FR 76 summit(u) Cerro Vista
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains change drastically in
appearance on their scenic, arrow like course, north to
south, from southern Colorado into northern New Mexico.
While the Colorado section contains a sculpted set of
peaks, the southern part of the range is a maze of rounded
hills, which seen against the light, look like a
succession of roundly cut paper cutouts. A traversal over
FR76 leads along a principal ridge in the southern Sangre
de Cristo Mountains. Especially the approach from the east
side is pretty long.
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01.(7570ft,mile00) START-END EAST
ALT: Guadalupita
02.(7710ft,mile04) Coyote Creek State Park
03.(8680ft,mile16) profile turns from NM434 left
onto FR 76
04.(9770ft,mile20) turnoff on right leads to Osha
Pass
05.(10300ft,mile22) turnoff on right goes to FR153
06.(11230ft,mile35) TOP: just south east of Cerro
Vista
07.(8560ft,mile46) START-END WEST: FR153 terminates
onto NM518 near Tres Ritos |
 Approaches
From East. The profile begins from the small
collection of houses named Guadalupita to show the maximum
elevation gain during a day long loop ride. The description
begins later, where FR076 turns off NM434. The intersection is
signed with a small National Forest sign from both directions.
A little distance after the turnoff another sign indicates
that Osha Pass and San Antonio
Church Road are also up this way. A good dirt road soon
becomes a hard dirt matrix containing some very large rocks,
which is a good surface to climb on, since the rocks stay in
place. After the turnoff to Osha
Pass, the road levels out little bit for a little rest and
relaxation. The turnoff to the South Boundary Trail, whose
lower, very rough part terminates here is also signed. Only
once does the dense canopy of trees give way to open the view
onto the drainage of Cieneguilla Creek, containing the resort
of Angel Fire and Eagle Nest Lake. Long sweeping curves
begin to carve along the gentle ridgeline, now periodically
opening views onto the eastern highlands, until the road
appears to crest at a small meadow. This is however the
beginning of a long traverse, the most scenic part of the
ride. The road finally works itself up another 300 feet
onto the shoulder of a big, old aunthill 11939ft Cerro Vista
himself.
From West. (described downwards). The road follows
Rito Presa Creek all the way and there are not further far
views. The surface turns rockier for the first part of the
descent, and unlike the other side, here they are of the
loosely-lying-around-on-the-road variety, which would make
climbing difficult. The situation improves at each junction.
But the road remains loose gravel road all to Tres Ritos
(Oct/7), a georgraphical name that shows up on some maps, but
without human made facilities. It is located at the junction
to the paved road to Holman
Hill summit.
Tours
Dayrides.
(MTB+paved): A loop ride from Coyote Creek State Park >
NM434 > FR 76 summit(u) > Tres Ritos > Holman
Hill summit > Mora > Guadalupita > back to the
starting point measuered 84 miles with 6000ft of climbing in
7:4 hours (m3:07.10.27).
back to New
Mexico's Summits and Passes by Bicycle
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