DESCRIPTION:

This trail provides more diversity than most, and is therefore quite interesting, despite its general steepness.  Beginning at its lower end in a narrow canyon, the path gradually becomes steeper, up to 50%, as it leaves the canyon and heads toward a saddle at mile 0.7 from the gate.  Ponderosa pine and pinyon are common among scattered shrubbery.  From the saddle, the trail proceeds with many ups and downs as it snakes its way along the ridge, reaching a dozen increasingly higher points.  

It generally follows a barbed wire fence in disrepair.  Keep this fence in mind when trail evidence is sometimes hard to find.  At one location the “main” path turns right and is likely to get the first time hiker lost!  Here a less conspicuous trail that stays close to the old fence must be taken; it finally reaches the highest point at about mile 3.6. Grades along the ridge average as high as 30% with 45% as maximum.  Vistas are variously filtered and infrequent, but on the whole, they increase as the trail nears its high point.  Distant views, including some with 360-degrees, become common as one approaches the upper end of the trail. 

 For much of the route, vegetation varies considerably and includes pinyon, juniper, and Ponderosa pine with open understory.  Occasionally, the trail passes through tall oak shrubbery.  Grass cover becomes more predominant as open space increases.

At mile 1.7 from the lower trailhead is the junction with the signed upper end of T52, Gaylord Canyon Trail (soon lost if one follows it into Tortolita Canyon).  An unofficial trail, used by locals, begins just 0.1 mile beyond the T52 connection and is marked by a large arrow on the ground, constructed with rocks.  The path has been improved and, according to a reader, is followable down to the house and gate mentioned above. 

 T51 ends at an intersection with T34, Norman Canyon Trail (which, like T52 above, cannot be followed all the way into Tortolita Canyon as shown on the map).  From here, follow T34 a quarter mile to its end with T54. 

 ACCESS:

To reach the lower T51 trailhead from Smokey Bear Ranger District Office in Ruidoso, drive New Mexico NM48 north 8.3 miles to NM37.  Turn left and follow NM37 northwest 9 miles to milepost 9.  Go another 0.5 mile; turn left on FR400, also known as County Road C015, and follow the graveled road 4.0 miles to just beyond the wooden Pennsylvania Canyon sign.  Turn right on FR5628 and drive 0.4 mile to where the primitive road turns right at an “island” surrounded by road.  Parking here is recommended because space at the end of the road in 0.3 mile is limited, but one may take a chance that a space might be open there. 

 A locked gate near a house marks the end of public road access.  The trail begins on the right, when facing the gate, at an unsigned “trailhead” marked by a break between two logs, about 30 feet from the locked gate.  To reach the trail, begin at the break, walk past eight logs laid parallel (on the right), and past the front of the house.  Just beyond the house is a large, rock fire pit.  Turn right, and go between the fire pit and the house.  Proceed up canyon past two large rocks to a wooden sign, 0.2 mile from the end of the road.  Private land ends at this trail sign, which says T 51 – Pennsylvania Trail.