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Perk Ridge Trail (92) is a seldom-used trail on the edge of town that offers a short day hike with some great scenery. The trail is not crowded with hikers because of a washed-out section of dirt road that accesses the trailhead and the proximity of another trail that continues up Perk Canyon from the end of the pavement. If you have a high-clearance vehicle, make the hairpin turn at the end of the paved Perk Canyon Road and proceed up the hill to the trailhead. The trailhead is a little over a quarter mile up the dirt road. If you don't have a high clearance vehicle, park at the end of the pavement and hike up the road. At the end of the dirt road, a sign marks the Perk Canyon trailhead. Proceed past the handy work of midnight dumpers at the end of the road and you will soon be enjoying a great trail! The first mile of the hike is along the ridge separating the Perk and Brady Canyon drainages. The trail alternates between short steep sections and long flat sections. Eventually the trail leaves the ridge and side hills to the bottom of a dry Brady Canyon tributary. The hike continues uphill for another mile prior to emerging onto a ridge that overlooks Brady Canyon. This point is a logical turnaround point because the trail descends down into Brady Canyon from here and this climb must be negotiated on the return hike. If you're still not tired, consider following the trail another mile to the Cedar Creek Road where the trail emerges among some homes. A shuttle, vehicle could be used here to make this hike one-way but parking is limited along Cedar Creek. This trail is open to mountain bikers but some short sections of trail are rocky and loose which makes the trail unsuitable for novices. Johnny HughesThe Ruidoso News
rev 8/29/98 b |