Otero Canyon

Review: This is a place for your granny gear. There're some portions of technical climbing. Otherwise it's a steady and reasonably steep climb. However as a reward you get a sweet downhill with many ledges to catch some decent air time. Or incorporate it into a loop with Tunnel, west ridge and birdhouse ridge. I'm glad I rode this trail and hope to come back again.

Review: Fun place to spend all day making your legs burn from the miles of single track in the area.

Review: Ridden this trail many times. Our favorite in ABQ. You must visit this trail if you're in the area.

Review: Otero is always fun, always challenging. Plenty of technical options, and plenty of spatial challenges. the local club, FOOMTB keeps working with the NFS to build more trail in the area and maintain what was created there years ago.

Similar Trail: Cedro Peak

Review: Otero Canyon trails are pretty awesome. There's plenty of climbing with some climbs being easy and others being fairly technical. The good news is that once the climbing is over with there's some amazing downhill. Because there are so many switchbacks on the downhill, it does take a while to get back down so it doesn't just fly by.

A word of advice though: wait until the snow has melted in the area. Plenty of cliffs with downhill icy sections is a recipe for pain... or excitement if you're into that.

Review: A means to getting to westridge!

Review: Assuming this is the Otero Canyon Trail (05056), and not the area in general:

Excellent downhill, with optional jumps here and there, and a few rock gardens to slow you down a little.

Fun uphill as well.

This is the "standard" trail for the area. Any time someone visits I take them on this. This is a rare trail that I'd actually say is good for all skill levels. You see beginners tottering along and walking sections, and there are people who just bomb the crap out of it and have fun! If you're one of the latter, watch out for the former! I've ridden this trail a ton of times and I'm still getting better at it.

Review: Fast, fun and flowy when ridden south to north. Some technical spots, lots of fast smooth singletrack and few spots to catch some air. I rode Otero from the Mars Court TH and dropped in from Gnasty (05057). After screaming down Otero I climbed back out of the canyon on Blue Ribbon (05236). I'd recommend doing that loop in the opposite direction - the initial climb up Blue Ribbon is tough and rocky - it would be much better coming down into Otero!

Similar Trail: Coyote, Lone Pine, Cedro

Review: Rode this trail in conjuction with Tunnel Canyon yesterday. Rode Otero again as an out and back today. Went to the Air Base boundary and came back three times for a 12-15 mile day. For the first 2 miles from the parking lot the trail is esentially flowy, hard pack singletrack with an easy climb up the Canyon. About two miles in things begin to get noticeably more techy; there is one rocky section that I can't imagine anyone cleaning (on the ascent anyhow) except the most skilled rider on the gnarliest 29r. The return is a blast. Once you get past the rocks its essentially two miles of flowy, smooth singletrack that whoops back and forth across the ravine floor. There are plenty of straight lines where you can really hit it, Jack, but do beware of a few blind corners where other bikers and hikers might come up on you suddenly. This is an intermediate trail. Be sure to pick the right line down the canyon or you could be hurtling off the trail several feet onto the canyon below.

Review: Otero Canyon is a good intermediate trail and a great alternative to the foothills. Can be technical in spots but much tamer than some of the other branching trails. Trail is cut short because of Kirtland Air Force Base which is a shame. This trail is only 2-3 miles by itself but it serves as a terrific warm up/cooldown for the other more technical trails in the area.

* Review edited 6/15/2012