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Enchanted Rockies Trail

Discussion in 'Trip Reports' started by RedRunner87, May 20, 2020.

  1. May 20, 2020 at 2:10 PM
    #1
    RedRunner87

    #1
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

    Joined:
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    Vince
    The Springs, CO
    Vehicle:
    16 4Runner SR5
    255/80 Falken Wildpeak AT3W
    First overland trip for the 4Runner!

    Enchanted Rockies Trail

    Starting point: Show Low, AZ

    I traveled from Colorado Springs to Phoenix to pick up drawers and roof rack cross bars from my buddy. We decided to get a jump on the Enchanted Rockies trail but cutting our Day 1 drive down so we shot up to Show Low, AZ to camp.

    [/U]ps://flic.kr/p/2j34VM1][​IMG]IMG_8558 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8559 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8560 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Day 1: Show Low, AZ to Lincoln, NM

    Time to top off the gas tank and start our journey to Lincoln

    [​IMG]Untitled by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    New Mexico!!

    [​IMG]IMG_8561 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Pie Town, NM! To bad everything was closed and we could not get any pie in Pie Town.

    [​IMG]IMG_8567 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    We decided to have lunch outside of the Very Large Array Radio Telescopes

    [​IMG]IMG_8568 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8569 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Finally made it to the trail head for the Enchanted Rockies Trail

    [​IMG]IMG_8572 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8573 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    The beginning on the trail was pretty easy. Just a gravel dirt road, which was nice at the end of the day. We decided that we could get a little bit of a jump on this section of the trail while we found a camping spot.

    [​IMG]IMG_8574 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8575 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8576 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8580 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8581 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    We found a suitable campsite for the night

    [​IMG]IMG_8582 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8585 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
     
    RedRunner87, May 20, 2020
    #1
    OmegaMan73, jnw32 and Brownie_Man like this.
  2. May 20, 2020 at 2:10 PM
    #2
    RedRunner87

    #2
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

    Joined:
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    The Springs, CO
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    255/80 Falken Wildpeak AT3W
    Enchanted Rockies Trail

    Day 2

    On Day 2 we started in Lincoln, NM and traveled to Corona, NM. This section should be approximately 106 miles.

    As we traveling down the trail my buddy radios "Is that a water park ahead of us"?

    [​IMG]IMG_8586 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8589 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    It ended up being a Bible Ranch in the middle of no where.

    This section of trail wasn't hard, but it was rocky enough that we could only travel about 10mph's give or take.

    [​IMG]IMG_8597 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8607 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8609 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]Untitled by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Time to air up as we are about to hit the highway

    [​IMG]IMG_8616 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    ...well that section of highway was a lot shorter than we thought. At least this section was a lot of "County" roads. So we could pick up the pace.

    [​IMG]IMG_8617 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8618 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8620 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    We detoured to the Roswell Incident Site. This is the debris field left from the UFO

    [​IMG]IMG_8623 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8624 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8625 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    The obligatory fuel up picture

    [​IMG]Untitled by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    This was on the drive up to the camp site. Free roaming cows everywhere.

    [​IMG]IMG_8627 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8628 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Camp! This camp site had soooo many bugs it was crazy.

    [​IMG]Untitled by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
     
    RedRunner87, May 20, 2020
    #2
    OmegaMan73, jnw32, Brownie_Man and 3 others like this.
  3. May 21, 2020 at 9:53 AM
    #3
    DetroitDarin

    #3
    DetroitDarin Specified

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    Scratches and Whatnot
    bruh - more?? :)
     
    DetroitDarin, May 21, 2020
    #3
  4. May 21, 2020 at 2:06 PM
    #4
    RedRunner87

    #4
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

    Joined:
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    Sorry, been trying to upload as I get a break from work and life. Should have Day 3 up today.
     
    RedRunner87, May 21, 2020
    #4
    DetroitDarin[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. May 21, 2020 at 2:17 PM
    #5
    RedRunner87

    #5
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

    Joined:
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    Vince
    The Springs, CO
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    255/80 Falken Wildpeak AT3W
    Enchanted Rockies Trail

    Day 3

    For Day 3 we traveled from Corona, NM to Pecos, NM. This section is about 156 miles, but was a little bit more with the Bypass

    Beginning of Day 3

    [​IMG]IMG_8630 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    We had some more flat "County" roads till we hit the highway. We may have accidentally hit a cattle guard a little to fast and jumped both trucks. I definitely do not recommend doing this.

    [​IMG]IMG_8632 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Got a little bit of pavement time

    [​IMG]IMG_8633 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8635 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Found a cool tunnel right before the highway to get some "Gram" worthy pictures

    [​IMG]IMG_8642 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8643 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8652 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    We ended up doing the Bypass because the new owners of a property locked a gate you have to take. The Bypass according to LifeStyle Overland "TRAILERS, LARGE RIGS, OR STOCK RIGS NOT RECOMMENDED". I did this trail with stock suspension but I do have 255/80's(33's). I hit my skids a couple times and completely flexed the 4Runner out. It took us around 2.5 hours to go 12 miles. It is super slow going with a lot of rocks and off camber sections. We were also the first ones threw this section in awhile, so we had to scout out some sections to figure out where we were going. Plan on some extra time taking the Bypass.

