Mountain Lion Arroyo Trail

Description
Starts with a hike down into a very narrow arroyo north of the steep hill climb on the north side of the Main West Loop. Please walk your bike down this entryway as it is very soft dirt and too steep to prevent erosion from bike tracks. Once in the narrow arroyo follow it downhill in a northwest direction. This trail stays on the sand in the arroyo for its entire length. Fat-tires recommended as the sand can become loose and soft. Look for an exit single-track trail on the left (west) side of the arroyo just before you reach a barbed-wire fence across the arroyo. This single-track exit climbs slightly up to the southwest direction and then heads south, paralleling a large cliff face. Follow this single-track until you reach a confusing intersection in an arroyo. Look for the return single track that heads east, taking you back to the West Loop Trail and the Nambé trailheads. Another return option is to ride the West Ridge Trail uphill back to the trailheads.
Distance
1.75 mile (2.8 km) one-way distance
Elevation Gain/Loss
+115 ft / – 340 ft
One-way Connector
Normally ridden downhill, counter-clockwise. Loose sand during dry conditions requires a fat bike for riding uphill direction.
Connects With
Return Single Track from Mountain Lion Arroyo
Arroyo Seco to Nambe Badlands Two-Track Trail
Single-track in Arroyo
Single-track, in the arroyo, connects to exit single-track on dirt at the end, heading west and then south.
Environmental Awareness
- Entry hike down is on very fragile soft soils on a steep hill — please walk this, don’t ride this part
- Shortcutting of tight turns in the arroyo
- Return single-track section traverses cryptobiotic soils — stay off the cryptobiotic soils!
- Wandering, lost, and inexperienced mountain bikers generating short cuts and new tracks off the main single track. Keep Single-Track Single!