Me and Jeremiah hiked to Santa Fe Baldy
Montoso is one of the most prominent features in the Cerros del Rio volcanic field. At 7315 ft, the peak provides a terrific view of the eastern Pajarito Plateau, including Los Alamos and White Rock. The peak is characterized by a horseshoe shaped ridge that opens to the north. This could very well be the remnants of the volcanic crater which has been breached on the north by drainage and erosion.
There is no established trail to reach the summit, but a good approach is from the north flank that can be reached via a four wheel drive trail. The trail extends west from the power lines on the east side of the mountain. From there it is fairly easy to hike to peak. The highest point is indicated by a bench mark from the USGS. There is a plastic canister near the marker with paper and pencil for folks to record their visits.
This is a road trip during Christmas break 2017. We took 84 north out of Espanola to Tierra Amarilla. From there we took 64 through Tres Piedras and continued to the Rio Grande Gorge bridge. Took a left turn on 522 after crossing the bridge. Continued on 522 to Questa. Took a right on 38 and ended up in Red River.
The 31 mile road begins just outside Espanola and climbs westward up into the Jemez mountains.
The Frijole Canyon Overlook is accessible from the Caja del Rio area of the the Santa Fe National Forest. Take County Road 62 off of 599. The county road turns into Forest Road 24 at the National Forest boundary. The jeep trail that leads to the overlook is to the west of Montoso Peak.
The hike to Ancho Springs begins about 4 miles west of White Rock on NM 4. Look for gate number 4 on the south side of the road. There is a small gravel parking area at the trailhead. The first part of the trail leads to some powerlines that cross the Rio Grande and White Rock Canyon. Walk south under the power lines down a broad draw and back up. After about 2 miles total, take the trail off to the right. This leads to the rim of Ancho Canyon.
The hike into the canyon begins at an old fence. Follow the fence to the right to find the trail. The upper trail begins in the Bandelier tuft. This rock is quite friable, and forms gravel that makes a smooth, yet somewhat loose surface. The descent isn’t too steep, and the footing is less strenuous than that of the Red Dot or Blue Dot trails that begin in blocks of basalt.
Following many switchbacks, the trail descends down to Ancho Springs. This is a good place to stop and rest before continuing down to the Rio Grande and the rapids. Make a point to mark the point where the trail intersects the springs, since this can be somewhat difficult to find on the hike back. The best way to hike down to the rapids is to stay close to the stream bed. This leads to the sandy Ancho flats and the bank of the Rio Grande. There you will find Ancho Rapids. The rapids look to be class 2 in difficulty. They would be fun to take in a kayak or canoe. I’m thinking you might be able to put in at Buckman and take out at Cochiti reservoir.
Explore the area around the rapids. The sandy point bar allows access down to the water. Trails along the river probably extend to Water Canyon to the east and maybe Frijoles Canyon to the west. But that’s for another day. This time, I just hiked back out the same way I came. The total time was probably about 4 hours total.
