OSHA Trail
Cloudcroft, NM
Osha Trail is a 2.5 mile loop trail that features beautiful wild flowers, deer and is rated as moderate. The trail is best used from May until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-mexico/osha-trail--2?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map
Exploration of Bent, New Mexico
Located near Historic Point of Interest, Blazer’s Mill, which has history related to a shootout between Billy the Kid’s, Regulators, and Buckshot Roberts. Also bordering the Mescalero Apache Reservation, the hills and creeks or Bent are a historic beautiful and calming place. Elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, foxes, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, Red-Tailed hawks, Great Blue Herons are just a few of the animals that live in the area. Join me for a hike, that can range from 1 hour all the way up to an overnight trip, whatever you desire.
Sutherland Trail
10 miles - 5000ft elevation gain
Hike from the Sonoran Desert bottom to the Oak and Pine Woodland at the top of Mt. Lemmon
Catalina up to Mt. Lemmon via Sutherland Trail
Trail Description: Ascend over 5000 ft and see all the beauty the Sonoran Desert AND Mt Lemmon has to offer. Starting at the bottom in the wash, head up through several distinct habitats including the lower Sonoran, Upper Sonoran, then what people call “Sky Islands” and eventually reaching Oak woodland and Ponderosa Pine and Spruce Fir Forests at the top.
Distance: 9-11 miles (depending on start location)
1-Day Trip Itinerary: Begin the trek early as possible 5:00 am is preferred. Try to beat the heat of the day by starting early and increase likelihood of seeing wildlife like deer, coyotes, birds and whatever else is roaming.
Begin the walk up the trail at a comfortable pace. Taking moments to see the landscape, plants and wildlife. Along the walk there are hidden off trail gems I recommend exploring such as lookout points, waterfalls, strange rock formations. The “Sky Island” portion of the trail is remarkable and you will see why it earned that name. Eventually at about 7-8 miles in the trail reaches a point where it becomes difficult to follow, it is rarely travelled and there isn’t a distinct obvious trail like the beginning, you must maneuver through bushes and downed trees to follow the stacks of rocks signaling you’re on the right path, essentially following the ridge up on the path of least resistance. There are places where it is very steep and exposed due to a wildfire that took out the trees years ago. Keep on truckin’ and we hit the oak-pine woodland and you really start to feel and see the elevation you have rapidly gained. The views from here are incredible and only get better. Once you reach the telephone pole at the top the trail becomes an actual trail again. Then the Sutherland Trail ends with its connection to Mt. Lemmon Trail #5. About a mile after they intersect there is a spring fed metal pipe flowing out fresh water. Following this trail you reach the Space Observatory that the University of Arizona uses. This is the top. The views from up there are some that you will never forget, especially after walking all the way up from the bottom.