Directions to the Southern Terminus:
(mileages are approximate)

Southern terminus travel: Traveling to the Southernmost Trailhead itself requires high-clearance 4×4 and takes two hours one-way once you leave the paved roads.

1. Take Interstate 10 east from Lordsburg or West from Deming to Exit 49

2. Take NM 146 South to Hachita

3. Turn East on NM 9

4. Turn South on NM 81

5. Go south about 11 miles. Just before the curve in the highway, turn left onto the graded dirt road. All roads beyond this point are dirt.

6. Go 3 miles and turn right.

7. Go another 3 miles and turn left.

8. Follow this road around the base of the Big Hatchet Mountains for about 20 miles to a windmill (Mangas Well, named for Apache Chief Mangas Colorado).

9. From the windmill, go east 2 miles. You will be at the international boundary fence. At the cattle guard, there is a concrete monument commemorating the Crazy cook who murdered someone at the site.

10. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail goes west, back along the road to the windmill, then proceeds northwest through the Big Hatchet Mountains.

As the southern terminus monument is developed signs will be placed at critical intersections along the drive.

Southern Terminus to Lordsburg, N.M.—Update from the BLM

The BLM amended the location of the trail in 2005 in order to reach the Mexico border without having to cross private lands in New Mexico’s boot heel. Since that time, ground-truthing and finessing locations has occurred, working off the amendment document which allows adjustments to the route in order to mitigate for historic or sensitive areas. The signs along the roads have been removed as preferred routing, more suitable to the criteria of a National Scenic Trail (P.L. 90-543), has occurred across open ground, including the point from the Crazy Cook Monument. The trail now commences north of there several hundred feet, off the national boundary fenceline inside of the 60 ft. Roosevelt Easement.

The entire official route south of Lordsburg should be line-of-sight signed by May 2008. In most places, it is cross country with the best footing intended to become the path, although in future years crews are likely to clear a broader trail. In some places, hikers will walk on ranch roads or very old jeep trails, but there is very little overlap with recreational motorized use in this area.

You are strongly encouraged to use the official route! This region consistently catches even the most experienced hikers dry. By working with ranchers and locating water stash boxes at critical locations (where you provide for your own), opportunities will have been created for non-potable water sources every 10 – 15 miles when trail construction is complete. You are discouraged from the Old Hachita unofficial route not only because of trespass but also several dangerous mine shaft openings.

Everyone should be advised that this region is a high crime area for drug trafficking and can be dangerous. The trail has been located to avoid confrontation but with caution in mind the trail is temporarily closed to equestrian and mountain biking. Because of high speed travel, the Border Patrol has requested that hikers not walk on the roads. Do not rely on the good samaritan principal in this area, with ranchers or strangers!

This is an austere elegant landscape. Please enjoy it in a very prepared way. You can contact the Las Cruces BLM for trail conditions and water stash locations: (575) 525-4300.

New Mexico Bureau of Land Management

Reminder to New Mexico CDT users