Carracas Mesa/ NFS 218

Trail Overview

This trail isn't technically challenging and is well-maintained--if the drive up American Canyon was completed, there wouldn't be any problems driving Carracas mesa. The road is generally just wide enough for two vehicles but is graded regularly. A gravel road bed has been added in most places to keep ruts and mud to a minimum for the traffic that enters the area through limited-access gates. The trail picks up on the north end of the American Canyon trail and meanders over the top of Carracas Mesa before the road narrows somewhat to curl around the top of Eul Point. Towards the beginning of the trail, there are a few bare rock overlooks and places to pull off, but most of the trail is lined with rocks and uprooted tree stumps to discourage anything beyond parallel parking along the side of the road to protect the wild horses in the Jicarilla Wild Horse Territory. While some of the gated areas have signage indicating that they are open to horseback riding, there are few, if any, places available with enough space to pull off and park with a horse trailer or toy hauler once beyond the Buzzard Park Campground on the American Canyon Trail. Indications that horses frequent the area are everywhere, and the horses are often easy to spot on or beside the road, along with an abundance of other wildlife in this protected area. Wild turkeys, elk, black bears, and deer all frequent the area in addition to the horses, meriting slower speeds than the general isolation and well-maintained road seem to invite. There are some gorgeous views from the end of the trail on Eul Point if you're willing to hike into the forest a little to get a view clear of the trees and catching a glimpse or snapping some photos of the wild horses in the area is well worth the trip. There is little-to-no cell coverage on most of the trail, with the exception of at the very end from the Eul Point lookout. PLEASE NOTE: This trail is out-and-back ONLY; what appears to be any through roads on the maps have been gated and require special access.

Photos of Carracas Mesa/ NFS 218

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Difficulty

As noted, the trail to get here is more difficult than this trail, due in large part to the road being well-maintained for special-access traffic through gated roads. There is little-to-no rutting and much of the road has been improved with gravel to keep the mud and ruts to a minimum. The only reason this isn't a "1" is that at the very beginning and in the last mile or so the trail is less than two car-widths wide.

History

Additional information regarding the Jicarilla Wild Horse Territory can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/wild-horse-burro/territories/Jicarilla.shtml

Technical Rating