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Get off the beaten path on this challenging trail.


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Map Key

4.2

Miles

6.8

KM

Singletrack

10,291' 3,137 m

High

8,646' 2,635 m

Low

109' 33 m

Up

1,754' 535 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (5°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Description

The Challenge Trail is a great downhill adventure and a challenging climb.

As a climb, start as per King of the Mountain, and head right at the start and slightly downhill through the grass--the trail will emerge. This trail is part of a cross-country skiing trail system, and other trails such as the 9 mile loop intersect it at times. This description and GPX use the official Challenge Trail on Mapbuilder.

Follow the trail up and up, sometimes climbing up and over deadfall, sometimes up super steep hills, and other times through high meadows. The trail eventually climbs to the Ellis Trailhead and parking area, where you can head back down or connect with King of the Mountain or other mountainside trails.

As a descent, the best and fastest terrain is from Ellis trailhead to where the trail intersects with the 10K Trail #200. You can easily connect with 10 K and Golden Eagle or King of the Mountain for a fun adventure, or keep heading down to where the trail is less travelled and can be tricky to find at times. Hopefully, the GPX and having this on MTB Project will help with that.

If solitude and some fun challenge is what you are after, this is a great trail.

Contacts

Shared By:

Sarah Councell

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 7 votes

#8011

Overall
  4.4 from 7 votes
5 Star
57%
4 Star
29%
3 Star
14%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#159

in New Mexico

#8,011

Overall
20 Views Last Month
1,374 Since May 27, 2019
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
14%
14%
57%
14%
0%

Photos

On the climb up Challenge Trail #233.
Jul 21, 2022 near Sandia…, NM
Start of climb.
Jul 21, 2022 near Sandia…, NM
Climb up Challenge Trail #233 with 10K Trail #200 Crossing.
Jul 21, 2022 near Sandia…, NM
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
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Check-Ins

Sep 24, 2021
Glenn Gould
The top of the trail has been moved by the forest service and follows the road now. The MTB map does not reflect this change
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