3 – Santa Fe Big Friggin Loop
June 27th, 2009
Jens Nielsen
is the ride coordinator/owner for this event.
He will handle any proposed route changes,
pre-rides, event day sign-in/sign-out, etc.
Thanks Jens!!!
The 2009 route is slightly different,
see map images and route description
sections 6-9 below for the changes.
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No more than 74 people allowed for this event!
Please make sure to read all rules for this. This is fully unsupported and you will need to be self-sufficient in order to complete this. The rules are located HERE.
When: Saturday June 29th, 2009, 6:30-AM – BE READY TO RIDE AT 6:30AM!! If you are late then do your best to catch up. 
Where: Meet at 2nd Street Brewery on San Mateo & the RR Tracks. Cloud Cliff Bakery is close by for early morning coffee.
GPS Track in GPX format:
– No warranty, express or implied, use at your own discretion.
– Must be member of and logged into NMES Google group to get files
– Right click on the link(s) below
- Select “Save Target As…”
– Change the file extension from “.xml” to “.gpx” or “.crs”
- If you have issues with the link below,
log onto NMES Google group, look under files at the bottom
to find all the GPS track files.
- SFBFL 2009 GPX file
- SFBFL 2009 CRS File (For Garmin Edge)
– Go here to convert to other GPS formats
– Go here to download TopoFusion PRO Free/Demo
PARKING: Please do not park at 2nd Street Brewery and respect their business. Use public parking area where available and be prepared to ride to the start.
An option for parking is at the NM State Employees Credit Union and it is located on the corner of Lorca & St. Michaels Dr. & San Mateo. They are not open on Sat. Should/could be easy parking and only half a block from the brewery. You ride right past it on the way to Atalya on San Mateo.
Also, big parking area at NM State Offices also on San Mateo next to Mandrell’s Gym (on San Mateo, around the corner from C.U.)
Beer at 2nd Street Brewery end of the ride for survivors. 
The crown jewel of the NMES -
a ~67 mile, 14k of climbing adventure!
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Starting from 2nd Street Brewery.
1. Turn R on San Mateo and make the following turns (or signs) to St. John’s College Right: San Mateo, Straight: Camino Lejo, Right: Old Santa Fe Trail, Left: Camino Del Monte Sol, Right: Camino de Cruz Blanca to St. John’s College. Once at St. John’s College head to parking lot and look for Atalaya Mountain Trailhead.
2. Follow the Atalaya Trail all the way up to the top of Atalaya Mountain. You will Cross Wilderness Gate Road after less than 2 miles. Choose either the steeper and or less steep route to the top.
3. Drop off the backside of Atalaya Mountain on the very steep and loose trail and head over to Dale Ball - look for cairns on your right. Do not miss this first right turn!!!!. Once connecting on the Dale Ball Trail Network – starting at intersection #41 follow the DB network through these intersections 41-36-35-40-32-31-30-29. Head to Dale Ball Center and connect 27-26-25-23-22-16-15-17-14-13 and head out on Hyde Park Road (R).
Remember to follow the exact route. If you miss a turn, go back and do the route properly. At the bottom of Dale Ball South, you can turn right and head up the gravel road to refill water at the Audobon Center. This is less than .5 miles out of the way.
While on Hyde Park Road you may be able to beg for water at Thousand Waves Spa. I’ve never tried it, but they do have water there.
4. Follow Hyde Park Road into the Santa National Forest and look for Chamisa Trail Tr. 183 parking area on your left. When in the parking area, take the right hand trail (both go to the same place, but the right hand one is the better trail). Once you climb Chamisa Trail, you will come to an intersection – turn right and ride down to Winsor Tr. 254 and turn Right to climb the mountain.
Now begin the 4000-ft climb up Tesuque! 
You can filter water out of Winsor Creek – OR – go off course and take Borrego/Bear Wallow to Hyde Park State Park to re-fill here. This is quite a few miles out of your way though.
5. Take Winsor Tr. 254 to Big Tesuque Tr. 152 and climb some more and cross Hyde Park Road at Big Tesuque Campground. There is a creek here to filter water out of. Continue climbing until you hit Aspen Vista Road and turn right to climb to the top of Tesuque Peak.
6. Once you crest the ski area, continue on up to the cell phone towers and take in the view – you are at 12,045-ft elevation!!
* Note – you MUST crest the mountain by going up to the cell towers for a quick out and back. No cheating and rolling through the ski area.
NOTE: The following is new for 2009
Turn back from the towers, and drop for a few hundred yards and follow the single track to the right. This single track runs on the ridge/top of the ski area right at the border of the wilderness. Follow this rocky single track north for 0.7 miles to the top of Deception Peak. The trail disappears on the windswept and barren peak, but continue to follow the peak to the top.
