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Table
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Off-route distances to off-route towns not included in above
mileages; see "Distance from GET" within heading
info for each town's chapter below. |
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 Phoenix
shuttle to GET west terminus
The
Grand Enchantment Trail begins east of Phoenix at the First Water
Trailhead on the Tonto National Forest. This trailhead is easy
to reach from downtown Phoenix, the Amtrak or Greyhound terminals,
and Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport.
From
Sky Harbor airport, bus station, and train terminal:
Arizona
Value Shuttle 711 South Meridian Road, Apache
Junction, AZ 85220 (480) 982-8551. Located in the
town of Apache Junction, near the GET trailhead. Will pick up
at the airport, bus or train station, and/or area motels &
shuttle to or near GET west (First Water) trailhead. $30-$35.
Call 2-3 days ahead.
Scotts
Blue Cab 710 South Lawson Drive, Apache Junction, AZ 85220
(480) 671-3379 Another shuttle option but more expensive.
Phoenix
area transportation:
Discount
Cab (Total Transit) $2.50 base + $1.65/mi valley-wide (602)
200-2000
Super Shuttle Phoenix (602) 244-9000
Yellow Cab (602) 252-5252
Greyhound
bus location:
In
Phoenix: 2115 E Buckeye Rd, Phoenix,
85034 (602) 389-4200.
In Tempe: 502 S College Ave Tempe
85281 (480) 377-6532
Or (800) 231-2222 for reservations. www.greyhound.com
Amtrak
location:
At
Phoenix Greyhound location:
2115 E Buckeye Rd Phoenix
At Metro Center Transit Station: 9617
North Metro Parkway West North Phoenix
1-800-USA-RAIL www.amtrak.com
Directions
to GET west terminus:
First
Water Trailhead is located about 45 miles east of downtown Phoenix.
From
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, exit onto Washington St eastbound.
Pick up the 202 freeway east to US 60 east to exit 196 / Idaho
Rd. Turn left, following Idaho Rd north through four traffic lights.
Along the way, pass a Super 8 motel, a few convenience stores
(for water, etc.), a Walgreens pharmacy (rubbing alcohol, Bic
lighter, sunscreen, etc.), and several restaurants nearby. At
the 5th light, turn right, northeast, onto Apache Trail / State
Route 88. Pass Goldfield ghost town / tourist attraction, and
then (at around 5 miles from Idaho Rd jct) a signed turnoff to
Lost Dutchman State Park on right. Continue on Apache Trail less
than a half mile farther, then turn right onto graded dirt FR
78 at sign for "First Water Trailhead." Your driver
may opt not to continue farther, although the road is usually
passable for 2WD vehicles except following flash floods. At ~2.3
miles on FR 78, find First Water equestrian parking on the left,
along with a self-service pay station for vehicle parking on the
Tonto National Forest. Here a spur trail heads east, or continue
on the road ~0.6 mile farther to First Water Trailhead hiker parking
and the GET west terminus. Toilet facilities are here, as well
as a hiker register and information kiosk, but no water is available.
(First probable water along the trail is Bluff Spring about 9
miles away.)
Land
Management Agency:
Tonto
National Forest Mesa Ranger District 5140 E. Ingram St.
Mesa, AZ (480) 610-3300. For information about conditions along
the GET environment between the west terminus and Rogers Canyon
area including the Superstition Wilderness.
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Updates/Corrections
A
Note About Post Offices
All
US post offices, listed among the town entries below, accept packages
mailed to them via "general delivery" and will hold
them typically up to 30 days. Since these post offices are not
yet very familiar with the GET or its hikers, it may be advisable
to notify them by phone in advance of sending a food or equipment
package.
Use
the following mailing convention when sending maildrops:
Hiker's Name
General Delivery
Town, State Zip Code
The post office's street address can be omitted; these are listed
below only to assist hikers in finding each location.
As
those who've hiked other long trails will attest, it's also a
good idea to include on your package the words "Hold for
Hiker" to the bottom-left of the address, along with an "Estimated
Date of Arrival (EDA)." This helps the postmaster to better
identify your package and to prioritize its manner of storage
until you arrive.
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 Superior
AZ
Trail
miles from Phoenix (west) terminus: 47
Distance from GET: 4 miles E via
US 60
Services
in this scenic, if aging former mining community are spread out
along US 60, with a few additional businesses - post office, library,
Save Money Market, Cafe Piera Rojo, and ice cream parlor - located
in the old downtown (Main Street, shown at right) just to the
north, now bypassed by the highway. The well-known Boyce Thompson
Desert Arboretum is west of town along US 60, 1-2 miles east of
the GET/AZT. Superior's public library
offers internet access; this would be a good opportunity for eastbound
hikers to obtain permits (online or over the phone) to enter Aravaipa
Canyon, about 70 miles away.
Post
office:
25
N High School Ave
Superior AZ 85273
Hours: M-F 08:30-04:45PM
Phone: (520) 689-5790
Groceries:
Save
Money Market 420 W Main St (520) 689-2265. Long-term resupply,
ATM, some drug store items, including denatured (isopropyl) alcohol.
Farmer's Market 798 W US Highway
60 (520) 689-5845. Small convenience store with some fresh produce.
Circle
K convenience store US
Highway 60. Does not sell HEET.
Restaurants:
Buckboard
City 1111 W US Highway 60 Superior, AZ (520) 689-5800.
Unpretentious western & Mexican fare. Don't miss "World's
Smallest Museum" adjacent to restaurant.
Los Hermanos 835 W US Highway 60
(520) 689-5465. Family-style Mexican-American
fare, also serves breakfast. Bar adjacent, sometimes rowdy.
Casa Denogean 635 W US Highway 60
(520) 689-2866. Short-order Mexican fare in former burger stand
- a hip little spot.
Edwardo's Pizzeria 701 S Belmont
Ave (Hwy 60). Pizza, subs, salads. Good value.
Cafe Piera Roja 507 W Main St (520)
689-0194. Classy little Mexican cafe. Out of the way (in old downtown)
but reportedly worth the walk. Opens afternoons.
