Carson National Forest
Salazar Trail

Canjilon Ranger District

Elevations:

• Trail Beginning: 6,920 ft
• Trail End: 6,800 ft

To get here, follow US Highway 84: 51 miles north from Espanola, 39.5 miles south from Chama. The trailhead is at the north end of a guard rail on the west side of the road.

This 3.5 mile trail starts out level but begins to ascend the mesa about 1/4 mile in. As you gain the mesa top, the vegetation changes from pinon and sagebrush to Ponderosa pine and mixed conifers. However, there's lots of low-lying cactus to watch out for. No motorized vehicles or equipment is allowed on the trail or in the wilderness area now but in the 1960's and 1970's the Salazar Trail was an access road used by uranium prospectors. 3.5 miles in you'll come to the intersection with the Rim Vista Trail, marked with rock cairns and blue diamond markers on the trees.

Rating: Easy to moderate