7. Once you crest the Deception Peak (12,409 ft) point your bike west (left and down) and find Ravens Ridge trail. This trail runs right on the ridge between the ski area and the wilderness. You should see Nambre Lake off to the right at times.
CAUTION: Ravens Ridge is very technical and difficult. Walk the difficult sections if needed.
8. At the bottom of Ravens Ridge, turn left onto Winsor Tr 254. Follow Winsor Tr 254 to below the paved parking lot below the ski area. Stop here to get water and refuel if planned.
Look the FS Outhouse and connect again to Winsor Tr 254, take this a short ways to Rio en Medio Tr. 163 and descend all the way to Aspen Ranch. Creeks and water are quite abundant, and so is giardia, so bring a filter.
9. At Aspen Ranch turn right on the gravel road, and then look to your left for the trailhead of the Borrego Tr. 150
NOTE: The following is new for 2009
Ride Tr. 150 for 0.7 miles to Rio en Medio Tr. 163. After crossing a creek, turn left and follow Rio en Medio Tr. 163 downhill. (Do not climb the switch backs)
CAUTION: Rio en Medio is very technical and difficult. Walk the difficult sections if needed.
Follow Rio-en-Medio Tr. 163 for about 4 miles to the little village of En Medio after crossing the creek a few times. Continue on the dirt roads until they turn to pavement, which eventually become SR 592. Look for the Recreation Center on your left for a potable rewater point (from hose spigot) once in town. Continue on 592 until you reach Pacheco Canyon Road.
10. Climb Pacheco Canyon Road (turn left) all the way back up to the Winsor Trail. This will be a long, gradual climb on a dirt road. This is not the last climb of the day, but it is that last long one. From the Rec. Center in En Medio to the Winsor Trail it is a 10-mile climb covering 3100-ft of elevation gain!
11. Sweet Descent! Turn R on Winsor and descend Tr. 254 all the way back down to the Chamisa Trail.
12. Turn L on Chamisa and climb back up to the saddle with the map and 5 way trail.
13. At the top of saddle at Chamisa, turn R and climb, climb some more on sweet singletrack on Sidewinder Tr. 232. Continue Sidewinder Tr. 232 to Tr. 399, but turn left at the fence line (there should be a cairn) and descend toward Hyde Park Road. Part way down the hill there will be an intersection, stay straight/left here and continue descending to the bottom. At the bottom of Tr. 399 there will be another trail intersection.
14. Continue straight/left (different from 2007) and follow Little Tesuque Trail Creek east to Hyde Park Road. This is less than ¼ mile from the intersection. Go right on Hyde Park Road towards Santa Fe, there will be a 250ft climb up to Ten Thousands Waves.
15. Head towards Dale Ball Central, and go left at the main parking area for Dale Ball North/Central. This is intersection 13. Follow these intersections: 13-12-18-20-24, until you reach Cerro Gordo Rd
16. Turn left on Cerro Gordo Rd. Right; Upper Canyon Rd, Left; Camino Cabra. Follow Camino Cabra until you pass the turn for St John’s College. Retrace your steps from the morning, back to Second Street Brewery:
Right; Camino de Cruz Blanca, Left; Camino Del Monte Sol, Right: Old Santa Fe Trail, Left Camino Lejo, Straight; San Mateo
17. Congrats, you just finished the hardest mountain bike ride in Santa Fe, NM!
Maps;
Excellent maps exists from the following;
1. Santa Fe County for Dale Ball Network (not needed however because all intersections of the trail netwrok are marked with a map.)
2. Sky Terrain Trail Maps has the entire course mapped out – including Dale Ball. This is an excellent Map and will cover you entirely.
3. Drake Mountain Maps are also available all around Santa Fe and cover most of the netwrok but not all of Dall Ball.
General Notes;
1. Rewater point is in the village of En Medio at the Rec. Center. If packing a water filter there will be plenty of place to replenish your water supply. Food sources will not be obtainable along the route, although the route does pass through some small vilages.
2. Bail-out points. They are numerous and easily accessible. The most common is at En Medio, where a lot of people have skipped the Pacheco Cyn. Road climb and went to Tesuque for food at the Village Store and then wheeled it back into town.
3. The final rally point is at 2nd Street Brewery. IPA….das good!
4. Remember – no cheating! Start with the group at the designated time and place. Follow the exact route posted here and be prepared to support yourself in order to recieve credit for finishing. Read the rules, bring all maps, a gps, water filter, and enough food in order for you to not only complete the trip, but also for you to survive.
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