    [​IMG]IMG_8653 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8654 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8655 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8656 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8657 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Campsite with a killer view! Was totally worth the long drive of this section.

    [​IMG]IMG_8658 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8659 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8660 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
     
    RedRunner87, May 21, 2020
    #5
    OmegaMan73, jnw32, Brownie_Man and 2 others like this.
  6. May 22, 2020 at 12:26 AM
    #6
    DetroitDarin

    #6
    DetroitDarin Specified

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    Thanks man. I needed my fix.

    Btw: "The Bypass according to LifeStyle Overland..." I'm a patron of theirs. I love their stuff. Moving to OK this summer, so will re-trace a few of their trips - and likely the one you're doing right now.
     
    DetroitDarin, May 22, 2020
    #6
  7. May 22, 2020 at 6:27 AM
    #7
    RedRunner87

    #7
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

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    We tried l relied heavily on their GPX filles and write ups. They put out good stuff. Highly recommend this trail.
     
    RedRunner87, May 22, 2020
    #7
    DetroitDarin[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. May 22, 2020 at 8:32 PM
    #8
    RedRunner87

    #8
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

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    Enchanted Rockies Trail

    Day 4

    This section is from Pecos, NM to Angel Fire, NM. This section is about 140 miles and probably the most beautiful section.

    ...and we are off!

    [​IMG]IMG_8661 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    So many cows in NM

    [​IMG]IMG_8663 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8668 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8669 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8670 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Air up time again for the highway
    [​IMG]IMG_8673 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    ...so how do you know your friend is in from Phoenix? He makes you stop and take a picture when he sees snow.
    [​IMG]IMG_8674 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8677 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8679 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8680 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8682 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8685 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8687 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8689 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    RTT Problems

    [​IMG]Untitled by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Camp! This camp site was absolutely amazing

    [​IMG] by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG] by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8694 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG] by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
     
    RedRunner87, May 22, 2020
    #8
    OmegaMan73, jnw32, Brownie_Man and 1 other person like this.
  9. May 23, 2020 at 3:35 AM
    #9
    DetroitDarin

    #9
    DetroitDarin Specified

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    thanks a lot for this thread and the pics and whatever and junk :)
     
    DetroitDarin, May 23, 2020
    #9
  10. May 23, 2020 at 9:29 PM
    #10
    RedRunner87

    #10
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

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    You're welcome. Haven't seen a lot on it. Bummed we couldn't do the CO side since the GSDNP was closed. We will finish it one day.
     
    RedRunner87, May 23, 2020
    #10
    DetroitDarin[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. May 24, 2020 at 7:04 AM
    #11
    RedRunner87

    #11
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

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    Enchanted Rockies Trail

    Day 5

    Today we were supposed to go from Angel Fire, NM to Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. But due to COVID-19 National Parks are closed. So we decided to detour and camp with a couple buddies in Colorado Springs, off of Rampart Range Road. One day we will have to finish the Angel Fire, NM to Estes Park.

    Airing up and heading to the The Springs

    [​IMG]IMG_8698 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8696 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
    [​IMG]IMG_8695 by Vincent Torres, on Flickr

    Made it to The Springs. Found a little mud and this was the end of our trip for this time.

    [​IMG]Untitled by Vincent Torres, on Flickr
     
    RedRunner87, May 24, 2020
    #11
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  12. May 24, 2020 at 7:13 AM
    #12
    RedRunner87

    #12
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

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    RedRunner87, May 24, 2020
    #12
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  13. May 24, 2020 at 7:26 AM
    #13
    RedRunner87

    #13
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

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    RedRunner87, May 24, 2020
    #13
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  14. May 24, 2020 at 9:56 AM
    #14
    BKinzey

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    BKinzey Well-Known Member

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    Nice to add your source and GPX file.
     
    BKinzey, May 24, 2020
    #14
  15. May 24, 2020 at 12:04 PM
    #15
    RedRunner87

    #15
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

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    Can't take credit for the route we took. His GPX files are pretty good and we never got lost.
     
    RedRunner87, May 24, 2020
    #15
  16. Jun 30, 2020 at 4:42 PM
    #16
    ASJ0317

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    ASJ0317 Member

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    ASJ0317, Jun 30, 2020
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  17. Jun 30, 2020 at 4:51 PM
    #17
    OmegaMan73

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    OmegaMan73 Well-Known Member

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    I like the “.so how do you know your friend is in from Phoenix? He makes you stop and take a picture when he sees snow.” can absolutely confirm this! I always stop when I see snow!
     
    OmegaMan73, Jun 30, 2020
    #17
  18. Aug 25, 2020 at 12:48 PM
    #18
    Box_of_Rocks

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    Box_of_Rocks Well-Known Member

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    So did you start at the south side of the route in Queens? or did you skip that section?
     
    Box_of_Rocks, Aug 25, 2020
    #18
  19. Aug 25, 2020 at 1:51 PM
    #19
    RedRunner87

    #19
    RedRunner87 [OP] Mall Crawler LVL Expert

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    Due to scheduling issues we choose to skip the Queen to Lincoln section. We started at the Lincoln to Corona section.
     
    RedRunner87, Aug 25, 2020
    #19
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