NOTE:  The Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Site, a beautiful picnic and viewing site, was badly damaged by floods in Fall 2013 and is closed, by Forest Service order, to public use until further notice.    However, there is a parking area just outside the gate to the Recreation Site, and hikers should make use of this parking area.

CAUTION:  The Sitting Bull Falls area was badly burned in a fire in 2011.   In 2012 I hiked up to Junction F, where T217 branches off.  Forest Service personnel have told me that the 2011 fire did not touch the Last Chance Canyon bottom.  Hopefully, the trail will soon be as lovely as John Stockert found it in 2001.  His description follows (amended to include the Junctions).  

DESCRIPTION:

Last Chance Canyon is an unbelievable, natural gem that is as exceptional, rare and unusual, as nearby Sitting Bull Falls.  Resembling the famous McKittrick Canyon in Guadalupe Mountains National Park to the south, the canyon has sheer limestone cliffs several hundred feet high with two impressive overhangs, and a deep canyon with distinctive riparian areas. A small portion of the canyon floor includes clear pools and wide areas of flat, often step‑like, slickrock up to 70 feet in width, with meandering streams and occasional small waterfalls. As a result of the canyon's environmental diversity, an incredible variety of vegetative species and wildlife make their homes here.  Plan to spend a full day exploring this magnificent hideaway of nature.  

 From its lower trailhead, T226 begins as a well planned, easy-to-follow path with gradients averaging 10% or less (except at the very beginning) along its first 3.0 miles. Then, after crossing the canyon's rock‑strewn, dry stream bed, the trail becomes steep for a short distance, but is maintained. Beyond mile 3.2 from the trailhead, and for the next 0.5 mile, splendid canyon views open up as the path threads, with little elevation change, across a steep slope just above a high, vertical inner canyon wall and boulder‑filled, deep canyon bottom.  The path becomes faint for the next 0.6 mile as it follows along the right edge of the slickrock canyon bottom, or just above it. At one location, a very narrow trail climbs and descends in 0.1 mile, with up to 55% gradient. 

 Unexpectedly, several pumping systems appear.  It is like an outdoor “museum,” depicting improvements in water‑pumping technology spanning many decades.  From here, and for its last 1.2 miles, the trail is in reasonably good shape and angles up the relatively steep canyon slope, 25% maximum gradient, to the upper trailhead.

For additional information about Last Chance Canyon, see an excellent article in the June, 1996 issue of New Mexico Magazine.

 A loop route of 7.3 miles connects T226 to Sitting Bull Falls Trail, T68.  Take T 226  2.2 miles from its lower trailhead off  FR276 . Junction G, to  junction F.  Follow T217 to its end in 3.8 miles  at T 214, Junction D.  Follow T214  0.1 mile to its end at T68, Junction B; go 1.2 miles down canyon to Junction G,   For an additional 2.0 miles round trip, turn left on T 215 at Junction E,  and follow T215 to its uncertain end, a scenic vista with distant views above the picnic area at Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Site.

ACCESS:

To reach the lower trailhead, take US285 northwest from Carlsbad (about 12 miles) to 0.6 mile beyond milepost 45 marking the junction with NM137, Queen Highway. Turn left and follow the paved road 22 miles to milepost 32, the junction with FR276, Sitting Bull Falls Highway (Also signed as County 409). Turn right and follow FR276 for 7 miles to the paved parking area, just prior to entering the gated parking area at Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Site (Junction G).  The actual trailhead for T226 is 0.6 miles south, toward the Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Site; however, if one want to hike up Last Chance Canyon, Junction G is the starting point.

 Accessing the upper T226 trailhead is long and somewhat difficult; a high clearance vehicle is required. Using the intersection of NM137 and FR276 as the starting point, follow NM137  21 miles southwest to milepost 12; proceed another 0.4 mile to a junction, the beginning of FR67, Guadalupe Rim Road, also signed as National Livestock Road.  Turn right and follow graveled FR 67 for 5.4 miles to the junction of FR277, National Ranch Road. Turn right and follow graveled FR277 for 4.8 miles to an intersection, just after crossing a cattle guard. Turn right on FR277C and follow the primitive, often rough, and sometimes hard to follow road for 3.2 slow miles.  The last 0.1 mile, just before reaching the trailhead at a small building, may be difficult if 4‑wheel drive is not available. Parking within sight of the building rather than descending a steep grade just before the end of the "road," is recommended.