Welcome to the Land of Enchantment! This Trailblazer weekend outing affords the opportunity to hike on a private Southwestern wilderness ranch and game preserve. Rincon Ranch encompasses 32.5 square miles of unspoiled Juniper-Pinion wilderness, ranging in elevation from 6000' to 7500'. Besides herds of elk, deer and antelope, there have been sightings a cougar, bear, bobcats, and a Mexican Gray wolf, not to mention a nesting pair of Golden Eagles.

From a topology standpoint, the ranch offers excellent hiking, whether through the junipes atop the flat mesas or following a watercourse through winding arroyos which range from sanding bottoms to sculptural water-carved caliche. Around every bend is the possibility of animal sightings (if you’re quiet enough!), unusual geological formations, and evidence of previous cultures.

The Rincon Ranch is west of Fence Lake, NM, which is off Hwy 36 at the turn where the road heads north in Cibola County. Owner Ed Wagner bought the ranch in 2000 from a grandson of Bert Cox, a rancher from early 1900s, and has worked to take the ranch flatlands from an over-grazed state to a wildlife preserve, adding dirt tanks, wells, and access roads (which the elk love to use to get around the ranch).

The Ranch lands have witnessed a progression of cultures, including the indigenous Membres Indians, the Spanish Conquistadors, homesteaders and cattlemen. Besides game hunting in the Fall, Ed’s dream is to develop the ranch as a destination for hiking, mountain biking and trail riding. The Trailblazers have been invited this weekend to experience the wilderness firsthand and contribute to establishing appealing hiking trails.

Plan to arrive at the Ranch on Thursday afternoon (May 6), if your schedule allows. Friday evening will work also. Return on Sunday early afternoon to arrive back in the Valley on Sunday night (May 9).