Mesa Loop - Fort Bayard National Recreation Trails

This hiking trail is a large loop around a rock outcropping and a foothill mesa just below the Pinos Altos Range. It is about 5 miles total, but lightly travelled and has beautiful views of the mountains and deserts below. Ponderosa Pine at the top of the mesa along with pinyons, evergreen oaks, junipers, cottonwoods and walnuts decorate the trail. The trailhead has a large parking area, maps, and an composting toilet. This is about 10 miles northeast of Silver City just above Fort Bayard.