New Mexico · Mountain biking

Southern Crossing

2.3 mi
round trip
282 ft
climb
Singletrack
surface
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Is Southern Crossing open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sandia Ranger District. It doesn't name Southern Crossing, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

  • Area Closure for Recreation Residence Structures and Property at 91 Casa Loma Road

    Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-14 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

  • Area Closure for Recreation Residence Structures and Property at 69 Casa Loma Road

    Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-13 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

  • Area Closure for Sandia Crest “Switchback” Hazard Tree and Fuel Reduction Project

    Agency closure covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-05-26-02 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

  • Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts Stage 1 Fire Restriction Lifted

    Agency alert covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-00-26-20 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

  • Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts Stage 1 Fire Restriction Order 03-03-00-26-05

    Agency alert covering Sandia Ranger District · Order 03-03-00-26-05 · USFS · Sandia Ranger District

As of · Source: USFS · Sandia Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Southern Crossing is a mountain biking route in the Manzanita Mountains Trail System, within the Sandia Ranger District of Cibola National Forest in New Mexico. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is an out-and-back of about 4.5 miles, with an elevation gain of 282 feet from the low point at 7,433 feet to the high point at 7,641 feet. The route is rated easy, and dogs are allowed. It works well as a short outing on a day spent exploring the Manzanita Mountains. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring and early fall. At the nearby Sandia Park weather station, typical averages run to highs around 73°F in May and 77°F in September, while winter highs sit in the low 40s. Several hiking routes lie about 0.6 miles away, including Three Bottles Advanced and Cajun Pine. Climbers can find Block Wall and Big Block roughly 2.7 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Southern Crossing

    Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      44° / 19°

    2. Feb

      48° / 22°

    3. Mar

      55° / 26°

    4. Apr

      63° / 34°

    5. May

      73° / 41°

    6. Jun

      83° / 49°

    7. Jul

      83° / 53°

    8. Aug

      80° / 52°

    9. Sep

      77° / 46°

    10. Oct

      65° / 36°

    11. Nov

      54° / 24°

    12. Dec

      43° / 18°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sandia Park, NM, 15 mi away at 7,030 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors