CHIVA FALLS
Level: Intermediate to Advanced (3-C)
Description: This is a wonderful cool weather ride. If you can go shortly after a winter rain it is really spectacular. Mostly jeep trail with a lot of traffic from off road vehicles and hikers. A little of something for every ability level and the ride can be done by almost every ability level although there may be some hike a bike for those not in great shape.
The ride up to Trail Head #1 is the worst part of the trip. Reddington Road is miserable. You may want to park at the end of the pavement and ride up to Trail Head #2, about 7.5 miles of fairly tough climbing. My Civic was not up to the task last time I went so I parked at the Upper Tanque Verde Falls area and took the bike up from there.
Directions: Take Tanque Verde East until it becomes Reddington Road. From the end of the pavement you have several options:
- Park there and ride (It's a long, tough climb!)
- Go as far as you dare in your car and then ride
- Go all the way up to Trail Head #1 and park.
This trail head is 4.5 miles up Reddington Road from where the pavement ends. There is a Corral on the left and a large, cleared parking area on the right which will probably have cars in it. It is about 3.5 miles up Reddington Road to the second trail head which is also on the right but not as well marked and has a much smaller parking area. This jeep trail looks VERY DIFFICULT at the beginning. Don't be scared away, it gets easier. It might be a good idea to print out a copy of the map.
Chiva Falls after a rain.
It's gorgeous!
If you got up here, you went the wrong way.
