Carson National Forest
Tony Marquez Trail 41

Tres Piedras Ranger District

Elevations:

• Trail Beginning: 9,200 ft
• Trail End: 10,800 ft

The Tony Marquez Trail is located in a non-motorized area of the Forest, bordered by private land (the Tierra Amarilla Land Grant), with big panoramas in all directions but especially spectacular are the views of the Brazos Cliffs.

Follow US Highway 64 about 14.5 miles west from Tres Piedras, then turn right (north) on Forest Road 133. Go about 2.25 miles, then turn left on to Forest Road 80 and go another 4 miles. There's plenty of parking and a bulletin board with information about the trail.

The trail heads west from here, crossing the Tusas River on two foot bridges as it meanders through the vast meadows and parks of the Rincon Negro. Then the trail rises into the high alpine and you'll come in view of several large rockslides. At the marked trail junction, turn north and hike through about 2 miles of high alpine meadows before coming into thick alpine and old-growth forest. If you go east from here you'll come to a rock formation that the geologists have decided is the oldest rock on the surface of North America.

In the late 1800's, this area was consumed by the Osier Fire, one of the largest naturally-caused fires in New Mexico's history. The fire burned all summer and into the winter, from Canjilon north to the Colorado border. The fire was so large and intense that it changed the character of the landscape and created the large, open parks that you can see in all directions.

Mid-winter snow out here can reach 4-feet deep and can last well into June. Tres Piedras has the nearest facilities (20 to 25 miles east). In summer, most of this land is leased for cattle grazing so respect allotment gates and leave them as you found them.

Rating: Novice to intermediate