The 29 Mile Sierra Vista Trail (in one day)

NOTE: This hike was originally planned for Mar 21, 2026. That is the date of the Bataan Memorial Marathon. I asked their planning committee if they could move their race. They said no! So, I moved this hike to Feb 21, 2026 instead.

The Goal: Complete the 29 mile hike of the Sierra Vista Trail in one day (Note: This is not a race. If running this trail AS A RACE is your thing signup for the race on March 7 instead)
The Date/Time: February 21, 2026. We start hiking at 6AM
Start: (32.323234, -106.630457) The North End of the Sierra Vista Trail on Dripping Springs Rd. About 7 miles east of I-10 at University Ave in Las Cruces.
Finish: (32.01092, -106.52185) The South End of the Sierra Vista Trail on Highway 404 (O'Hara Rd). Just east of Dona Ana Community College.
Hike Qualification: Hikers are required to qualify for the hike by attending at least 2-3 of approximately 6 hikes, that I will be posting between now and mid-March.
Minimum Number of Hikers: 20 hikers are necessary to start the hike or hike will be cancelled.

Long Distance Hikers: (runners are welcome)
This is a long-distance hike where each of you are responsible for yourself for the duration of the hike (attend at your own risk). That includes getting to the hike, the hike itself, and the pickup until you reach home. I am only trying to get enough hikers to start together at the north end.

Other related activities can be:
1. A party (a week or two after the hike) to celebrate the completed 29 mile hike (complete with award ceremony)
2. Going out to eat somewhere after each qualifying hike
3. etc. … make some suggestions

I am working on having a truck at the 14 mile mark (Pena Blanca). (It is east of I-10 to the trail from the Mesquite exit). I need one more vehicle there if you would like to volunteer or know someone who can help perform this task. (More on this topic later.) The plan is to have drinkable water there; or if a hiker were to opt out of the hike, at this point, one of the vehicles would provide transportation to the Finish or Start of hike (note: the hiker opting out, may have to await departure until 2 or more hikers have opted out and is convenient for truck to make that trip. One truck must be at the 14 mile mark at all times until last hiker has passed that spot 1 hour previous). That’s all. There will be no further services except for whomever will be picking you up at the Finish. The main take is: you really need to be able to hike 14 miles in a timely manner. Then decide for yourself if you can finish the hike. The folks at the 14 mile mark will be checking off hikers as they go by. Be sure your name is recorded as reaching the checkpoint before moving on.

Note: As we get closer to the hike date, this location may change (or other locations added) as there are other Sierra Vista trailheads accessible via I-10; and we have enough checkpoint volunteers. These other checkpoints may require a 4x4 to get there or at least a high clearance vehicle. For official Sierra Vista Trail brochure and more information about the trail, including map, use the following link Sierra Vista Trail | Bureau of Land Management go to Brochures near bottom right of page.

You may want to have your driver pick you up at one of these other trailheads if the entire hike is not your cup-of-tea, as it were.

I recommend:

1. Calling 911 or 1-800-637-9152 if you cannot make any of the vehicle access points during the 29 mile hike.
2. Hiking in small groups.
3. Not driving yourself home after the hike.
4. Carpooling between yourselves with a non-hiking driver that can also pick you up.
5. Maintaining that scheme in attending the required 2-3 minimum qualifying hikes.
6. Attending all 6 hikes as training exercises. Starting to train in February or even January is not a good plan. You should be hiking regularly in order to minimize difficulty of the 29 mile hike. Hiking 2-3 times a week at five (or more) miles per hike over uneven terrain is probably the minimum hiking you should be doing as training. (Voice your opinion in the comments section)
7. Layering your clothes. A start of 6am in late March probably means we are starting at a temperature near freezing. Be prepared.
8. Carrying 3 liters or 3 quarts of water each. You can refill at the 14 mile mark. You now have only 15 miles to Finish.
9. Two of the qualifying hikes planned are to each be a hike of about half the Sierra Vista trail, on the Sierra Vista trail. One of the hikes will be the northern part, the other is of the southern part.
10. Attending the Urban Iditarod in Las Cruces on March 7, 2026. Briefly, it will be a fun 6 or 7 mile dog sled hike through Las Cruces. You should be in a team where there are 5 persons per team. Each team dresses up as a type of dog with a theme, and pulls a dog sled (e.g., a wagon, a chariot, or other small cart you put together for this purpose). Keep an eye out for this fun hike which is also a qualifying hike for the 29 mile Sierra Vista Trail hike.
11. Please provide constructive comments in the comments section or DM me directly. All comments will be viewed and responded to.

Caution/Disclaimer: Each individual hiker is responsible for their own personal safety/health and of their guests when participating in Borderland Outdoors activities. The organizers of Borderland Outdoors and Borderland Outdoors are not liable for any illness, injury, accident, mechanical break-down, or unforeseen acts that may occur while you participate going to, during, or after any activity. If you have a medical condition that may be aggravated by any kind of physical activity you must make your own personal decision about attending and not hold any of the volunteer organizers liable. All organizers are volunteers and are not compensated during any activity.