible using both the Bluefront Trail (#33) and the South Fork Trail (#19). see this article for more information.

A meadow along South fork trail.

The South Fork Trail climbs gently up the canyon for another three miles and then becomes progressively steeper over the last two miles. The last mile is particularly brutal as the trail emerges at the base of a large meadow and then begins switch-backing up the slope to the second intersection with Bluefront Trail (#33). This intersection is marked with a sign.

Camping

Camping locations are periodically available along the lower 4 miles of the South Fork Trail. The higher you hike, the less level ground you will find.

Water is plentiful in the stream except for the uppermost mile of the trail. The only water source on top is at the upper end of the trail where it intersects with Bluefront and Crest Trails. Follow Crest Trail (#25) 200 yards to the northwest toward Elk Point, and you will find a poly tube with good water flowing slowly out of it.

Fallen timber blocks the trail at about 4 miles.

Trail Conditions as of May 2009

At about the four mile point the trail is pretty bad shape because of flooding from previous years (possibly 2008). There are many large trees blocking the trail which will force you to do some bushwhacking – and this is all at the steepest, most brutal point of the hike. It is not impassable, but is difficult, especially with overnight gear.

More Information

There is a great article by John Hughes (Elite Outfitters) on Ruidoso.net. John’s article is largely the source for the information on this page. Read the full article for more information on this wonderful hike. Also see the Wikipedia page for the Sierra Blanca mountains for further info and links.

See also:

• http://www.sangres.com/newmexico/wilderness/whitemountain.htm

The hike is about four miles each way, mostly uphill going in leaving a nice downhill return journey. After about four miles at about 10,000 feet you reach an open meadow with a small stream running through the middle of it. This is a good place to turn have a rest and turn around if you are only after a day hike. The trail does continue on much farther in the Pecos Wilderness.

Getting There & Starting the Hike

Start the hike from the parking lot for the Panchuela campground (see the marker on the map below). The trail begins on the north edge of the parking lot. Head up the trail and veer to the right to cross the Panchuela creek using a small, well maintained foot bridge. Shortly after this crossing you head uphill and will come to a fork in the trail, follow the sign pointing you toward the Dockweiler Trail #259 (the right fork).

Fees

There is a $2 day use fee at the parking lot or a $5 dollar overnight fee per car.

Horseback Rides

You can get a horseback tours of this trail and many others in the Pecos, learn more.

The trail heading north alongside Horsethief Creek is Trail 253. The trail turning west is Horsethief Meadows Trail 243. Within a quarter mile, Trail 243 crosses a small tributary of Horsethief Creek and begins the steep ascent out of the canyon. The trail follows this stream up a drainage for half a mile before crossing it once again and ascending rapidly up the ridge. The trail swings slightly north at this point and travels to a lower saddle before turning west to follow a small drainage down the valley to the Rio Frijoles.

If the visitor is coming up the trail from Panchuela West and reaches this lower saddle with a fence just the other side, he must be sure to turn southeast to continue up the trail and not try to descend at this point. Good opportunities for camping can be found along the last section of the trail to the Rio Frijoles. Cattle can normally be seen grazing in the open grassy meadows that characterize Panchuela West.

Photos

Getting There

Drive north on I-25 from Santa Fe and take the exit for Glorieta (about 15 miles from Santa Fe). At the exit proceed across the highway and turn left heading toward the Gloieta Conference Center. Stop at the gate house is a gaurd is there and let them know you are day hikers (or backpackers) and then proceed straight along the road. If no gaurd is present proceed ahead. Follow the main road as it curves around the cofnerence center until you come to a small building with a parking lot to its left with a sign that reads “Hikers Parking”. Park here the trail begins just down the side road (past the RV campground). Be sure to sign the trail register on the way in.

Photos

“Wolf reintroductions have occurred across the US, including in Idaho and Montana, as well as the Great Lakes region and the southeastern US. Those other programs are not without problems and complications. For example, the successful recovery in Idaho and Montana—which will lead to the animals being removed from protection under the endangered species list—has spurred plans by both states to allow hunting of the wolves. But the Mexican gray wolf reintroduction in the Southwest is the one most clearly struggling.”

Read the rest of the article »

During the first quarter of 2010 we should have a completely revamped (easier) submission process for adding new outdoor activities, increased support for rock climbing areas, and at least 30 new places added to the database.

Happy New Year!