Gila & Aldo Leopold Wilderness / Car Camping / Labor Day Weekend

3 nights/ 4 day off road exploration with hiking each day at New Mexico’s Gila National Forest.

We will meet Friday morning. We will meet at the Kohl’s/Starbucks off Red Road on the west side at 6 am. and leave sharply at 6:15 a.m. Please arrive with a full tank of gas. We will then drive to the Valero located on the New Mexico highway 180 in Deming. Please meet here at the Valero if you are coming from outside of El Paso. We will stop here for a bathroom break. We will then proceed on to Lake Roberts and camp at the Mesa Campground.

Driving North Star Road (Forest Road 150) offers a 55 mile rugged, deep-backcountry passage through the heart of southwest New Mexico’s wildest terrain.

Originally built as a military and supply route in the late 19th century, this unpaved corridor cleanly bisects the Gila Wilderness (America’s first designated wilderness) to the west and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness to the east.

Why You Should Drive It

• True Solitude and Immersion: Because the road splits two massive protected wilderness areas, there is virtually no commercial development or permanent settlement along the route. It provides access to thousands of acres of roadless backcountry without needing to hike in.
• Diverse Landscapes & Dramatic Canyons: The road traverses high mesas, rolling grasslands, thick ponderosa pine forests, and dramatic drop-offs as it crosses rugged corridors like Black Canyon and Diamond Creek.
• World-Class Stargazing & Dispersed Camping: North Star Mesa and the surrounding spur roads offer free dispersed camping spots tucked into pine stands with exceptional, dark-sky night views.
• Trailhead & Recreation Access: It serves as a launch point for major wilderness trails, including access points for the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).

You drive at your own risk if you come on this outing! The North Star road is 55 miles! Once we reach the end, we still have another 65 miles till the next service station. Bring a Jerry can with fuel if you are worried about running out of fuel. Make sure your vehicle is in good shape and have a spare tire in case of a flat and/or a tire repair kit. FR 150 is predominantly dirt and gravel. While lower sections on North Star Mesa are often graded and passable in dry weather by high-clearance 2WD passenger vehicles, large sections feature washboarding, loose rock, steep grades, and narrow switchbacks. High-clearance vehicles (and ideally 4WD/AWD) are recommended, especially after rain, when mud and ruts can make the road impassable. It is recommended to air down tires to 20-25 psi to avoid flats and have a smoother driving experience. There is no cell service in this area! Carpooling is recommended. Please be considerate and help cover gas if you are carpooling with someone.

Weather
Expect day temps to be between 80 and 90 degrees during the day, and night time temps to be in the range of 40 and 50 degrees. We are still in monsoon season!Thunderstorms are a possibility so bring a rain jacket just in case. Flash floods are a possible as well.

Campfire
Stage 1 fire restrictions are in place. No campfires allowed for dispersed camping. Campfire are only allowed at designated campgrounds. Propane grills and jet boils are allowed

Food
We can all do a pot luck and coordinate on what to bring. I’m open to that. I know everyone has different dietary restrictions, so if people just want to bring their own food for themselves, I am also ok with that. We can have a group discussion on this.

Itinerary
Friday 9/4

We leave to the Gila NF. We will set up camp at Mesa campground located by Lake Roberts. Cost is $15 per campsite for 2 vehicles. There are two areas that I am hoping that will be available that will accommodate 4 vehicles to the site. Meaning it would cost $30 to cover all 4 vehicles. This campground has two restrooms with plumbing. Toilet to flush and sinks to wash hands and face. If there is no room, we can easily find another in the nearby campground. After we set up camp, we can do a hike. Afterwards, head back to camp to relax and enjoy the lake.

Railroad Canyon
Type: out and back
Mileage: 7 miles ⛔️
Estimated time to complete: 3-5 hours⚠️
Elevation: 1,100 ft gain/loss)⚠️
Difficultly: moderate/ strenuous

Because it cuts straight through the base of a dramatic canyon floor, it features a highly gradual, easy uphill slope gaining just around 1,100 feet of elevation. Unlike the heavily exposed trails nearby, this route stays nestled beneath a dense canopy of tall Ponderosa pines, cottonwoods, and sycamores. This shade makes it an excellent choice for a cooler hike during warmer months. The trail closely tracks an active creek bed. Depending on recent seasonal snowmelt or rainfall, you will cross small, flowing streams that draw local wildlife like mule deer, elk, and a massive variety of native birds.

Saturday 9/5

We pack up and begin our drive on the North Star Road to do a hike into the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Afterwards, we continue to drive till we get to the Lower Black Canyon Campground to set up camp.

Mimbres River trail
Type: out and back
Mileage: 10.3 miles ⛔️
Estimated time to complete: 4-6 hours⚠️
Elevation: 1,368 ft gain/loss)⚠️
Difficultly: hard/ strenuous

The Mimbres River Trail (#77) offers a completely different flavor of adventure, shifting you from the deep canyons of the Gila into a challenging, rugged ridge-to-valley trek across the neighboring Aldo Leopold Wilderness. If you want true, unbothered solitude alongside a fragile ecosystem, this is your trail.

Sunday 9/6

We wake up and begin our hike straight from the campground.

Upper Black Canyon
Type: out and back
Mileage: 8.6 miles ⛔️
Estimated time to complete: 3-5 hours⚠️
Elevation: 300 ft gain/loss)⚠️
Difficultly: moderate/ strenuous

The Upper Black Canyon Trail (#72) in the Gila NF is a must-do hike because it offers a secluded, primitive escape along a babbling trout stream nestled beneath towering volcanic rock walls. Located within the historic Gila Wilderness and bordering the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, this trail provides an authentic, crowd-free backcountry experience

Monday 9/7

Drive out of the Gila NF and begin our trip back home. We will stop by Winston, Nm for refill on gas and a brief restroom break. We will connect to I-25 near Elephant Butte.

Dogs are welcome as long as they can do the mileage. You are responsible for the safety and well being of your dog. Please be sure that your dog is friendly with other dogs.

Participants should be in good physical condition to attend this outing. Folks with an underlying medical condition should avoid moderate and strenuous outings. Participants who RSVP yes also agree to the Release of Liability statement: https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-dWiUFgVP/about/

For safety reasons we hike together and support each-other as a group/team, with the leader in control. We stop, rest, eat, etc. together. No one will be allowed to hike ahead at any time. If you are unwilling to comply with this please do not sign up.

⚠️I reserve the right to remove any one from this hike. ⚠️

Thank You

What to bring
Day-hike gear, water/sports drinks, hiking poles, snacks, tent, sleeping bag, food. Bring the 10 essentials:

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/day-hiking-checklist.html