Turkey Run Loop Hike
In Cedro Peak Region
Map File Source: NG Topo
Hike Key: H10555Last Updated: 12/15/2020 12:00am
Last Updated By: Marilyn Warrant
Hike Class: B (Moderate)
Hike Distance: 4.3 mi
Minimum Elevation: 7389 ft
Elevation Change: 286 ft
Total Uphill: 437 ft
Total Downhill: 437 ft
Avg. Grade: 4 %
Route Type: Lollypop
On Trail: Yes
Paved or Gravel Roads: Yes
GPS Advised: No
Drive Distance Round Trip: 60 mi
Drive Time One-Way: 0:45
Hiking Seasons: Spring, Summer, and Fall
New Mexico Game Unit: 14
Hike Status: Published
Highlights
The trail is in a shaded, wooded area. The hike is part of a network of well-marked single track and logging roads in the Manzanita Mountains known as Mars Court. Much of it is forested, spaced with open meadows and flavored with a sense of the wilderness, in spite of nearby residential areas.
CautionsTake plenty of water and sun protection. Treking poles may be useful to some senior hikers on a few rocky slopes.
Trailhead Directions
From I-40 East take Exit 175 South to Tijeras. Go 9.5 miles south on NM 337. Turn right on Raven Rd and follow it 1.8 miles. Turn right on Mars Court. Drive about 200 ft through the open gateway and PARK (0.0 mi) along the loop before the 2nd gate. The trailhead is next to the first gate (south gate).
Actual Hike
From the trailhead, hike due west to 5161WILDTURKEY (0.3 mi) where you will take the 5161 trail to the left following it until reaching FSRD335 (0.7 mi). As the name implies, you will be following a large 2-track through a shallow canyon heading north continuing across the next intersection, FSRD530 (1.2 mi). Three quarters of a mile further you will come to a more complicated intersection, 5049CAJUN PINE (1.9 mi), where you will make a sharp right turn, heading east. You will pass the southern start of the trail 5641 3 BTLS (2.6 mi) on the northeast corner of the hike. Either 5049CAJUN PINE or 5641 3 BTLS will make reasonable lunch or snack spots.
Although there are many twists and turns, the rest of the hike is a pleasant trek southwards, through a lovely woodsy area, where after a mile you’ll cross FSRD530 again and reach 5048CAJUNTURKEY (3.7 mi). From there hike another quarter of a mile to the end of the loop, 5161WILDTURKEY (4.0 mi) and then turn left and hike a quarter of a mile back to the vehicle.
Comments
The “Turkey” hike trails are shown in the lower left (southwest) part of the Manzanita Mountains Trail System map.
Hike data were determined using a Garmin GPSMap 62 and Garmin BaseCamp’s DEM for TOPO US 24K Southwest.
WaypointsPARK: N34 59.032, W106 20.994
5161WILDTURKEY: N34 59.068, W106 21.157
FSRD335: N34 59.187, W106 21.457
FSRD530: N34 59.538, W106 21.467
5049CAJUN PINE: N34 59.919, W106 21.790
5641 3 BTLS: N35 00.042, W106 21.204
5048CAJUNTURKEY: N34 59.357, W106 21.174
Hike GPS File Name: TURKEYRUNLP_160321_BG.gpx
Hike GPS File: Click link to download hike waytrack file
Text Author: John Rivers
Map Author: Bill Gloyd
Waypoints Author: Bill Gloyd
Track Author: Bill Gloyd
Maintainer: Bill Gloyd
Editor: Marilyn Warrant