Last weekend I did a couple of mellow hikes in the Socorro area, revisiting the beautiful San Lorenzo Canyon and then exploring Arroyo del Tajo for the first time. I have been aware of the short box/slot canyon in Arroyo del Tajo for many years, but just hadn't taken the time to visit it. I'm glad to have finally seen its beauty for myself!
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| These ridges get split by these arroyos |
I met my dad in the morning and we, along with the dogs, headed out, leaving Los Lunas probably around 8 in the morning after a stop for a breakfast burrito and gas top off. Southward we went, passing the pecan orchards outside of Belen, the Sevilleta and Bernardo Refuges, exiting at Escondida toward Escondida Lake. Lake is a rather aspirational term, but it is a beautiful oasis in an otherwise barren desert.
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| Nice long millipede |
Our plan was to head south on a road just west of the Quebradas and venture to the box section from the west, visiting some pictographs in the process. We followed the "road" for as much as we could, but recent heavy rains have washed out many sections that pass through arroyos, and there was still an exceptional amount of mud. We ultimately reached a muddy stretch where the end was not in sight, so we called it and ventured around to the eastern approach, off of the Quebradas Backcountry Byway. En route I spotted my first desert tortoise!
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| Desert tortoise! He just made it across the road :) |
If you're a lover of the desert like myself, you will definitely appreciate the views of the rugged Quebradas. A topographical delight painted with splashes of creosote and ocotilla, this region hides many treasures for those willing to wander and find them.
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| Arroyo near the parking area |
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| Dad and dogs heading toward canyon |
When we arrived at our parking spot, the dogs hopped out excitedly, happily trotting around this foreign landscape, smelling everything new. We ventured westward, admiring the rock formations and fossils, slowly heading downhill toward the ridge that the arroyo cuts through, creating the dramatic box. I expected to see some snakes out here, as it was a warm August day, but the only visible life were some lizards, beetles, and gargantuan tarantula hawk wasps.
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| Walls start rising | | |
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| Dogs are loving it out here |
The winding arroyo was a pleasant and modest hike, with nearly no notable elevation gain in either direction, until you enter the jewel of the arroyo that is. As you round the last couple corners, the rock starts to rise noticeably and the destination becomes obvious.
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| Trek peering down the first short drop |
As soon as you reach the first narrow spot there is a small drop, down which our dogs skittered their way. Then it turned into more of a gorge, with dramatic walls over a hundred feet tall. You stroll through a few corners, and things start to drop again. My dad hopped over a pool and into wet sand that sank down a foot or so. Juniper (the white dog) followed suit, but she slipped into the pool and quickly ran out. The other dog, Trek, went up and over, down some more interesting terrain.
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| Dad in the deeper part of the canyon |
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| Dogs in narrower section |
Shortly thereafter, we were at the exit of the canyon, which terminated in another drop of about 15-20 feet. We opted to have lunch here before turning around. If you continue downstream, there is purportedly a small display of pictographs. While I would love to see that, it shall have to wait until another day, as rain clouds were starting to build.
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| Slot-ish tributary. Interesting, but far too thick with brush |
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| Peering back into the open, but deep gorge |
As we headed back upstream, I found a geocache that is in the area, the dogs opted to soak in all of the shallow pools in the canyon, and we found a surprisingly large beetle. We also located an old homestead ruin, one of many in the Quebradas. Everytime I find these ruins out here, I can't help but wonder what it must have been like to try to homestead this area. A harsh living it must have been.
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| Rare to see beetles this big...at least in my experience |
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| Old Homestead ruin |
The rest of the hike back was uneventful. Warm, but with welcome shade from the clouds attempting to spit rain. We got back to the car and headed back out toward civilization. This is such a lovely and quiet region, with surprises hiding around every corner. I've been to the Quebradas multiple times since this visit, and I am blown away by the things hiding out here every time.
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| Teasing monsoonal skies |
But as always...don't just take my word for it. Get out and find out for yourself!
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