A Trek Through the Desert
A Trek Through the Desert
By: Paul Dahlgren
Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau
As the sun peaks over the Organ Mountains, the scurrying rodents and the beautiful array of blossoming cacti aren’t the only signs of life, as a small trail of dust snakes up the mountainous terrain, trailing a group mountain bikers enjoying one of Las Cruces’ many mountain biking trails.
With a variety of different mountain ranges, that have wide range of trails and trail variations, at skill levels ranging from beginning to advanced, Las Cruces provides a wealth of year-round outdoor excursions, which give you that outdoor adventure you’ve been looking for, without the expensive travel costs.
“This is one of the best kept resources in Las Cruces…our trails are definitely top rated,” said International Mountain Bicycling Association Member Ron Herring, who explained that people from all over the nation come to experience the trails in Las Cruces.
Being out in the desert and mountainous landscape can be a wonderful learning experience, as, “there are a lot of fascinating animals, ecology, geography and history,” said Herring while explaining that people don’t often realize, “just how much life is out here,” and when, “you stop to take a break, and look at the plant life, you just say,…‘wow.’”
The great weather year-round allows for mountain bikers to ride almost anytime during the year, whereas, other mountain biking hotspots are often seasonal, because of inclement weather.
“We have the best weather for biking,” Herring said, and went on to say that, not only can you ride year-round, but, that the views of the surrounding landscapes when you’re riding, “are amazing… it’s so vast, and you can see out so far.”
“One really nice thing about this area is cell phone contact,” said IMBA Member Mike Lorimer, who explained that cell phone service, is available in many of the trails, which is helpful if you run into any problems.
“There are not a lot of dangerous things out here,” said Herring, as he went on to caution that, although the trails are relatively safe, mountain bikers should always wear a helmet, bring plenty of water and consistently keep safety in mind.
As mountain biking has become more popular in recent years, more and more mountain bikers are getting their families involved. “We have a lot of families coming out,” and, “the trails are set up to where, the further you go out, the more difficult it gets,” said Herring, just as I happened to catch a glance of a father and his two younger sons riding by on the trail.
Age doesn’t seem to be a debilitating factor for many mountain bikers as, “the age range is just amazing,” said Herring. “I’ve got a couple in their 70’s who go out and camp,” said Lorimer, while he explained the wide variety of people who come out to the trails.
“They’re [the trails] not that far, it’s not going to cost you a tank of gas,” said Outdoor Adventures Manager Pablo Lopez while mentioning that many of the biking trails are in very close proximity to Las Cruces.
Visitors who don’t have their own mountain bike can still and rent one, at stores such as, Outdoor Adventures, which rents mountain bikes for $20 a day.
There are a number of ongoing bike rides throughout Las Cruces, which anyone is free to join in on, and ride alongside other avid mountain bikers from the area.
For more information and maps on trails, in and around Las Cruces, visit the recreation section of: www.lascrucescvb.org
