Rio Mimbres Loop

The Mimbres region of the American Southwest is celebrated for the beautiful and expressive black-on-white pottery made there in the distant past. Archaeologists refer to the period between A.D. 1000 and 1130—marked by the famous Mimbres Black-on-white pottery and large pueblo villages—as the Classic Mimbres period.

The Rio Mimbres Loop is one of those rides where you don’t know what you’ll get. There wasn’t much info on the internet at all so an adventure awaited! Derek’s ride was 22.4 miles with 1639′ of climbing and at least 40 water crossings. Yes, 40!

For the most part, the loop was on atv doubletrack with some sandy sections but also so nice dirt roads through the forest. The one significant climb totaled about 5.5 miles and gained 1056′. The views don’t differ much since the ride is mostly tucked in the forest of pines, oaks, and junpiers. It’s a remote experience and you’re unlikely to see many, if any, people.

As for the water crossings, most of them required dismounting or perhaps falling in the water. The unknown was all the hidden rocks below the surface waiting to grab your tire and force you in. Chalk this up as an adventure along the Mimbres River.