Borrego Trail

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Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Borrego Trail heads almost continually north, climbing in and out of four different canyons. The country through which it passes is rugged and the trail encounters little level terrain. The elevation is lower here than in the higher country of the central Pecos, and it is also dryer and warmer.

Beginning at the parking lot, the Borrego Trail (#150) drops down into a lovely shady valley full of aspen, fir, pine, shrubs, and flowers. In about one-half mile, the trail forks. Take the right fork, which keeps you on the Borrego Trail. The trail climbs onto a ridge with long sweeping switchbacks. Then a narrow section of trail drops you to Tesuque Creek. You cross over to the north side of the creek, turn right on Winsor National Recreation Trail to Pacheco Canyon Rd. and follow it to Aspen Ranch.

From Aspen Ranch, follow the road 100 yards to the north, and just before you reach a locked gate the trail will branch off to the west. At this point, the trail and the Rio en Medio Trail #163 piggyback on top of each other for a short distance. The trail will wind around some private land and drop down to and cross the Rio en Medio.

Follow the Rio en Medio Trail downstream for a short distance and you'll see a junction to the north. This is where the Borrego Trail leaves the Rio en Medio trail, and follow the Borrego Trail back up to the road you had been following earlier. Continue north along the road for 1/4 mile and you'll see the Borrego Trail junction off of the road and continue to the north.

From here, the trail begins down a side canyon to the Rio Nambe. After crossing to the north side of the Rio Nambe, proceed about a quarter mile up the canyon and look to the north for a sign post marking the continuation of the Borrego Trail. From here the trail will climb over the pass separating the Rio Nambe drainage and the Rio Capulin drainage. After dropping down to the Rio Capulin, cross to the north side, go downstream a little bit and look for the trail continuing north.

After another pass, the trail begins down to the Rio Frijoles. Cross to the north side of the Rio Frijoles, proceed upstream for a few hundred yards and look for the trail heading north up the hillside. The trail climbs up to another pass above Agua Sarca Canyon and then descends into the Rito Gallina Canyon. Here the trail levels off quite a bit and descends gradually to the Rio Medio. This river can be quite substantial at this point, and fording it may be a challenge, especially during the peak runoff time in early spring. After crossing the Rio Medio, there is only a short climb out of the canyon to an old road- turn right and follow the road to the east and the Borrego Trailhead #8 at Borrego Mesa.