Felicia's Ice Cream Shop 229 W Main
St (520) 689-2394
Lodging:
El
Portal Old Highway 60 West (520) 689-2886. $35-$50, basic
accommodations, no credit cards, run by friendly Alice. Possible
use of laundry facility for guests. Open but up for sale spring
'07, probably continuing under new ownership.
Superior
RV Park 1113 W Us Highway 60 (520) 689-5331 (866) 689-5331
http://www.superiorrvpark.com ~$15 "tent" site, walk-ins
okay, laundry for guests only.
Laundromat:
Laundry
available at Superior RV Park and
possible El Portal motel - in both cases for guests only.
Library
/ internet:
99
N KELLNER AVE (north off of Main St in old downtown) (520) 689-2327
Bank
/ ATM:
Community
First National 351 W Main St
ATM at Save Money Market and
Circle K convenience store
Transportation:
Arizona
Value Shuttle in
Apache Junction will run to Superior on advance notice. See Phoenix
area transportation info above.
Land
Management Agency:
Tonto
National Forest Globe Ranger District 7680
S. Six Shooter Canyon Rd. Globe AZ (east of Superior) (928) 402-6200.
Info on Rogers Canyon area east along the GET to Superior.
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Updates/Corrections
 Mammoth
AZ
Trail
miles from west terminus: 112
Distance from GET: 10 miles S via
AZ 77
A
public telephone is no longer available at the Central Arizona
College Aravaipa Campus just off Aravaipa Rd (N of the GET &
0.5 mile E of Hwy 77), though these days it should be possible
to borrow a cell phone there. Call Foster's Lodge for possible
shuttle (for guests) into Mammoth, a small (but not extinct!),
friendly, but spread out community in the San Pedro river valley.
An attractive roadside park (shown here) is located along Hwy
77 in town and offers picnic tables and water. Most services are
spread out along the highway, with the post office, laundromat,
and Main Market located along Main St one block east.
Post
Office:
230
S Main St
Mammoth AZ 85618
Hours: MO - FR 08:00-04:30PM
Phone: (520) 487-2861
Groceries:
Main
Market 201 Main St (520) 487-2365. 8am-8pm 7 days. Full
grocery store may be suitable for long-term resupply. Selection
is somewhat limited/unrefined. Has fresh produce. Sells isopropyl
alcohol.
Mammoth Ranch Market Highway 77.
(520) 487-2660. 24 hrs, short-term resupply, some produce, deli
/ pizza. Does not sell HEET, but may have rubbing alcohol.
Corkers One Stop Highway 77 near
Foster's Lodge. Short-term resupply. Does not sell HEET.
Circle K 307 Highway 77 (520) 487-2621.
Sells single-load laundry detergent. No HEET.
Maria's Tortillas 225 Main St (520) 487-2678. Made from
scratch on the premises.
(Long-term
resupply may be possible using both Main
Market & Mammoth Ranch Market)
Restaurants:
Alicia's
Cafe 337 Highway 77 # B (520) 487-2380. Mexican-American,
with standard breakfast fare. Open daily 7:30am-8pm, except Sunday
& Monday closes at 3pm. Operated by friendly Cathy Garcia.
La Casita 400 Highway 77 (520) 487-9980.
Family-style Mexican. Hours: 11am-9pm daily
77 Drive Inn (hamburger stand) 102
N Highway 77 (520) 487-2783
Lodging:
Foster's Lodge 712 N Highway 77,
P.O. Box 579 Mammoth, AZ 85618 (520) 487-1904 www.fosterslodge.com
Debora@fosterslodge.com $35 - $55. Basic accommodations, outdoor
pool. May shuttle to/from trail for a small fee. Sometimes fills
up on weekends during fall hunting season.
Stealth
camping may be possible along the (usu. dry) San Pedro River just
east of town along Copper Creek Rd..
Laundromat:
On
Main Street next door to Maria's Tortillas,
which will exchange bills for quarters if needed. Laundromat has
soap, but no available bathroom.
Bank
/ ATM:
ATM
at Mammoth Ranch Market, Circle K.
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Updates/Corrections
 Klondyke
AZ
Trail
miles from west terminus: 142
Distance from GET: 2.5 miles SE via
Aravaipa-Klondyke Rd
Founded
in the early 1900's by a pair of nostalgic Yukon gold diggers,
Klondyke (spelled with a 'y' instead of an 'i') holds on as a
tiny outpost of civilization near the east end of Aravaipa Canyon.
Primarily a ranching community these days, along with the occasional
urban refugee, Klondyke had just one storefront before its historic
Klondyke Country Store closed in 2005. Owner Bonnie Garwood has
been attempting to sell the ailing business, strangled as it is
by the lack of visitors to Aravaipa Canyon's east trailhead due
to access issues. (See guidebook chapter 7) Nevertheless, Klondyke
remains a possible alternative to resupplying in Mammoth, but
be sure to call Bonnie (who lives behind the store, see store's
local ph# below) to confirm whether she is still willing &
able to accept mail.
Maildrop
service:
(Current as
of spring 2007)
Klondyke
will continue to serve as a maildrop location this season. Although
the Klondyke Country Store (and Horsehead Lodge) is closed and
remains for sale, proprietor Bonnie Garwood who lives behind the
store will continue to accept mail, including parcels, shipped
to:
(hiker's
name)
c/o Klondyke Store / Freezer
36951 Klondyke Rd.
Willcox (Klondyke) AZ 85643
(Include
"Please hold for hiker" and an estimated date of arrival)
Ship
via US Postal Service only. Limit one package per person, please,
and no outgoing mail. Postal mail is delivered Mo., We., Th. only.
(Tu. replaces Mo. on holiday weekends.) Ship early enough so it
gets there before you, but not so early that it's languishing
(and wearing out the welcome). No need to call Bonnie to confirm
your plans, although it couldn't hurt to verify package arrival
before committing on foot. Parcels are stored in a large metal
freezer (turned off) located on the back porch of the store, with
24/7 access. According to Bonnie they've never had any foul play,
although she emphasized that it's an honor system only. Bonnie
looks forward to meeting folks as they pass through. If she isn't
out and about, feel free to check at the house. Please note that
the "Freezer" designation in the address is important,
as this will alert the postal carrier to place your box in the
freezer rather than at Bonnie Garwood's doorstep.
