'White Sands' guidebook ready for pre-order

I'm proud to announce that pre-orders are now being taken for my forthcoming and latest title, "Best Sights to See at White Sands National Park."

The book lists the New Mexico park’s top 7 most popular sights and experiences while detailing the top day hiking trails to best enjoy them. Nearby hiking trails in Lincoln National Forest, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns/Guadalupe Mountains national parks also are included. It contains two BONUS sections - a day hiking primer, and a guide to hiking in national parks. Downloadable 8 x 11 inch maps are available at a special website for all featured trails.

Release date for the book is Sep. 30. The paperback also will be available on that date.

You can pre-order the ebook here.

Great trails explore scenic Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument – Part II

Kilbourne Hole (center) with White Sands National Park in the sun
in the distance beyond the Organ Mountains.

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument is a great destination for hikers in the Las Cruces, New Mexico, area. Located west of and visible from White Sands National Park, the 496,330-acre national monument offers a plethora of prehistoric, historic, geological and biological treasures to explore.

While the Organ Mountains is the most popular of the national monument’s general areas, three other sections offer fantastic sights and trails. Those three areas include: Desert Peaks; the Doña Ana Mountains; and the Potrillo Mountains.

Desert Peaks
Several mountain peaks in this part of New Mexico rise directly off the desert plain. Among them are the Robledo Mountains and Sierra de las Uvas.
• Picacho Peak Trail – A fantastic view of the Mesilla Valley and the Organ Mountains awaits on this 2.2-mile trail round trip trail that heads to the top of a 35-million-year-old volcanic mountain. The trail gains 764 feet on its way to the 4959-foot high peak. From the junction of Interstate 10 and West Picacho Avenue/U.S. Hwy. 70 (Exit 135), take the latter east. Turn north on Picacho Hills Drive and after a mile continue on Barcelona Ridge Road. Go north on Anthem Road then turn north onto the unpaved Loop Road. The trailhead parking lot is in 1.5 miles.
• Prehistoric Trackways Trail – The world of 280 million years ago is preserved along this 7.8-mile trail, which features footprints of reptiles, amphibians and insects as well as fossils of plants and petrified wood. Though actually part of the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument, the 5280-acre site sits in the Robledo Mountains next to the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. The trail boasts 1,459 feet in elevation gain, and leashed dogs are allowed on it. From the junction of Picacho Avenue/U.S. Hwy. 70 and Shalem Colony Trail in Las Cruces, take the latter north. Turn west on Rocky Acres Trail to a the trackways’ dirt road entrance on the left/west. Only high-clearance, 4wd vehicles can traverse the road after a mile.

Doña Ana Mountains
Though technically a desert peak its own right, this area usually is considered separate because of its distance from the other such summits. It also boasts extensive recreational facilities for hikers, mountain bike enthusiasts, rock climbers and equestrians.
• Dona Ana Peak Trail – Hikers can head up a canyon and scramble over rocks on a 1.7-mile round trip trail to a mountain peak at 5822 feet above sea level. The trail gains 977 feet in elevation as passing cacti and yucca while hawks and owls fly overhead. From the junction of U.S. Hwy. 70 and Sonoma Ranch Boulevard, take the latter north. Turn right/east onto Peachtree Hills Road then left/north onto DO64/Jornada Road. Go left/west onto DO63. In 1.7 miles, turn left/south onto an unpaved road. Turn right/west in 2.7 miles onto another unpaved road; the trail begins where the road ends.

Potrillo Mountains
Located southwest of Las Cruces, this remote section consists of cinder cones, lava flows, and volcanic craters. The landscape is otherworldly.
• Kilbourne Hole Volcanic Crater Trail – You can hike the rim of a maar volcanic crater that is at least 24,000 years old on a 7.8-mile loop. The crater measures 1.7 miles long by a mile across is is hundreds of feet deep. It’s located in the Kilbourne Hole Volcanic Crater National Natural Landmark, adjacent to the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, and is difficult to reach. From the junction of Interstate 10 and New Mexico Hwy. 183/Vinton Road, take the later west. Go right/south on New Mexico Hwy. 28/Lew Henson Highway then right/west onto New Mexico Hwy. 182. Next turn right/north onto Alvarez Road and then left/northwest onto A020. Go left/southwest onto Aviation Road. Upon crossing the railroad tracks, take A012 right/north then A011 left/west. At the junction of A013, pull off the road and follow the first path north to the crater rim.

