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Trail Mix is a monthly column featuring off-the-beaten-path adventures in New Mexico.

By Justin Schatz, Sandoval Signpost

Rising over 1,100 feet from the Rio Puerco Valley, Cabezon Peak dominates this remote and rugged valley just west of Albuquerque. Despite its relative isolation, it’s just over an hour’s drive from Albuquerque and an easy stop to cooler temperatures in the higher elevations of the Jemez and offers plenty of recreation opportunities for just about any adventure. 

The towering plug is part of the greater Mount Taylor volcanic field that was active between 1.5 -4 million years ago. The plug itself rises 1,100 feet from its base and 2,000 feet from the Rio Puerco Valley floor to an elevation of 7,785 feet. The neck of the plug is composed of highly resilient fine-grained porphyritic basalts offering trad climbing opportunities and a notable class 3 scramble opportunity to the summit.

Visitors venturing into this remote corner of the state will be greeted by empty roads, public lands stretching as far as the eye can see, ghost towns and several adjacent wilderness study areas that include Chamisa and Ojito Wilderness study areas that are also rugged geological gems. 

The easiest route to access the remote and rugged peak is from U.S. 550 between Cuba and San Ysidro. Take Old State Highway 279 south. A small parking lot is located at its base. An off-roading vehicle is recommended but not necessary.

The trail to the base of Cabezon is 1.9 miles out and back from the small dirt parking lot located at the end of BLM 1114. From the parking lot, a well-marked trail — follow the cairns — will lead to the east side of the neck. Even at the base of the neck, the views of the valley are nothing short of breathtaking. Mount Taylor towers to the west. The Jemez lies to the north, and dozens of smaller plugs dot the Rio Puerco to the south. Vast mesas, most notably Mesa Prieta, tower above the valley floor and the smaller volcanic plugs.

For those desiring a little more adventure, the scramble to the summit of Cabezon Peak is not for the faint of heart. Despite its resilient nature, some of the organic material from the original scoria cone remains near the summit and offers a much less reliable hold than the basalt spires. The trail is only distinguished by cairns that wind their way through questionably navigable cracks in the neck. The summit is worth the sometimes painful climb, offering an unparalleled view of the valley and the Rio Grande rift to the west. 

Cabezon Peak and the surrounding Rio Puerco Valley have no shortage of recreational opportunities for those seeking a weekend off the beaten path. Hikers and climbers will revel at what Cabezon Peak holds. Endless and often forgotten BLM roads are a mountain biker’s delight. Those with high-clearance vehicles can even spend a weekend exploring the ghost towns that dot the arid valley. Just don’t forget to bring plenty of water.