Note
also that the only trash facility in Klondyke (for discarded boxes,
etc.) is a dump station along Fourmile Creek Rd, 0.8 mi west of
Klondyke Store.
Groceries,
restaurant & lodging:
Klondyke Country Store & Horsehead Lodge
(NOW CLOSED) 36951 Klondyke Rd. Klondyke AZ, 85643 Toll
Free 1-877-728-3335 Local 1-928-828-3335 Fax 1-928-828-3351. $75-$250
per night lodging, some rooms with hot tub. "We are located
in the heart of Aravaipa Canyon and are easy to find from Safford
or Willcox. Here are some of the services we offer. Store - Gas,
Soda, Beer, Ice, Groceries, and Old Tyme Hamburgers. Lodge - 5
bedrooms with room for 13 individuals (reservations are suggested)
. R.V. Spaces - 6 Hookups with Electricity and Water (reservations
are suggested) Conversation, Gossip, Political Debates, Liars
are Welcome! "
Camping
is available at the BLM's Fourmile Canyon
Campground 0.8 mi. west of the Klondyke Store on Fourmile
Creek Rd. Developed water available year-round. Modern toilet
facility, picnic tables, grills, car-friendly camping. $5 per
night. Generally a quiet spot, likely suitable for walk-in hikers.
BLM
Klondyke Ranger Station,
next door to the Klondyke Store, is only sporadically staffed.
Last-minute permits for westbounders entering Aravaipa Canyon
may be available from the ranger here, but don't count on it.
(Permits for the east entrance are not being issued currently-
see Guidebook segment 7)
No
operational pay phone available in town, though you may be able
to borrow a ranger's phone when the BLM Klondyke ranger station
is staffed.
Note
that the road leading to the west trailhead for Aravaipa Canyon
is called Aravaipa Road, while the eastern trailhead is accessed
via Aravaipa Canyon Road.
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Updates/Corrections
 Safford
AZ
Trail
miles from west terminus: 224
Distance from GET: on route (services
area ~2 mi N)
A
bustling community at the intersection of two main travel routes,
Safford is the largest town directly along the route of the GET
(save for Phoenix and Albuquerque at the end points). Although
the GET bypasses the town's commercial district, a loop detour
leads to most services, including a number of motels, restaurants,
and full-service supermarkets. The
majority of services are located in Safford and the adjacent town
of Thatcher along US 70 (Thatcher Blvd), the main drag. The
BLM has an office in town, where westbound hikers can try to get
a permit to enter Aravaipa Canyon if they haven't obtained one
already. Safford is sorely lacking in public transportation. No
buses or shuttles serve this rather isolated town in the Gila
River valley, although one taxi company in Willcox, 40 miles to
the south, may be willing to run out and back to Safford. (Willcox,
along I-10, has Greyhound bus service.)
Please
note that Thatcher Blvd and US Hwy 70 in Safford are the same
road.
Post
Offices:
504 S 5th Ave
Safford AZ 85546
Hours: MO-FR 08:30-04:30PM SA 10:00-12:00PM
Phone: (928) 428-0220
The
Safford post office is located in the old downtown, 3 blocks east
of 8th Ave on the south corner of US 70.
__________________
2106
S Bowie Ave
Solomon AZ 85551
Hours:
MO-FR 8:00AM-12:00PM & 1:00pm-4:00pm SA 8:30-9:30AM
Phone: (928) 428-4030
The
Solomon post office is located in the town of Solomon, 5 miles
east of Safford along the main route of the GET. Solomon offers
few other services (a small convenience store and a Mexican restaurant
- see below), but its p.o. may be of use to those preferring to
bypass busy downtown Safford.
Groceries:
Basha's Supermarket
US 70 (long-term resupply)
Safeway Food & Drug US 70 (long-term
resupply, with organic options)
Walmart
20th Ave (long-term resupply). Half
a block south of US 70.
Thriftee Food & Drug - IGA 755 S
Central Ave (928) 428-1844 (in the old downtown)
CD's
Quick Stop 2181 S Bowie Ave Solomon. (928) 428-5585 Convenience
store along GET in Solomon open 7 days, sells drinks, snacks,
microwave items. Hours: M-Th 9:30-7:30 , Fr-Sa 9:30-8 , Su 10-6.
Pay phone out front.
Restaurants:
The Branding Iron River Rd. near 8th St (928) 428-6252.
Western-style dinners. Closed Mondays.
Los Jilberto's Fast Mexican 215 E
US Highway 70 (928) 428-4887
Taco Bell 2267 W US Highway 70 (928) 428-3330
Pizza Hut 1305 W Thatcher Blvd (928)
428-4320
Subway Sandwiches & Salads 750 S 8th Ave (928) 428-6373
China Taste 1391 W Thatcher Blvd
(928) 348-3336. Buffet-style.
Super Wok 1275 W Thatcher Blvd (928)
348-9452. "Safford style" Chinese with buffet.
Aria's Ristorante Italiano 540 E
Hwy 70 (928) 428-2742
Golden Corral Buffet & Grill 2019
W US Highway 70 (928) 428-4744. AYCE with daily specials.
La Paloma Restaurant 5183 E. Clifton
St. Solomon. (928) 428-2094. Mexican. Open for lunch and dinner.
Closed Sundays.
... and numerous other restaurants in Safford.
Lodging:
Budget
Inn 1215 West Thatcher Boulevard (928) 428-7850.
$40. Clean and basic. Friendly proprietors.
Best Western Desert Inn 1391 W Thatcher Blvd 928-428-0521
$60.
Econo Lodge 225 E US Highway 70 928-348-0011
$45 - $60.00. Guest laundry. On east end of town.
Comfort Inn 1578 W Thatcher Blvd
(520) 428-5851 $60-$80. Has guest internet in lobby and full continental
breakfast.
... and several other motels. Please note that motels in town
are often all filled by early afternoon, due to contractors in
town for the new mine project.
Laundromat:
The
Washtub 1910 West Thatcher Boulevard. In plaza, north side
of road. Sells soap, makes change, has bathroom for guests.
Stove
fuel:
Safford
Builders Supl/Ace Hdwr 707 S 6th Ave (928) 428-1033
AutoZone Hwy 70. Sells HEET.
Pharmacy:
Walgreens
1995 W Thatcher Blvd (928) 428-5059
Walmart 20th Ave,
half a block south of US 70.
Library
/ Internet:
808
S 7TH AVE (928) 348-3202. Two blocks south of US 70 in old downtown.
Bank
/ ATM:
Wells
Fargo 426 US-70
Bank One 321 W MAIN ST
ATM at Basha's and Safeway
supermarkets, Walmart.
Transportation:
Safford
has no bus service or in-town taxi. However Willcox
Taxi, in the town of Willcox 40 miles south, may pick up
or drop off in Safford with advance notice. Rates ~$65 one-way.
520-253-0702 (Carolyn & Thomas)
Enterprise
Rent-a-Car 1018 West Thatcher Boulevard (928) 428-0955.
Local and one-way car rentals.
Land
Management Agency:
BLM
Safford Field Office 711 14th Avenue Safford (928) 348-4400
dave_hall@blm.gov Or call and ask for Jeff Wilbanks,
recreation planner, for info on Safford-Morenci Trail and approach
options from Safford. Permits for Aravaipa Canyon issued here
as well.
Coronado
National Forest Safford Ranger District
711 14th Ave, Suite D Safford (928) 428-4150 mailroom_r3_coronado@fs.fed.us
Info on Pinalenos, Mt Graham, and Santa Teresa Wilderness.
Veteran ranger Chuck Duncan: (928) 348-1964
Kimball
Hanson: (928) 428-9367 for information regarding new mine construction
in the Gila Mtns north of town. (Public info contact for Phelps
Dodge)
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Updates/Corrections
 Morenci
/ Clifton AZ
Trail
miles from west terminus: 270 (via
Eagle Creek Bypass) / 284 (via main GET)
Distance from GET: via US 191 at Lower Eagle
Creek Rd: Morenci 5 mi E, Clifton 8 mi E (or via
US 191 at main GET crossing: Morenci
15 mi S, Clifton 18 mi S)
Clifton
and Morenci are sister towns, the former an historic mining town,
the latter a modern, company-built town at the foot of a massive
open-pit copper mine. Each community offers its own distinct cultural
charm and eccentricity, and neither is soon forgotten after visiting.
Hikers following the Eagle Creek Bypass (Segment 14) can opt to
detour 5 miles on foot into Morenci via low-speed Highway 191
(aka the Coronado Trail). Hitchhiking to and from the main route,
10 miles farther up the lightly-travelled highway, is certainly
possible, but don't expect instant gratification. Morenci offers
most hiker services, including a full-size supermarket, but those
who can manage the 3 or 4 miles extra into Clifton will be duly
rewarded for their efforts. Historic Chase Creek Street is here
(photo), as well as Jail Cave, both living relics of Clifton's
erstwhile mining heyday.
Post
Offices:
9
Morenci Mall
Morenci AZ 85540
Hours: M-F 07:00-04:30PM
Phone: (928) 865-3312
__________________
430 N Coronado Blvd
Clifton AZ 85533
Hours: M-F 08:00-04:00PM, Sa 11-12
Phone: (928) 865-3892
To
reach the post office, follow Chase Creek St to Comb St and turn
east to Hwy 191 right by the PO. This avoids having to walk the
narrow shoulder of Hwy 191 in the upper part of town.
Groceries:
Basha's
Supermarket 172 Plaza, Morenci 928-865-1820. Long-term
resupply with deli.
Circle K N Coronado Blvd, Clifton
(928) 865-3441
Restaurants:
Copper
Room Restaurant & Lounge 261 Burro Ally, Morenci (928)
865-4111
R & R Pizza Express Morenci Mall
Morenci (928) 865-2200. AYCE lunch buffet. Delivers to Clifton.
Kopper Kettle Kafe Morenci Mall Morenci
(928) 865-2213
Golden City Chinese Restaurant Highway
191, Morenci (928) 865-5941
Dairy Queen 438 Plaza Dr, Morenci
(928) 865-3456
Marla's Pizzeria 352 North Coronado
Boulevard, Clifton. (928) 865-5291. Open Tu-Sa 4pm-8pm. Pizza,
subs, salad bar. Formerly Cole's Pizza Parlor.
Gi'Mees' York Valley, Clifton (928)
687-1517.
P J's 307 S Coronado Blvd Clifton
(928) 865-3328. Homestyle B L D. Don't miss breakfast here for
all the juicy mining gossip.
Lodging:
Morenci
Motel $45-$60. Sometimes fills up, reservations recommended.
Has Sports Bar on premises, with decent dinner menu. Mine tours
can be booked via the motel's front desk.
Rode Inn Motel 186 N Coronado Blvd
Clifton. 928-865-4536 Price: $35-$50. "Studio" rooms,
in back along river, are nice bargain. Washer/drier on premises.
Friendly owners.
Please
note that motels are often all filled by early afternoon, due
to contractors in town in response to a recent mining boom at
Morenci.
Laundromat:
Sunrise
Laundromat South Coronado Boulevard, Clifton. South of
PJ's restaurant.
Also see Rode Inn Motel, above.
Outfitter:
Phelps
Dodge Mercantile 172 Plaza, Morenci Mall,
Morenci. (928)
865-4121. An assortment of hardware
and "Coleman-variety" outdoors items, including white
gas and some very basic camping provisions. A Radio Shack "mini-store"
is located inside the Mercantile as well.
Stove
fuel:
Phelps
Dodge Mercantile
(see above).
Conoco US 191 (east of Morenci Plaza,
around the bend) (928) 865-3975 Mini Mart sells HEET but call
to confirm availability.
AutoZone Morenci Mall, Morenci. Once
sold HEET, reportedly no longer.
Library
/ Internet:
Morenci
Public Library Morenci Plaza (928) 865-1981.
Clifton Public Library 102 School St (928) 865-2461. Follow
"library" signs east from US 191 / S Coronado Blvd near
PJ's restaurant. Closed weekends.
Land
Management Agency:
Apache-Sitgreaves
National Forest Clifton Ranger District
HC 1, Box 733 , Duncan, AZ, 85594, Phone: 520-687-1301. (Located
in town of Duncan - not Clifton!) Info on GET environment from
Clifton to NM state line. Trails tech Jeff Gilmore is a friend
of GET hikers and is very knowledgeable of area trails.
Morenci
also has a movie theatre, providing
occasionally beneficial cinematic distraction for hikers and miners
alike.
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 Glenwood
/ Alma NM
Trail miles
from west terminus: 331
Distance from GET: Alma on route,
Glenwood 4.5 miles S via US 180
Located
along US Hwy 180 just north of the GET crossing, Alma is a tiny
ranching community featuring little more than a small general
store and adjacent diner. A pay phone is here, from which you
may be able to call one of the motels in Glenwood for a shuttle
into this likewise small but charming and friendly community.
(Lariat Motel shown in photo.) Mogollon ghost town is nearby,
as is Cooney Tomb and the beautiful Catwalk Trail along Whitewater
Creek (a side trail olf the GET).
Post
Office:
5109
Highway 180
Glenwood NM 88039
Hours: M-F 08:00-12:30PM 01:00-04:30PM SA 10:00-12:00PM
Phone: (505) 539-2131
Groceries:
Alma
Trading Company Alma (505) 539-2640. Open 7 days, 7am-7pm..General
store with picnic-type supplies, microwave foods, snacks, and
ice cream. Passable for short-term resupply. Alma Grill is located
next door. Outside pay phone and water spigot.
Glenwood Trading Post Glenwood (505)
539-2321. Open 7 days, 8am-8pm. A slightly better stocked general
/ convenience store and gas station, with some produce, canned
goods, Lipton dinners, mac & cheese, snacks. Passable for
short-term resupply. Sells HEET. Outside pay phone.
Taken
together, the above two grocery options may offer enough for unparticular
hikers to reach Gila Hot Springs or Morenci.
Restaurants:
Blue
Front Bar & Cafe Glenwood (505) 539-2561. Closed Tuesdays.
Good Mex/American food but somewhat pricey for what you get. Lunch
and dinner daily. Bar room tended by friendly Lori, plus separate
restaurant area.
Golden Girls Cafe Glenwood (505)
539-2457. Serves breakfast from 6-10am daily in the kitchen of
owner's home. Excellent food, friendly conversation.
Alma
Grill Next door to the Alma Trading Company in Alma. 6am
- 3 pm, 7 days. Serving breakfast all day, lunch from 11am. Best
food in Alma! (Burgers, veggie melts, Mexican dishes) Popular
gossip spot for area ranchers.
Mario's Pizza & Video Glenwood (505)
539-2316. Tue 2-8:30, Sat 4-8pm.
The Tavern Glenwood 505-539-2524
Bar room only. Sporadic hours. South end of town.
Lodging:
Lariat
Motel Glenwood (505) 539-2361. Large, cabin-like rooms
~$70, or smaller rooms $50 single. Showers available without stay
($5). Motel is conveniently located behind Glenwood Trading Post,
which has pay phones. (No phones in room.)
Whitewater Motel PO Box 158 Glenwood,
NM 88039 (505) 539-2581 whitewater@gilanet.com $40-$50. Located
next to the post office on the opposite end of town (0.2 miles
away!)
Crab Apple Cabins PO Box 86 Glenwood,
NM 88039 (505) 539-2400. Reasonable rates. Hiker-friendly proprietors.
Open seasonally.
Double TT Homestead NM 174. Cabins,
RV spaces. Located on edge of town en route to the Catwalk trailhead.
Doc's Place (505) 539-2711 Bed &
breakfast.
Silver Creek Inn (B&B) HC 61 Box
306 Mogollon, NM 88039 1-866-276-4882.
Camping:
USFS
Bighorn Campground 5 drive-in campsites,
with picnic tables, grills, and juniper shade. Toilet facilities.
No water. This free public campground is a convenient 0.1 mile
north of Glenwood along US 180, not in the ideal setting but FREE.
Stove
fuel:
Glenwood
Trading Post
(see above) Sells HEET (located on shelf beside entrance, near
floor).
Library
/ Internet:
Glenwood
Public Library
15 Menges Lane (505) 539-2277 Limited days / hours of operation.
Located at south end of town, past post office, on side road to
the right off of US 180.
Bank
/ ATM:
ATM
at Glenwood Trading Post
Land
Management Agency:
Gila
National Forest Glenwood Ranger District
Hwy 180, Glenwood (505) 539-2481. District ranger Pat Morrison
(email info specialist Beth O'Donnell: bodonnell@fs.fed.us) Info
on Gila National Forest from Mogollon Mountains westward.
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 Gila
Hot Springs NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 387
Distance from GET: 3 miles S via
Hwy 15
Doc
Campbell's Post is the center of life in this small unincorporated
village, surrounded on all sides by the vast Gila National Forest.
True to its name, hot springs abound here, and have attracted
an eclectic, free-spirited band of homeowners and homegrown, tourist-friendly
businesses to the area. Gila Hot Springs lies about 3 miles south
of the GET along NM Hwy 15.
Maildrop service:
(Hiker's Name)
c/o Doc Campbell's Post
HC 68 Box 80
Silver City NM 88061
Mail
food parcels c/o this address via Postal Service or UPS. Include
your name in the address, and "hold for hiker" in the
corner of the box, along with your estimated date of arrival.
You can mail your package a couple of weeks early as necessary,
in order to accommodate UPS ground service, etc. Store may or
may not be willing/able to handle outgoing parcels. Outgoing letter
mail (store sells stamps) may be placed in a small mailbox out
front.
Store
hours:
8am-4pm, 7 days. Summer hours: 8am-5:30pm, 7 days.
Phone: (505) 536-9551 daytime or
(505) 536-9314 evenings
Email: pyluecke@gilanet.com
From
their website: "Here you will find a special country store
with groceries, a snack bar, homemade ice cream, ice, gas, fishing
and hunting licenses, fishing supplies, a real southwest gift
shop, books, postcards, T-shirts with Wilderness and local designs.
Also laundromat and hot showers."
Groceries:
Doc
Campbell's Post.
A very limited selection of groceries, incl. a few types of freeze-dried
meals, mac & cheese, snacks, peanut butter, tortillas, canned
goods, microwave burritos & sandwiches, plus home-made ice
cream. Probably unacceptable for resupply to Monticello (eastbound),
but possibly passable to Glenwood (westbound). Certainly acceptable
for augmenting a maildrop, however. Store has other basics, like
sunscreen, bug repellent, and usually sells HEET. Pay phone out
front. Run by Paul & Ysabel Luecke.
Restaurants:
None.
Sandwiches & microwave items are available at Doc
Campbell's. The Wilderness Lodge
serves breakfast for guests.
Lodging:
The
Wilderness Lodge Jackass
Lane, Gila Hot Springs NM (505) 536-9749. wildernesslodge@gilanet.com
$68 for 2 with shared bath (one bed), $95 for 2 with private bath
(two beds). Bed & breakfast in a nice, secluded area with
friendly hosts. Follow NM 15 south from Doc Campbell's to Access
Rd, turn left, then left again onto Jackass Lane.
Gila
Hot Springs Ranch (505) 536-9551 daytime or (505) 536-9314
evenings. Affiliated with Doc Campbell's Post. Lodge-style rooms
for $50-$75 for 2 ($7 each extra person). www.gilahotspringsranch.com
gilahotspringsranch@gilanet.com
Camping:
Gila
Hot Springs RV Park
Across from Doc Campbell's on Hwy 15. Grassy tent site with "RV
ambience" for $12. Showers for guests only.
River
Campground Located on banks of the
W Fork Gila River. Dusty car camping area with public hot spring.
Tenting allowed. $3 day use, $4 overnight. Drinking water &
toilets available. To reach the campground, follow Access Rd (off
NM 15) to end and turn left.
Forest Service Campgrounds Two
campgrounds, each located just off Hwy 15 near confluence
of West & East forks of the Gila. User fee. This may be the
best bet for semi- quiet camping in the area, apart from stealth
camping on the national forest.
Laundromat:
Laundry
& pay showers at Doc Campbell's Post.
Stove
fuel:
White
gas & HEET at Doc Campbell's Post.
Land
Management Agency:
Gila
National Forest Wilderness Ranger District
HC 68 Box 50, Mimbres, New Mexico, 88049. (505) 536-2250. District
ranger Annette Chavez (email info specialist Annette Gomez: aggomez@fs.fed.us).
Info on Gila National Forest east of Mogollon Mtns, west of Black
Range.
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Thru-hikers
Caution
The next on (or near) route resupply is at Magdalena, 174 trail
miles from Gila Hot Springs. Although it is possible to hike this
entire stretch without a resupply, it can't be recommended due
to the remote and rough nature of this terrain. Hikers who run
low on food will find it difficult to obtain more without having
a pre-arranged maildrop along the way. Consider using one of the
following two off-route resupply options instead of pushing straight
through. (Westbounders can use Trail's
End Market in Magdalena to facilitate a maildrop, shipping
via Priority Mail to Monticello or Winston.)
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 Winston
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 433 (via
Chloride Creek) / 475 (via Hwy 52)
Distance from GET: 15 miles E (hike)
/ 22 miles S (road)
Winston
is a near ghost of a former silver mining boomtown, located in
the shadow of the remote Black Range of the Gila National Forest.
The town is difficult to reach from any direction, and you won't
find much once you get here. However it's a link to the outside
world in this lonely corner of New Mexico, and a possible resupply
point for hikers who would prefer a sketchy hitchhike (via Hwy
52) to the off-trail hiking often required to reach Monticello
(see next entry).
From
the GET / CDT crossing of FR 226 in the Black Range, Winston is
a ~15 mile walk east on a 4WD road which receives no regular vehicle
use, and with several thousand feet of elevation loss. Chloride,
reached 2 miles before Winston, offers cabins for rent but no
other useful services for hikers.
From
the GET crossing of dirt, 2WD NM Hwy 52 near Dusty (no services),
Winston is a ~22 mile hitchhike south. Traffic is very light,
though ranchers in the area do head into Winston to pick up mail.
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nm/winston.html
Post
Office:
State
Highway 52
Winston NM 87943
Hours: M-F 07:30-04:00PM SA 09:00-11:00AM
Phone: (505) 743-0157
Groceries:
Winston
General Store Highway 52. (505) 743-6915. Snacks, some
canned and packaged foods, microwave items, sandwiches. Pay phone
out front. Unacceptable for resupply, although the Winston General
Store Official Merchandise (ball caps, t-shirts) might just improve
the hitchhiking prospects after resupplying via the post office.
Restaurant
/ Lodging:
Winston
Bed & Breakfast / Cafe 202
Broadway (505) 743-0208. Now closed.
Cabins available for rent in Chloride (2 mi west). For details,
contact proprietor: dedmund (at) windstream.net
Winston
also has a bar / saloon. Perhaps one could win a drinking bet
to get back to the trail from here.
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 Monticello
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 483
Distance from GET: 10.5 miles S via
Monticello Canyon (4WD)
Like
Winston, Monticello is a tiny, remote community located a fair
distance off-route. In fact, it offers even fewer services than
Winston - namely, just a post office. But unlike Winston, Monticello
is reached by way of a pleasant roadwalk on a nearly level 2WD
road. A few residents live along this scenic road on sprawling
ranch/farm acreage in a dramatic canyon setting. Anyone heading
your way may be willing to offer a ride to or from town.
Farming
and ranching along perennial Alamosa River has long been the way
of life in and around Monticello, and although the area has seen
a decline in population in recent decades, a new lifeblood is
slowly returning in the form of a few organic and herb farms,
and a revitalization of the old town square is in the works. Still,
the community is very small, eclectic, and close-knit, and feels
a world apart from the rush of modern life.
Post
Office:
State
Rd 142
Monticello NM 87939
Hours: M-Sa 08:00AM-12:00PM
Phone: (505) 743-0076
Camping:
Discreet
camping may be possible in the old town
square - a small, shady area with picnic tables - but ask
the postmaster to direct you to whoever might be able to offer
official permission. Traffic is virtually nonexistant, so noise
should not pose a problem for campers. Otherwise, the road in
Monticello Canyon (public right-of-way among private land) passes
through or near a few state and BLM sections where stealth camping
should be acceptable away from the road. To locate these parcels,
refer to the GET Topo Map Set and/or Forest Service maps of the
area.