Read Part I

Great trails explore scenic Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument – Part I

The Organ Mountains rise to 9000 feet east of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument is a great destination for hikers in the Las Cruces, New Mexico, area. Located west of and visible from White Sands National Park, the 496,330-acre national monument offers a plethora of prehistoric, historic, geological and biological treasures to explore.

Among the most popular of the national monuments’ sections is the Organ Mountains, which stretches for several miles east of Las Cruces. This steep mountain range rises off the desert floor to 9000 feet above sea level, delivering a number of pointed peaks, narrow canyons, and ponderosa pine woodlands to discover.

There are three general areas in the Organ Mountains where trailheads are found: Dripping Springs; Baylor Canyon Road; Aguirre Springs.

Dripping Springs
Located on the Organ Mountain’s west face, the Dripping Springs area is roughly at the range’s center and directly west of Las Cruces. To reach the following trails, from Interstate 25 and University Avenue in Las Cruces, take the latter east. University becomes Dripping Springs Road.
• Achenbach Canyon Trail – Great views of the Organ Mountains await on this 5.5-mile route southwest of Las Cruces. It sports an elevation gain of 1,272 feet to a walking trail known as Soledad Canyon Road. From Dripping Springs Road, turn right/south onto the street Soledad Canyon Road then right/south onto Ladera Canyon Road. The trailhead is on the left/east in about about 0.6 miles. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail.
• Bar Canyon Trail – Hikers can explore the ruins of an 1800s ranch in the Organ Mountains’ western foothills on this 1.3 mile trail. Located in the Soledad Canyon Day Use Area, mule deer usually can be spotted grazing in the canyon as well. From Dripping Springs Road take Soledad Canyon Road, right/south. Parking and the trailhead is at the road’s end.
• Dripping Springs Trail – Day hikers can see a rare waterfalls in the desert on this moderately challenging 2.7-mile trail. Because of the lush environs, this trail also is great for birdwatching. Park at the A.B. Cox Visitor Center; the trail heads southeast from it. A fee is charged for parking and no dogs are allowed.
• Fillmore Canyon Trail – A 40-foot waterfall awaits at the end of a canyon in this 2.1-mile out and back trail. Fillmore Falls is narrow but thanks to being spring-fed runs year-round. Park at the La Cueva Picnic area, from which the trail heads northeast.
• La Cueva Trail – A cave that has been inhabited for at least 5000 years sits at the end of this 1.1-mile out and back trail. The rock shelter also is known as the Hermit’s Cave. Park at the A.B. Cox Visitor Center; the trail heads northwest from it across the former Hayner Resort Airstrip. A fee is charged for parking and no dogs are allowed.
• Organ Needles Trail – Hikers can head across the desert valley then up to Needles Peak on this 5.8-mile out and back trail. It is a very difficult hike meant only for experienced hikers who are in good shape, as the trail sports a 3,562-foot elevation gain. Park at the La Cueva Picnic area, from which the trail heads northeast. Dogs are not allowed and hikers should carry additional water.
• Sierra Vista Trail – Hikers can walk along the base of the Organ Mountains on this 29-mile one-way trail connecting Las Cruces and El Paso. Creosote, ocotillo and cacti – a well as wildlife in the remote sections – abound along the trail. As the trail is entirely on the floor of the Chihuahuan Desert, it is best avoided during summer. Watch for the parking lot and trailhead on Dripping Springs Road’s right/south side.
• Tortugas Mountain Trail – Hikers can take a loop on the mountain sporting a large A in tribute to New Mexico State's Aggies on this 3.9-mile route. Though rocky at times, the trail offers great views of the Organ Mountains and the Mesilla Valley. At Sonoma Ranch Boulevard, go right/south. A parking lot and trailhead are at the road's end.

Baylor Canyon Road
Several trails on the north side of the Organ Mountain’s west face can be accessed via Baylor Canyon road in the high desert. To reach the following trails, from Interstate 25 and U.S. Hwy. 70 in Las Cruces, take the latter east toward Organ. Turn right/south onto Baylor Canyon Road.
• Baylor Canyon Pass Trail – Hikers can head from desert foothills to tree-covered terrain at a mountain pass on this 6.3-mile out and back trail. There is a 1548-foot elevation gain. From Interstate 25 and U.S. Hwy. 70 in Las Cruces, take the latter east toward Organ. The parking lot and trailhead is on the left/east side of Baylor Canyon Road. A day use pass is required, but dogs are allowed.
• Mine House Spring Trail – Ruins of a former mountainside mine await hikers on this 3.6-mile out and back trail. At one time, the Hayner Ruby Mine drew fluorite from the rock beneath the Rabbit Ears. The trail boasts a 1,072-foot elevation gain, and dogs are allowed. Shoulder parking and the trailhead is in about five miles from Hwy. 70. The trail often is shown as Topp Hut Road on maps.
• Rabbit Ears Plateau Trail – Hikers can clamber to one of the points on the Rabbit Ears formation via this 6.1-mile out and back trail. Because of the 2,893 feet elevation gain in a desert environment, this trail is recommended only for experienced, fit hikers. Shoulder parking and the trailhead are on the left/east in about 4 miles from Hwy. 70.

