Fourth of July Campground (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: live in, yard, land)

[Lily24]

I know it's not time yet but as I have never been but want to see the fall foliage at the Fourth of July Campground, about when will peak viewing occur?

[Userdavey]

I responded to this because my parents own land in nearby Sherwood Forest and so I recognized the campground you speak of. Try a new thread asking about when the fall colors change in the mountains and you'll get more responses. Many people have not even heard of Fourth of July CG would be my guess. I live in Colorado now and I can't remember when they change down near Abq. Good Luck!

[mortimer]

4th of July Campground is on the East side of the Manzanos and
is the first campground you come to that is in the Manzanos and
not the Manzanitas driving South from Albuquerque. From where
Tramway and I-40 meet, it might take from 30-40 minutes to get
to the turn-off and another 20-30 minutes of dirt road driving
from there.

Peak color usualy coincides with the Albuquerque International
Balloon Fiesta that runs from the first Saturday in October to the
second Sunday in October.

Good color can be found two weeks before that and a week or so after.

By the time you get to the Tajique stop on Rt 14 where it meets
Rt 55, the back of the mountain should look like it was splashed with
red paint and the top crowned with gold.

You don't have to hike up to the high country to see the color since
the parking areas will be raining leaves at the right time. Stroll out on
the National Forest road ( Torreon Tajique Loop Road ) for a half mile
or so to see overhanging rust-colored Oak trees as well as the maple
and some low altitude Aspen among the Limestone rock outcroppings.

Note that the campground will fill up early. If you are not there by 8:30
or 9 am, you will have to find a place on the side of the road somewhere.

[ABQConvict]

That area was pretty badly burned last year. Has anyone been up there to see how the campground and the trail up the canyon to the crest has fared? My fear was that it was all bunt to a cinder. That would be unfortunate since it is one of my favorite places in the state. Those maple forests are amazing.


ABQConvict

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

That area was pretty badly burned last year.

I haven't been up there since, but from what I could see,
the fire didn't get into the high country on Bosque Peak,
but it only nipped the campground area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tr...e-Map-USFS.jpg
That area at the top, only just envelopes, but does not encompass
the town of Torreon.

I really need to go this year and report out.
I'm such a slacker ...

[ABQConvict]

Thanks for posting the link, mort. That is one massive burn.


ABQConvict

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

That is one massive burn.

That is what they said about the area around the Santa Fe Ski Basin
some 100+ years ago.

Now it's one of the most spectacular Aspen forests in the state.

There is also an area around the N Peak of Sandia like that.

The burn around Capilla Peak won't be quite so nice since it is much
lower in elevation, but much of it is still high enough to be quite nice
later on. I assume it will be a mix of Aspen and Gambel Oak.

The Aspen groves ( 1 grove = 1 organism ) survive forest fires because
so much of their life energy is in the interconnected roots. It stabilizes
the soil and keeps much of it from washing away after the fire and
provides for instant re-forestation until the "more important" trees
can grow back.

[ABQConvict]

Yeah, I'm gonna check out that Aspen grove in the Manzanos in 99 years. ;-)


ABQConvict

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict - on his long lifespan:

Yeah, I'm gonna check out that Aspen grove in the Manzanos in 99 years.

Actually, I've read that Aspen grow four feet a year at first. ]
In two or three years, they should be over your head and
in five or so years, they should be thick enough to put on a "show."

That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

[ABQConvict]

A few years ago, I hiked up the west flank of Blue mountain in the San Mateos. At some time in the recent past, virtually the whole west face of that mountain had been denuded (actually all the trees had fallen) of its aspen forest and new trees were taking their place, about 4 - 6 feet tall. Several square miles of this terrain was an interesting sight and grueling hiking. Imagine climbing 3,000 feet whilke having to clamber over horizontal aspen trunks laying 1' - 4' above ground level every 4 or 5 yards, meanwhile surrounded to about head level with leafy aspens. Standing on these downed aspens got your head above the surrounding new trunks so the views were interesting. Huge swaths of new forest is a rare sight. The hiking conditions on the other hand were miserable. Luckily there is a nice spring right at the top.


ABQConvict