Rio Mimbres Loop

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Unknown

Another classic Honey Badger (Jim) special adventure loop that will take you up and around the Main Fork of the Mimbres River and will include multiple creek crossings, Native American pictograms, strenuous climbs and fast descents.

Multiple creek crossings along FR 4080T: Mimbres River Main Fork. Use caution following episodes of precipitation.

A classic Gila adventure ride. Do not let the fact that this is on ATV and Jeep trails fool you. It will take you deep into the Gila National Forest, and you'll be challenged with multiple creek crossings, a robust climb, and a fast, slick descent.

Start this ride just before crossing the Mimbres River near the beginning of McKnight Road. You'll see ATV trail (FR 4080T: Mimbres River Main Fork) to the left and in front of the river. Take this trail and follow it as it runs roughly parallel to the river, The trail will snake around and through the river multiple times. During the dry seasons, the first few miles of creek crossings will be dry; however, this will soon give way to multiple wet crossings. Following monsoon and winter precipitation, these crossings can become quite deep and even iced over, so use caution.

A few miles up FR 4080T: Mimbres River Main Fork, you'll see a rock wall to the right and a large orange Native American pictogram. Be sure to take pictures but leave the pictogram alone otherwise.

After approximately eight miles of steady climbing and multiple river crossings, FR 4080T: Mimbres River Main Fork will give way to a dirt road, Cooney Road 150A.

Cooney Road 150A is not technical but will include several hundred feet of climbing in less than two miles. This will take you out of the canyon and connect onto North Star Mesa Road 150. After topping out on North Star Mesa Road, turn left and head down the road until you see a green Forest Service gate to the right that opens onto FR 4079R.

Continue onto FR 4079T Lincoln Canyon Road and enjoy a gradual, several mile long descent along the road that is accented by several dry creek crossings decorated with babyheads. While FR 4079T Lincoln Canyon Road will end at an intersection with the paved I35, there will be an unnamed ATV trail on the left (FR 4085Z) that will head southeast. This path connects to FR 4085Y and FR 4086B, which will allow you to bypass a couple of miles of pavement, but eventually end on the road. Upon reaching I35, simply turn left to complete this beautiful and robust ride.