Aguirre Springs
This area sits high in the mountains’ north side from its eastern face. To reach the following trails, from From U.S. Hwy. 70 east of Las Cruces, go right/south on Aguirre Springs Road.
• Indian Hollow Trail – Day hikers can enjoy fantastic views of spires and the desert basin below on this route in the Aquirre Springs area. The 5-mile out-and-back trail is not for the inexperienced hiker, as it gains 1893 feet elevation at a high altitude. Good hiking boots are required, as loose rocks abound on the trail. Drive 6.1 miles to a turnoff for the trailhead, which is northeast of the Aguirre Springs Group Area. Park at the road's end.
• Pine Tree Trail – Hikers can explore the base of the Needles foundation on this 4-mile lollipop trail. Be sure to bring water; there are no springs. The parking lot and trail is just past the Aguirre Springs Campground. A parking fee is required and dogs are allowed on the trail.
• Sugarloaf Peak Trail – Unless a rock climber, hiking to the top of the prominent Sugarloaf Peak granite dome isn’t possible. Day hikers can get close, however, by walking 6 miles round trip to a large semicircular depression, known as the "eye,” on the peak. The eye sits at 7500 feet elevation, about 515 feet below the monolith's summit. Drive 6.1 miles to a turnoff for the trailhead, which is northeast of the Aguirre Springs Group Area. Park at the road's end and start on the Indian Hollow Trail then take the spur to Sugarloaf Peak.

Read Part II

New Mexico trail offers fantastic vistas

White Sands National Park  - the strip of white in the distance - is one of many
sites that can be seen from the Indian Hollow Trail in the Organ Mountains.

Indian Hollow Trail map. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can enjoy fantastic views of spires and the desert basin below on the Indian Hollow Trail at New Mexico's Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument.

The 5-mile out-and-back trail is not for the inexperienced hiker, as it gains 1893 feet elevation at a high altitude. Good hiking boots are required, as loose rocks abound on the trail.

To reach the trailhead, from U.S. Hwy. 70 between Las Cruces and Alamogordo, go south on Aguirre Springs Road. Drive 6.1 miles to a turnoff for the trailhead, which is northeast of the Aguirre Springs Group Area. Park at the road's end.

Boulder, stream crossings
The trail begins at about 5450 feet above sea level with a gentle ascent. In short order, the trail crosses Sotol Creek then turns sharp east.

Because the trail climbs bare rock and goes up and down some drainages, some hikers have had difficulty staying on the trail. Watch for cairns to keep you on the route. More importantly, practice tried and true navigation techniques by frequently checking your map and compass, aiming for a point, and once there repeating that step.

About halfway through the hike, the trail crosses a stream (the third stream you'll head over) then parallels it and a tributary. Cottonwoods and pines line the creeks. This is a great area for birding.

From there, the trail begins a steep ascent up a dividing ridge. After crossing the tributary, the trail sits below the Organ Needle's soaring walls on the west and Sugarloaf Peak to the west.

About a fifth of a mile from the tributary, the trail peters out. You're at about 7340 feet elevation.

Incredible vistas
The reward for all the effort is the jaw-dropping views.

To the northeast is White Sands Missile Base and beyond that the sprawling white dunes of White Sands National Park. The major needles of the Organ Mountains are to the east. The Needles is the northernmost of them at 8416 feet high while the Organ Needle is the southernmost at 8885 feet.

Sugarloaf Peak, shrouded in Douglas firs, Gambel's oaks, and pines, is to the southeast, topping out at 8015 feet. If you look close enough, you'll probably spot tiny figures hiking to its top.

On the walk back to the trailhead, Rabbit Ears peak sits to the northwest at 8006 feet. Baylor Peak is beyond it at 7668 feet.

During winter, snow can be on the trail, and by autumn, it can be overgrown in spots. It's best hiked during spring early in the morning to avoid the midday heat.

As parts of the trail are mot shaded, be sure to don sunscreen and sunglasses. Leashed dogs are allowed on trail.