Please
note that Monticello has no public rest rooms or pay phone, and
cell phone reception is nonexistent. The best bet on all counts
may be to try at the post office, or explain the situation tactfully
to a resident in town.
Truth
or Consequences, offering most services including Greyhound
bus and taxi, is a 25 mile hitchhike SE of Monticello; all traffic
- what little there is - will probably be heading all or most
of the way there, though getting back to Monticello will likely
pose a challenge. (The village of Placita, just south of Monticello
and en route to T or C, has no services.)
Transportation:
Crisp
Taxi Truth or Consequences 505-894-1145 Taxi company in
T or C. (Current owner indicates he will NOT run to/from Monticello.
Local T or C taxi service only. New ownership pending.)
The
Darlen family in Monticello are friends of hikers, but seek them
out only if you have a genuine concern - not for transportation
to/from T or C.
Land
Management Agency:
Gila
National Forest Black Range Ranger District
1804 North Date Street, Truth or Consequences, NM (505) 894-6677.
District ranger Andrea Sepulveda: asepulveda@fs.fed.us Info
on Black Range Crest / CDT / GET.
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 Magdalena
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 561
Distance from GET: on route
A
former railroad town, Magdalena was once the end of the line for
the Great Western Stock Driveway. Here, cattle were unloaded and
herded west toward interior Catron County and on to Arizona. The
town took its name from biblical Mary Magdalene, whose likeness
is said to grace a nearby mountain. In terms of appearances and
services Magdalena remains something of an anachronism, but nonetheless
offers enough of the basics to make this a welcome, and refreshing,
stop along the trail. Several reasonably priced motels are here,
as is a good-sized market, a few colorful eateries, and a Cibola
National Forest district office. The ghost town of Kelly lies
just south of town along the route of the GET. Except for its
historic white adobe church, you'll need a permit before visiting
Kelly, available at a roadside rock shop along Kelly Road in Magdalena.
www.magdalena-nm.com
First
Street and US 60 are the same road, Magdalena's main drag, where
almost all services are found.
Post
Office:
100
E 1st St (US Hwy 60)
Magdalena NM 87825
Hours: M-F 08:00-12:30PM 01:30-04:30PM Sat 10:00-12:00PM
Phone: (505) 854-2231
Postmaster Mrs Bodio, wife of a local travelbook author, is a
friend of hikers.
Groceries:
Trails
End Market 1003 W 1st St. (505) 854-2205. Mo- Sa 8am-8pm.
CLOSED SUNDAYS. Good for long-term resupply, although choice of
brands is somewhat limited. Has good produce selection. Also has
small "drug store" aisle with all the basics.
Conoco Gas/Food
Mart 705 1st St. (505) 854-3680. Cold water, snacks, microwave
foods, and (as of fall '07) HEET. Public restrooms. Pay phone.
ATM.
Restaurants:
Evett's
Cafe Highway 60 (505) 854-2449. Old-fashioned ice cream
fountain (see photo above) with decent food menu as well. Mex/American
staples, simply prepared. The "social aorta" of town,
in the words of one guidebook to the area.
Magdalena Cafe Main St, 1/2 block
S of US 60. (505) 854-2696. Open for breakfast and lunch M-F 7am-1:30pm,
Sat 7am-12:30pm. Also serves dinner Th and Sat evenings, 5-7.
The favorite local breakfast spot.
Big Bear Cafe W US 60 (505) 854-3184.
B, L, D. Sometimes opens late morning.
Ponderosa Restaurant US 60 (505)
854-9916. Sporadic hours.
Golden Spur Saloon US
60. (505) 854-2554. Expect a rowdy
good ol' boy crowd here.
Lodging:
High
Country Lodge 303 E 1st St. 505-854-2062. HighCountry@starband.net
$35-$40. Smallish but clean rooms; fridge/micro; high-speed internet
access available in lobby, free with stay. Under new ownership.
Western B&B Motel & RV Park 404 1st
St. (505) 854-2417 westernmotel@gilanet.com $40-$60 motel rooms
(some with fridge/micro) incl. continental brkfst or full breakfast
for higher rate. Hot tub on premises. RV park in rear.
Eagle's Nest RV & Motel 1405 W First
St. (US 60 & NM 107) (505) 854-3651. Located about a mile west
of the above motels.
Stove
fuel:
Conoco Gas/Food mart
Sells HEET
Trail's
End Market Should have rubbing alcohol
Library
/ Internet:
Magdalena
Public Library
108 N. Main St. (505) 854-2261. HOURS: Mo, Tu, Fr 11am-4pm; We,
Th 11am-9pm; Sat 9am-2pm. Internet access. Library housed inside
the the town's historic railroad depot along the GET route just
north of US 60.
High Country Lodge High-speed internet
access available free with stay.
Bank
/ ATM:
Wells Fargo 1st & Main St
Conoco Gas/Food Mart 705 1st St
Transportation:
Socorro
Taxi 606
N. California St. Socorro NM. 505-835-4276. jess@socorrotaxi.com
Will shuttle between Magdalena & full-service town of Socorro,
27 miles east on US 60.
Land
Management Agency:
Cibola
National Forest Magdalena Ranger District
1st St & Kelly Rd. Magdalena. (505) 854-2281. District ranger
Dennis Aldridge: daldridge@fs.fed.us Info on
Magdalena & San Mateo Mountains incl. Apache Kid & Withington
Wildernesses.
While
in Magdalena, well-cultured hikers may be able to take in a play,
compliments of the unlikely-named London
Frontier Theatre Company. www.londonfrontiertheatre.com
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 Polvadera
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 589
Distance from GET: on route
The
Spanish word Polvadera means "dusty," and although the
interstate corridor that butts up against this otherwise peaceful
hamlet sometimes appears situated in a giant dust bowl, the nearby
Rio Grande is actually surrounded by stately cottonwoods and is
surprisingly lush. Polvadera lies at the edge of the bosque, another
Spanish word, meaning "riverside woods." Agriculture
and ranching, permitted by an elaborate network of drainage canals,
are the primary ways of life here; the interstate and its culture
actually bypasses the community itself. Polvadera offers little
more than a post office, (see photo) and no public telephone,
although the village of Lemitar, 5 miles south via a frontage
road, has a full-service truck stop and several cafes. Five miles
farther lies the larger town of Socorro (Spanish for "help"),
reachable by taxi and offering most services but no longer a Greyhound
bus stop.
