LVSC Hike Report
Cerrillos Hills State Park - Cerrillos Region
2024-03-13
Hike Distance (mi): 4.6Elevation Change (ft): 425
Total Uphill (ft): 676
Total Downhill (ft): 676
Report:
Trip Report
Despite the confusion about the starting time, everyone on the list was on the van by 8:30 a.m. and with Stella at the wheel, we headed to the Turquoise Trail. We agreed the best way to get info about the hiking group is to sign up to get notices from the ASCHG website. There was a missed connection in Los Cerillos, so we did not get to tour the Visitor Center. The “Public Toilet” was clean and well stocked.
We left the trailhead at 10:00 am, hiking up the Jane Calvin Sanchez Trail, grateful for the frequent benches. After climbing about 150’ in elevation, we dropped down to The Mineral Spring YohToh. Then we trekked upwards again another 150’ or so in elevation gain on the Escalante Trail, the steepest accent. Once we reached the junction with the Elkins Trail, we hydrated and evaluated the weather, our stamina, and our timeline. Everyone felt confident to continue for another mile, instead of keeping to the 2.5 miles indicated in a Hike Change notice. The Mirador loop offered great vistas and many more historic mine sites. Those who went out on the Mirador Overlook appreciated both the visas and the informational signage. Then back down the Escalante Trail where we enjoyed our lunch in a nice picnic area. From there, it was an easy 0.5 miles down Camino Turquesa Rd. to the trailhead.
All Trails showed I hiked 3.7 miles (with most getting a bit more for venturing out on Mirador Overlook and other side shoots), with an elevation change of 522 feet. My total hiking time recorded was 1 hour 45 minutes. An hour was spent looking down holes in the ground, reading interpretive signage, taking hydration and other breaks, and checking out the sundial at the trailhead, while waiting for our turn at the “Public Toilet”.
We departed at 1 p.m., just before the rain / sleet started coming down! We were back at LVSC at 2:15 p.m. Sorry, no photo album. Thanks everybody for a fun filled day!
Hike Report Status: Published
Hike Leader(s): Jody Latimer
Hike Coordinator(s): Sherry Blumenstock Pam Bliss