We had a picnic and did a short hike in Windmill Canyon on Monday (3/30/20). I had wanted to go to Bobcat Canyon in the Little Floridas using a newly devised route, and we did try, but ran into some "NO TRESPASSING" signs again. As of this writing I have figured out how to get there while staying on BLM land but it will have to wait for another day. Instead we went off to Windmill Canyon in the "big" Floridas. The poppies are still wonderful, but the road in Windmill is not.
It's drivable, but narrow, rough and slow. Unfortunately, upon exiting the vehicle, we realized the wind had picked up considerably. We hiked up to somewhat sheltered area at the "gates" of canyon: two enormous bare rock towers that overlook the narrowest part of the stream course.
We had our picnic and continued upstream, at first following the last of the road and then the use trail. It's a steady climb the whole way, although back in the bowl-like basin beyond the "gates" we were protected on all sides from the wind, and it began to get warm enough for us to shed our jackets.
I found a nice little spring that was flowing for about 50 feet before it disappeared again in the boulders and gravel and that's where we turned around. I kept scanning the the cliffs and ridges for ibex, but didn't see a one.
Windmill Canyon is an impressive place, with piñons so huge they take on aspect of spreading oak trees, massive cliffs, rock glaciers and more. It would no doubt be swamped with visitors were it nearer a population center. As it was, like always, we sought and were grateful for the solitude.
What's the directions to this one, Devon and can you get a few miles walk out of it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTake I-10 to the Deming exit on the far east side of town. On the south side, you will head east on NM 549 and then turn to the south on NM 143 toward Rockhound State Park.You will head east briefly and then turn right on NM 198. Stay left where it splits you will be on a dirt road now, called something like Gap Rd. ( it also has a county number). In about 2.5 miles there is the primitive road that ascends Windmill Canyon on the right.
ReplyDeleteWhere the road disappears after about a mile, the walking gets very steep and rough. So go as far as you like, but in the extreme upper reaches it becomes more like a climb that a hike. Here's a link to an earlier visit:
ReplyDeletehttps://southernnewmexicoexplorer.blogspot.com/2012/01/florida-mountains-windmill-canyon.html