You can do this loop either direction. Going clockwise allows you to gain <br />
your elevation on a good forest road and leaves the singletrack through <br />
Medio Dia Canyon for your descent. This route brings you through three <br />
beautiful and varied northern New Mexican canyons in the Santa Fe <br />
National Forest. You will go up Bland Canyon, cross over the ridge and <br />
descend Medio Dia Canyon and lower Cochiti Canyon. The route is partly <br />
forest road and partly singletrack.<br />
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Trail notes:<br />
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From the north end of the Dixon apple orchard, retrace your route for 1.25 miles to the Bland Canyon (FR 268) junction. Turn right and ride up Bland <br />
Canyon for 6.95 miles to a locked gate in a chain link fence. Turn right and <br />
follow the jeep road for .65 miles to the top of the ridge. You will intersect <br />
another road following the ridge line. Cross this road a head straight <br />
down the hill. This doesn't look that inviting, but you will reach a fence <br />
boundary of the Santa Fe National Forest after a short distance. Here the <br />
fun begins. Descend 4.35 miles down a singletrack following a small creek <br />
in the Medio Dia Canyon (FT 424). When you reach the main Cochiti <br />
Canyon you have the option of turning left and going up and back through <br />
the beautiful Cochiti Canyon. If you like creek crossings you'll especially <br />
love this: there are 30 creek crossings up this canyon. Otherwise, turn <br />
right (downstream) following FR 89 for 2.34 miles to your vehicle.
Drive south from Santa Fe on I-25 for about eighteen miles to the Cochiti <br /><br />Pueblo exit. Follow NM 16 past the turnoff for Cochiti Pueblo and past Cochiti <br /><br />Lake. The road will turn to dirt and becomes Forest Service Road 268. In <br /><br />about 4.5 miles, bear right on FR 89 which takes you past the Dixon Apple <br /><br />Orchard. Park near the entrance to the Santa Fe National Forest.
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