Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Ojito Wilderness is 11,000 acres of vast high desert, with mesas, box canyons, arroyos, and badlands.
The trailhead parking lot off Cabezon Road is about 30 miles northwest of Bernalillo, New Mexico. After turning off Hwy 550 onto Cabezon, you’ll feel far removed from civilization.
Into the Ojito Wilderness
The road into the wilderness area is dirt and gravel, with many dips and trenches from heavy rains and off-road vehicles. We were in our Subaru, driving slowly and cautiously. Our dogs were riding in the back, anxious to get out and explore.
Following the map to the Hoodoo Trail, we passed the parking lot for the White Ridge Bike Trails.
Based on the number of vehicles in the lot, this is a popular trail for mountain biking. As we drove further into the wilderness, we began to hear gunfire.
Several cars were parked off the road, and people were shooting rifles towards the mesas. We were not yet within the boundaries of the Ojito Wilderness, and target practice is allowed in this area. However, I don’t think the Bureau of Land Management sign is considered a target.
Not much further up the road, we passed the entrance sign for the wilderness area. Since the hiking trails are located within this area, shooting is not allowed beyond this point. Bouncing along the rutted dirt road, we soon reached the parking lot.
After getting the dogs and cameras ready, we walked across the road towards what we thought was the trail.
Exploring with Our Dogs
Plans changed, and we didn’t hike the Hoodoo Trail that day.
Instead, we explored the area at the mesa base and to the west of the trail. Max and Sadie didn’t mind. They had a great time.
This rock near the mesa base reminded us of New Mexico’s state bird, the roadrunner.
We followed a path around the front of the mesa and into a partially enclosed area. From the tracks and droppings, we assume local cattle frequented it. Luckily, they were not around while we explored.
Images from Our First Ojito Wilderness Hike
The section of the Ojito Wilderness we hiked on our first visit contained small hoodoos, interesting rock formations, and spectacular views.
On the way back to our car, we found the Hoodoo trailhead. It was slightly east of where we hiked with the dogs. We immediately began making our plans to return.
The Hoodoo Trail
A couple of weeks later, we returned to the Ojito Wilderness. On this visit, we drove our Ford 350 and left our dogs in the RV. The trail was steeper than our previous hike, and our older dog, Max, would have struggled.
The trail begins as a cow path near the road, then turns to take hikers behind the mesa.
Rock stacks have been added along the trail, keeping hikers on the correct path.
In the higher elevation, you will find interesting rock formations.
We often stopped to enjoy the view from the trail.
Rocks come in all sizes and shapes in the Ojito Wilderness.
Colorful Hoodoos
The trail leads up into a sandy area with smaller hoodoos..
The colors in the sand are beautiful. If you like these types of rock formations, check out our post, Hiking to the Top at Tent Rocks National Monument.
When we walked on the sand, our shoes exposed the different colors. It was fun to take a step on the white sand, lift a foot, and see the colors in the shoeprint.
Bernalillito Mesa Loop
On the way up the trail, we met a couple hiking back out. We asked if they had hiked to the end of the trail.
“Oh, no,” they replied, explaining the trail continued for several more miles into the wilderness.
At that point, we’d been hiking for about an hour and a half. After discussing, we decided to keep going and turn around by 5:00 pm.
Later that evening, I reviewed my Google Maps timeline. The GPS showed we hiked from the Wilderness Trail to the Overlook Loop and onto the Bernalillito Mesa. We had stopped before completing the loop because it was getting late, and we were uncertain about the difficulty of the remaining trail.
And we didn’t want to be in the wilderness after dusk.
An Observation
We love hiking and exploring places like the Ojito Wilderness. We also realize that we share this space with others. Unfortunately, some people lack respect for the gift of nature and the freedom to participate in various activities.
When we stopped to take a picture of the pond off Cabezon Road, we found piles of shotgun shells. While target shooting is allowed in this area, leaving trash behind is not.
If you are in the Albuquerque area, we recommend visiting the Ojito Wilderness. Be sure to plan your trip, giving yourself plenty of time to explore.
Another great area to hike is the Foothills in the northeast section of Albuquerque, near the base of the Sandia Mountains.
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Peggy Staver, the author of this blog, is a freelance writer specializing in outdoor recreation and hospitality. You can contact her at peggystaver.com. Photos were taken by Photography by Andreas. Visit his portfolio here.
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