NOTE:  The Trail Guide: Lincoln National Forest (2002 edition) describes three trails in the Grindstone Mesa area, T91, T91A, and T91B.  These trails were based on old logging roads.  When the new trails were developed, with the intent to provide good trails for mountain biking, these new single path trails were built with little use of the old logging roads.  In effect, the old trails were abandoned and new trails were built.  At the time I hiked these trails (Fall 2013), the signage was not in place, but there was rarely any ambiguity about how to proceed when a new trail crossed a road.  Good Show! 

 The three trails, T94 Alfred Hale Connector Trail, T95 Grindstone Mesa Loop Trail, and T96 Grindstone Canyon Trail, were developed by the Forest Service, the City of Ruidoso, the Ruidoso Chapter of Ecoservants, and the Ruidoso area mountain biking community.  They, and the Fisherman’s Trail, provide access to the beauty of Grindstone Lake and Grindstone Mesa.

 Grindstone Lake is just outside the Lincoln National Forest boundary.  The green dashed line – Fisherman’s Trail – provides a low gradient loop around Grindstone Lake.  T96 Grindstone Canyon Loop Trail also makes a loop (using some of Fisherman’s Trail) but at higher elevation, and with more forest and better views.  T94 Alfred Hale Connector Trail begins in Alfred Hale Canyon and ascends through multiple switchbacks to the gem, T95 Grindstone Mesa Trail, which meanders, will little change in elevation, through the beautiful Ponderosa forest on the top of Grindstone Mesa.

DESCRIPTION:

 This is what a forest trail should be!  In the 3.4 mile Grindstone Mesa loop, the elevation varies by barely 100 feet, and in many areas there are stand of large Ponderosa pines with an open understory.  I measured one old Ponderosa at 3’8” in diameter.  Many thanks to the mountain bikers and others who helped to design, lay out, and construct T95.

 There are many old roads in this area, but the newer T95 was easy to hike.  When it crosses a road, the single path T95 is usually visible just across the road, and sometime there are cairns.  Easy hiking, and when the signage is put in place, really fine hiking.

 ACCESS:

 You cannot drive to T95 Grindstone Mesa Trail.  You can park at the east side of the Grindstone Lake dam, and hike/bike/horse 3.5 miles up the Thinning Road to T95, elevation gain 1030 feet.  However, you may prefer to make use of the upper portion of T94 Alfred Hale Connector Trail, which can be accessed from Westminster Drive.  Either access will provide very nice views of the Grindstone Lake area and beyond.

 Access by Thinning Road: 

 In Ruidoso, go 1.3 miles south from Smokey Bear Ranger District Office along Mechem Drive (NM48) to where it turns left at a traffic light. This is the intersection of Mechem and Sudderth Drive.  Turn right and head west on Sudderth.  At mile 0.2 from the traffic light, turn left at a complicated intersection onto Resort Drive.  Follow the twists and turns of Resort Drive 0.9 miles to the small recreation area on the south side of the road [Starting point for the Frisbee Golf Course].   Hike to the south side of the dam, where the Thinning Road (unsigned) starts.  It may be a bit tricky to find unsigned T95, but remember that it is a single path trail, and where it crosses the roads there are often cairns to guide the eye.

 In Ruidoso go 1.3 miles south from Smokey Bear Ranger District Office along Mechem Drive (NM48) to where it turns left at a traffic light. This is the intersection of Mechem and Sudderth Drive.  Zero your trip odometer here. Turn right and head west on Sudderth.  At mile 0.2 from the traffic light, turn right at a complicated intersection on unsigned Main Road, within sight of a 1^st National Bank office. At mile 0.5, proceed straight ahead on Flume Canyon Drive. At mile 0.7, angle slightly left and continue following Flume Canyon Drive.

 At mile 0.8, enter the Black Forest subdivision.  Just beyond the imposing entrance to the subdivision, angle slightly right and follow pavement uphill. At mile 1.4, turn left on signed King Richard Drive, a steep, graveled road.  At mile 1.8, turn right on Westbury Drive. At mile 2.0, turn left on Westminster Road and follow for 0.2 mile, 100 feet beyond the top of the hill, to an unpaved (and potentially muddy) saddle, just beyond Lancelot Court.  Park here.  It is tempting to hike up the old road beyond the closed Forest Service gate.  However the unsigned single path access to T94 begins just to the left of the gate.  The unsigned junction with T94 is about 100 feet down this trail.  Continuing straight leads downhill (0.9 miles) to a junction with T96.  Turning right leads uphill (1.8 miles, elevation gain 480 feet), through multiple switchbacks to a junction with T95 at its eastern end (unsigned but this is a junction with a wide, well-maintained trail.)  

 DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE: