Hike Leader: Michael Grady
Hike Date: January 23, 2021
Hike Distance: 10 +/- wandering miles
Elevation Gain: 500 ft.
Photo: Michael Grady
This venture into the Ojito Wilderness, about 45 minutes from Albuquerque, was led back in January for our Blitz weekend, when we resumed hikes again. The leader for this one was the great and invaluable Michael Grady. The hike, in the greater Querencia Arroyo region, visited several archaeological/historical sites. As a result, and in order to not divulge any exact locations, Mr. Grady has presented more of a general overview of the region instead of a step by step trip report.
Thank you Michael Grady for always taking the club to such special places!
Photo: Michael Grady
The Ojito area comprises more than just the designated wilderness as we know it. It is bordered on the east by the San Ysidro anticline and restricted by Pueblo barbed wire. To the west the Cabezon Road is the only route until joining the Pipeline Road about 12 miles from the pavement at US 550.
Photo: Michael Grady
The greater public lands are of mixed character: wonder land, wander land, wasteland. The Querencia Arroyo is a kind of deep dividing feature. You'll have to deal with it sometime if you hike out there.
Like Egypt of old, if you will, it is divided into upper and lower drainages. The flat grass/cactus flats are drained by the Querencia fed from the cliff-protected mesas above. You must decide early on that you're hiking in the low lands or the high lands and then identify the sketchy game paths connecting the two.
Historical residences and appurtenances are located within short distances from what may once have been lush water sources now scars 20ft deep in places where the water table has fallen. There was once a community of sorts stretching along the Querencia, now mostly barren, the vegetation limited to cholla cactus.
Above, there is the usual piñon/juniper ecosystem enhanced by views from the Sandias to the south, Cabezon to the north, the Santa Fe summits, the Ladrons, the Nacimiento range directly in front of you.
Photo: Michael Grady
From Albuquerque, take the Cabezon Rd, about 20 miles from Bernalillo on US550 north and 2 miles south of San Ysidro. The first 4 miles are posted Pueblo land, KEEP OUT. There is a BLM parking spot immediately after the boundary cattle guard. This demarcates public from Pueblo land. In another mile or so there is a BLM parking facility used by mountain biking folk. Keeping on the Cabezon Rd brings you to the true wilderness boundary at about 9.5 miles from US550. At about 12 miles there is a BLM parking spot for the HooDoo trail and at 12.5 to 13 miles the Pipeline Rd is another wilderness boundary.
This is a good access point for the interior of the Ojito, a nice introduction to the area. Tourist hikers can ooh-ahh at the rock formations then quickly return to the cars while real hikers can navigate to ruins and examples of striking geology.
Almost all of the premium experience out here is off-trail, seat of the pants, exploration. Take the appropriate maps and know how to use them. You can go wherever you want and discover what's out there.
Photo: Michael Grady
Roads are generally in OK condition but are forbidden when wet. Ruts, wallows, washouts, roadside ditches are traps for the unwary driver.
As an addition to this trip report, we (the New Mexico Mountain Club) feel obligated to remind you all that it is illegal to disturb any sort of archaeological sites. Be that by modifying, removing artifacts, etc. Should you come across any of these places, do like the hikers above and take nothing but photos.