Originally Posted by
Bob W
Very cool. A bit suprised to see anyone from Raton posting online.
I have ridden the Old Pass Road, all the way to the dead end. It's a great leisurely ride once you're up there, but it's not a bicycle-specific trail and it is open to cars also. Quite a few cars up there now, since a lot of the surrounding land has been sub-divided.
The best local ride is about two miles long, the old road that's currently an ATV trail that curves around the top of Climax Canyon. It starts at the radio towers near Goat Hill and ends at the water tank by the Old Miners Home. Nice ride, plenty challenging for me, but you have to watch out for racing ATVs.
I've ridden a small bit out at Lake Maloya and hope to do a lot more. Again, not bike-specific trails, but the state park allows bicycles on the hiking trails. And I have seen a couple of bicyclists on the roads out by Maloya, but they aren't locals; they're tourists staying at the campgrounds.
The cops-on-bikes program lasted about three months, maybe a year. That was several years ago, maybe eight years ago, right after we moved here.
-Bob
Yeah, it's kinda nice to see someone from Raton on here. I was almost wondering if the Bob W was old Bob Wills - but I don't recall ever seeing him on a bike.
Get to know the Bergs, who own the ranch at the dead-end of the old pass road...old Don used to let me ride & hike through his property - he's probably gone now, but the family is nice folks. You can also hang a right at the dead end and follow those trails down to I-25, then either go over the pass to Trinidad or back down to Raton on the Interstate. (it's legal). There are also some side trails on Pilmore's property...I imagine Roy and his dad are still around to talk to about permission.
Lots of good trails at Whittington Center as well...again you can ride the interstate down the the 64 West exit to get there. Then there's always Vermejo Park, if you know anyone up there, and Carson National Forest. Lots of good riding up on Johnson Mesa too. You don't need bike specific trails.
Vince must of scrapped the cops on bikes program the winter that I left. Is he still Chief?