The United States Army established Fort Bayard as an installation offering protection for miners and settlers in 1866. It’s now deserted and a trail system winds around the area. We rode here a couple years ago and Derek rode here again while I hiked. The ride was 17.5 miles with 1455′ of climbing.
The trails out here are fairly mellow with only a few technical spots so great for a chill ride. There are a few highlights along the way. First up, the dragonfly petroglyph. Carved into a rock just off trail is a perfectly intact petroglyph. According to Zuni Interpretation, Dragonflies are the ones that are receiving the rain, so you see a lot of them when there is going to be moisture or where there is moisture. If you see dragonflies you know there is water somewhere. Indeed, Twin Sisters Creek is still flowing with water this time of year and the ride (and my hike) had quite a few water crossings. Side note: one of the pictures is of the Twin Sisters mountains. You’ll be able to spot it.
At the further reaches of the system is Big Tree Trail. The feature is indeed a giant alligator juniper, a state-sanctioned record-size tree. Standing tall at 63 feet with a circumference of 18 feet 4 inches, it’s massive. Allergy season is here and there are huge berries on the trees. Derek started taking his allergy medicine a couple months ago luckily.
I stumbled upon a pretty cool painting along an old concrete bridge structure off the beaten path. I’m not sure of it’s significance but it was fun to find. That’s what I like so much about being outside..seeing the expected and the unexpected. Check it out in the pictures.
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