Post
Office:
15
Correo St
Polvadera NM 87828
Hours: M-F 07:15AM-1:45PM Sa 7:30-11AM
Phone: (505) 835-9707
World's
tiniest post office has drinking water and rest room (as a courtesy
to hikers) when open. Shade available by the front entrance, but
watch out for the occasional postal customer. Also a quiet, secluded
YCC picnic area, with picnic tables, grills, and tall shade trees
(but no drinking water) lies about 1.5 miles east along the GET
in the Rio Grande bosque.
Groceries:
Road
Runner Travel Ctr I-25 Exit 156 Lemitar, NM (505) 838-1400.
Truck stop and convenience store with possible short-term resupply
potential. ~5 miles south of Polvadera. Mac n cheese, Ramen, tuna
(in a can) and spam, (no Liptons), and sandwich fixings. Sells
HEET.
Several
long-term resupply grocery options exist in Socorro,
~10 miles south of Polvadera.
Restaurants:
Coyote
Moon Cafe W Frontage Rd Lemitar (505) 835-2536
Moonspinners Coffee House 11 Chambon
Rd Lemitar (505) 838-2003
Crane Cafe I-25 exit 156 Lemitar
(505) 838-1200
Good variety of restaurants in Socorro.
Lodging
/ camping:
Several
inexpensive options in Socorro (Econo
Lodge a good value - has internet in lobby)
Escondida
Lake Park Escondida, NM 505.835.2041.
Self-pay tent camping in grassy field of RV Park with nearby oxbow
lake. Water available from RV site spigots, of questionable purity.
Park located along Staton Rd by Pueblito bridge, 5-6 miles south
of GET or directly along alternate high-water GET route.
Showers
available at Road Runner Travel Ctr in
Lemitar.
Laundromat:
Road
Runner Travel Ctr in Lemitar. Laundromat also available
in Socorro.
Stove
fuel:
HEET
available at Road Runner Travel Ctr
in Lemitar, and at auto parts stores in Socorro.
Bank
/ ATM:
ATM
at Road Runner Travel Ctr in Lemitar
Transportation:
Socorro
Taxi 606
N. California St. Socorro NM. 505-835-4276. jess@socorrotaxi.com
Will shuttle between Polvadera, Lemitar & full-service town
of Socorro, 10 miles south via Lemitar frontage road.
Land
Management Agency:
BLM
Socorro Field Office 198 Neel Avenue,
Socorro NM 87801 (505) 835-0412. Info on GET environment from
Magdalena to US 60 near Abo Canyon.
Socorro
also has numerous restaurants, a public library with internet
access, a BLM office (local GET info), and a Walmart "supercenter."
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Mountainair
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 632
Distance from GET: 17 miles E
via US 60
Hikers
looking to roughly halve the 120 mile distance between on-route
resupplies at Polvadera and Tijeras might consider detouring to
the small town of Mountainair, a 17 mile hitchhike east from the
GET crossing of US 60 near Abo Canyon. (The place names of Scholle
and Abo, as shown on maps, offer no services, nor is tiny Bernardo
worthy of a westward detour.) Mountainair is a small ranching-oriented
town offering a modest array of services, and is also home to
the headquarters for Salinas Pueblos National Monument. Organized
into districts, each at a different site, this monument showcases
some of the most well-preserved ancient pueblo dwellings in the
Southwest. The Abo district lies a mere 8 miles east of the GET
crossing at US 60, and is a worthwhile detour if you have time.
Post
Office:
221
W Broadway
Mountainair NM 87036
Hours:
M-F 08:00-11:30AM 12:15-04:45PM
Phone: (505) 847-2206
Groceries:
Mountainair
Grocery 205 W Broadway (505) 847-2223. Not
much variety, but may be ok for long-term resupply.
Town and Country Butcher shop with
a few grocery items.
Restaurants:
Ancient
Cities Cafe W Highway 60 (505) 847-2368. Mex/American.
Cafe Chameleon (505) 847-1855. In
the Shaffer Hotel. Upscale. $14-$22 meals. Open evenings weekdays;
lunch served weekends only.
The Firehouse Reportedly the local
favorite.
Lodging:
Tillie's
Inn & RV Park 303 US Highway 60 (505) 847-0248 tilliesINN@aol.com
Half
a mile east of town center. $55. Internet access. Microwave/fridge
in rooms. Hiker's best bet.
El Rancho Motel 901 US Highway 60 Closed for renovation
as of fall '06
Shaffer Hotel 103 East Main (505)
847-2888 ShafferHotel@aol.com Historic inn recently remodeled.
Rates from $80. Restaurant on premises.
Laundromat:
Mountainair
Laundromat
(505) 847-2374. You know it's a small world when: Googling "Mountainair
Laundromat" in researching info for this page gives this
page as the only result!
Hardware
store / Stove fuel:
Gustin
Hardware 117 W Broadway (505) 847-2261. HEET/denatured
alcohol available.
Library
/ Internet:
Mountainair
Public Library 109 N. Roosevelt (505)
847-9676
Public internet access reportedly also available at an internet
service provider storefront in town.
Bank /
ATM:
My
Bank One block west of the post office.
Wells Fargo 111 US-60
Land
Management Agency:
Cibola
National Forest Mountainair Ranger District
#40 Ranger Station Road Mountainair, New Mexico (505) 847-2990.
District ranger Vicky Estrada: vestrada@fs.fed.us Info
on the Manzano Mountains & surrounding areas. Located about
a mile from downtown.
Allen
Stibora, long-time CDT supporter, lives in Mountainair and is
a friend of GET hikers too.
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 Tijeras
NM
Trail
miles from west terminus: 709
Distance from GET: on route
Twenty-three
miles before reaching its eastern terminus at Albuquerque, the
GET passes through T | 