DESCRIPTION:

In the 1920's logging began north of Cloudcroft, and a railroad spur was built to connect with the Alamogordo and Sacramento Mountains railway line to Alamogordo. With this connection, logs could be moved to the sawmills in Alamogordo. The spur began near the present day intersection of NM130 and US82, and ran just east of the present day post office. It continued across Burro Avenue and north along the present Osha Trail Road. It passed through the present Pines Campground, and continued along the path of the present day FR568. The path is not continuous; the construction of NM 244 removed the rail bed just north of the Pines Campground. Indeed, if one hikes along FR568, the old rail bed winds north past La Luz Canyon Road (FR162) into the Mescalero Reservation.

A walk along T568 (and FR568) allows one to "follow the logs" and imagine the logging days now past. A FS gate at the Cloudcroft end of T568 presents vehicles from accessing the trail.

USE: moderate SEASON: April – November.

ACCESS: FR = forest road; FS = Forest Service

To reach the Cloudcroft end of T568. To find this old railroad grade (now trail), begin in Cloudcroft at the US82 and NM130 highway intersection, and drive one block east along US82. Turn left on Curlew at the Allsups store and drive one block to Burro Avenue. Turn right and drive to the second street going left, signed Mexican Avenue/Osha Trail. Turn left; the road soon splits into Mexican Avenue and Osha Trail. Follow the level Osha Trail. This route requires access across private land, and that access is currently limited to non-motorized traffic. T568 and T10 are the same trail for about 500 feet, starting 0.5 mile from Burro Avenue in Cloudcroft. T568 can be accessed from T10 at two points.

To reach the Pines Campground end of T568, begin in Cloudcroft at the US82 and NM130 intersection and drive US82 east 1.3 miles to its junction with NM244. Turn left and follow NM 244 northwest 0.4 mile to the Pines Campground turnoff on the left. Enter the campground and drive 0.1 mile to the campground host site. After informing the host of your plans, continue driving and follow the sign to the Chipmunk Loop (left fork). Park near the toilet area and look for the wide flat unpaved ground that is characteristic of old rail bed. The signed trailhead is near a gate across the old rail bed. The campground host may ask you to park at another location and walk to the trailhead.

Note: T568A, described in the 2002 edition of the Trail Guide: Lincoln National Forest, is now part of T568.