Beautiful Caja Del Rio Plateau

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Santa Fe County, NM, US

Route Overview

Sandra Corso

Adventure Guide & Backcountry Gypsy

29 mi.

1,169 ft.

Gravel route just a few minutes West of Santa Fe, NM. The Caja offers stunning views and a feeling of remote backcountry riding.

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Route Details

This  beautiful 100.000 acre plateau is called Caja del Rio Plateau and it is located just a few minutes West of Santa Fe, NM. The Caja is managed by the US Forest Service and BLM.

Not a lot of outdoor enthusiasts are aware that Caja is a modern recreational jewel, with miles of trails and old ranch roads for riding, hiking, biking and horse back riding.

This volcanic jewell is located between O’ga Pogeh and Cochiti Pueblo territories which is a real cultural convergence. A number of indigenous people used to thrive at this sacred plateau.

Here you find incredible natural history such as geological features of volcanic origin, wild horses, coyotes, jack rabbits, petroglyphs, traditional land grant communities, and one of the original paths of Route 66.

This is a 18.6 mi round-trip route on mostly uneven gravel road with occasionally some sandy and rocky spots. A gravel or mountain bike (tire width no less than 50 in) would be perfect for this route. Be sure to bring plenty of sun block, a wind breaker and definitely lots of water since the conditions on this plateau can be very dry and exposed. Morning rides are recommended to avoid heat exhaustion.

This is an out and back route which begins at the @poi[USFS Headquarters Well](129890040). You can park you vehicle at the kiosk and public restrooms at the very beginning of the route. Begin the ride following @point[FR 24A/24 to 24N](d,536.39) which takes you to Chino Point (6400’). From here you can @photo[enjoy views](15970640) of the Rio Grande River, Bandelier National Monument, San Idelfonso and Cochiti Pueblo, Jemez and  Sandias Mountains, and much more.

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Beautiful Caja Del Rio Plateau

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