Tapia Canyon Long Exploration (15+ miles)

Tapia Canyon Long Exploration (15+ miles)

Let's do a Tapia Canyon Long Exploration on Wednesday December 4th to see some of the five upper slot canyons.

Tapia Canyon contains natural bridges, slot canyons, tower ruins and huge panels of petroglyphs

(bad weather could cause this event to be postponed)

This is an explore day and not a generic hike, so walking fast will be the primary priority. Special gear suggestions would be for each to carry three bright LED lights with spare batteries for each in unlikely case that we cannot make it back to the vehicles before sunset.

Meet at 7:00 AM (OMG!) at Home Depot near Bernalillo (7700 US Hwy 550 NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124) just west of the storage sheds to carpool. One way drive mileage is estimated to be 75 miles. There will not be other carpool meet locations for this explore. Contributions of about $15 for your driver's gasoline would be appreciated.

Regarding driving conditions, the dirt roads that make up the last 25 miles of the drive are quite variable. As of November 16, dirt roads were in fairly good condition so that any Subaru class vehicle can make it to the base of Tapia Arroyo but not beyond. Any driving up Tapia Arroyo will require high clearance 4x4. I will drive my Toyota Tacoma 4 door 4x4 and have room for 3 passengers.

Assuming we can get a 4x4 (1.5 miles) up the arroyo as far as the old trail head then round trip mileage to/from the upper slot canyon would be 15 miles. Yes, if 4x4's travel cannot "move" the hike start further up then walking miles would be increased. Total climb on this walk would be about 600 feet.

Rockford Cogar
719-648-7281