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Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 7 mi (11.3 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +631/ -575 ft
Total: 37 riders
Mountain Biking Grindstone Lake
#30 of 283 mountain bike trails in New Mexico
This mountain trail climbs gradually for the first two miles then drops and traverses the Grindstone Canyon with many small climbs and giving way to lots of downhill. There are lots of switchbacks but they are fun as well. The trail is mostly good soil with only a few rocks and roots to easily contend with. Connect to the fisherman's trail for the last 1.5 miles to return to the parking lot.
First added by sdwill on Apr 26, 2014. Last updated May 2, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Drive to Grindstone Lake taking Resort Drive to Wiggins Way. Follow Wiggins Way to the top of the dam and park in the dirt parking area. The trail-head is located at the west side of the parking area. It is marked with signs.
Good fun trail with some fairly technical sections. Multiple switchbacks going up hill make the climb easy, with a great flowy downhill back to the parking lot. We did get a little lost once on top, but a forest service guy got us back on track. Well worth the trip from Texas. Trying the spaghetti bowl trails in the morning.
| ThankA must-ride trail if you are in the Ruidoso area. Great climb going up. Be sure to go all the way to the top by going around the road closed gate after the first 20 minutes of climbing. The entire trail flows really well. Once it flattens out and declines a little, this trail is an absolute blast! Swoopy and fast.
| ThankGreat trail! Definitely worth the trip out. Relatively easy climb and to the top and then you'll be treated to mountaintop plateau that flows well and is fast. The decent is incredible. Some quick switchbacks but nothing too harsh for the intermediate rider.
| ThankThis trail is actually a system of 3 trails at the time of this review. The trail around the Lake is about 7.5 miles, the trail going up the Mesa Loop is about 2 miles of constant climbing, and the Mesa Loop is about 3.5 miles of wooded bliss, with some rock outcroppings over on the back-side. I even came across a couple of Caribou on the back -side of the loop. The Mesa Loop is quite flat and an easy ride once you get up there. Getting there is a challenge for the out-of-towner who isn't used to the altitude. It turned into a hike-a-bike going up the connect trail. The local map/signs show another section of the trail system that we didn't find to be built just yet. The Loop around the Lake itself is well described by others here and is quite a bit of fun. You can get back to the parking lot with using the Fisherman's Trail, just stay on the Grindstone Trail and it will get you there. I found lots of horse poop on the Mesa Loop which is disappointing. Why can't they ride elsewhere, or clean up behind themselves?
| ThankThe trail is fairly smooth, with some amazing mountain top vistas!. The climbs are fairly steady for the first half. Nothing technical. Once you top out and head down it is fast and fun! There are several sections that warrant caution but are ridable by beginners. Next time we will add the mesa section at the top.
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