White Mesa – West Loop Hike
In Ojito Region
Map File Source: DeLorme
Hike Key: H10264Last Updated: 12/15/2020 12:00am
Last Updated By: Marilyn Warrant
Hike Class: C (Challenging)
Hike Distance: 6.2 mi
Minimum Elevation: 5540 ft
Elevation Change: 490 ft
Total Uphill: 925 ft
Total Downhill: 925 ft
Avg. Grade: 7 %
Route Type: CCW Loop
On Trail: No
Paved or Gravel Roads: No
GPS Advised: Yes
Drive Distance Round Trip: 100 mi
Drive Time One-Way: 1:00
Hiking Seasons:
New Mexico Game Unit: 9
Hike Status: Published
Access Description: Ojito Wilderness Area Access
Highlights
Spectacular views of the canyon and the Nacimiento uplift. Active seeps.
CautionsSome steep sections, so hiking poles are helpful.
Trailhead Directions
From Albuquerque go north on I-25, then from Bernalillo go northwest on US-550 for 20.9 miles. Turn left on Cabezon Road, about 2 miles before San Ysidro. Almost immediately there is a Y in the road, go left. At 4.5 miles, on the first downhill in the Ojito Wilderness, there will be a parking area on the right. PARK (0.0 mi) here.
Actual Hike
Go north through the pass on the two track. After a short distance, take a track bearing uphill to the left, which joins a road which passes through some old diggings for gypsum. The hike loops starts at the spectacular CANYON VIEW (0.3 mi). Go to the east side of the canyon but do not try to stay near the edge, and find a road which bears north toward a white peak. At the peak one can ascend if desired for a good view of the area. The Nacimiento uplift, the beginning of the Jemez Mountain area, stretches to the north. To the east is “White Mesa”, an extensive gypsum quarry. To continue, find a trail on the west side of the peak which will go north down the central spine to the S C RIDGE BOTTOM (1.2 mi). A path runs north across the flat bottom to the N C RIDGE BOTTOM (1.4 mi) where a road goes up the north central ridge. Near the top climb the small peak to view HOLE 1 (1.7 mi). This is a collapsed seep (sipapu). Go down the north side of the peak to an active SEEP 1 (1.8 mi). Beyond this point there is a large crack in the ridge. Examine this crack if desired, but stay on the west side of the crack. Go north along the west side of the ridge and find the mouth of the crack. Then continue north to a hole beyond which there is another active SEEP 2 (1.8 mi). Continue north to HOLE 2 (2.6 mi) and HOLE 3 (2.7 mi). Then go down to a road traversing north down to the bottom. Turn west toward the PIPELINE SCAR (3.3 mi) on the north ridge and climb up onto the notch in the top of the ridge. Go north on the ridge which has many ups and downs and opportunities for views of the area. At the canyon head join the route out and return to parking.
Comments
The hike can be done in the clockwise direction. This would involve going up the center spine, the most difficult grade on the hike. The BLM calls this area Ojito Bike Trails as White Mesa is actually to the east.
WaypointsHIGH VIEW: N 35 30.427, W 106 50.371
PARK: N 35 29.907, W 106 50.486
CANYON VIEW: N 35 30.143, W 106 50.486
S C RIDGE BOTTOM: N 35 30.670, W 106 50.577
N C RIDGE BOTTOM: N 35 30.800, W 106 50.552
HOLE 1: N 35 31.019, W 106 50.638
SEEP 1: N 35 31.083, W 106 50.650
SEEP 2: N 35 31.568, W 106 50.798
SLOT ENTRY: N 35 31.452, W 106 50.804
HOLE 2: N 35 31.743, W 106 50.808
HOLE 3: N 35 31.817, W 106 50.830
PIPELINE SCAR: N 35 32.163, W 106 51.157
Hike GPS File Name: WhiteMesa-WestLoopWayTrack_DBDB.gpx
Hike GPS File: Click link to download hike waytrack file
Text Author: Dick Brown
Map Author: Dick Brown
Waypoints Author: Dick Brown
Track Author: Dick Brown
Maintainer: Ken Smith
Editor: Marilyn Warrant