Contact Info
1804 North Date Street
Truth or Consequences, NM 87901
- Phone:
- 575-894-6677
Basics
- Length:
- 11 miles
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time:
- 7 - 8 hours
- Trailhead Elevation:
- 6240 feet
- Elevation Range:
- 6240 feet to 8700 feet
- Elevation Change:
- 2460 feet
- Usage:
- Light
- Season:
- Spring to Fall
Description
Trail 114 through Holden Prong begins at it's highest elevation in a saddle on the Black Range Crest. The canyon has a northerly bearing and the trail drops at a steady, moderate grade through dense aspen and mixed conifer forests. Snow fall and summer rains on this side of the range can be heavy so the stream has a good flow with many small pools and falls along the way.
Eight miles from the mountain crest Holden Prong joins with Water Canyon to become Las Animas Creek. Private property about 3.2 miles down Las Animas Creek prevents further travel down canyon. Restricted access at this lower end of the trail and the remote access at the crest make Holden Prong and the headwaters of Las Animas Creek an isolated region with great natural beauty and solitude.
Trail 114 provides access through the beautiful and remote canyons of Holden Prong and upper Las Animas Creek.
The mountain crest is hazardous during thunder storms.
Details
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Additional Details:
There is a picnic table and pit toilet. The parking area can accommodate horse trailers
Hillsboro is about 22.3 miles east of the trail head and provides food, gas, and lodging.
Accept during very dry seasons there is water flowing in Gallinas and Railroad Canyons. There is water flowing in Holden Prong and Las Animas Creek. Water quality is not tested therefore it cannot be guaranteed to be drinkable, it is advisable to filter or treat all drinking water.
There are several loop trips that can be done using Trail 114. A 30 mile loop can be made by connecting trails 129, 79, 120, 114, and 128. Trail 120 is little used and dense vegetation may make it unsuitable for horse packing. Another loop of 27.5 miles can be made by connecting trails 129, 79, 812, 121, 114, and 128. A shorter version of this loop can be made by going directly down the Sids Prong Trail 121 from 129. This loop is about 24.5 miles. The loops using Sids Prong are difficult because the final 2.5 mile decent into Holden Prong is steep, rocky, and requires route finding ability. This section of trail is easier to follow going down than it is coming up from Holden Prong. Horse packing isn''t advised on this section.
The best camping in Holden Prong will be in the two mile section above the confluence with Water Canyon. The upper section of Holden Prong is too narrow and heavily forested for camping.
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
Trail 114 does not have a trail head at a road and is reached by following Trail 129 then Trail 128 to the crest of the Black Range where trails 128, 79 and 114 intersect. From the town of Hillsboro go 22.3 miles west on NM 152 and look for the 129 trail head sign on the right. From Silver City go 34 miles east on NM 152 and look for the 129 trail head sign on the left. It's about 4.8 miles from the 129 trail head to the junction with Trail 114.
