Ladrone Mountains

From The Place Names of New Mexico, Robert Julyan:

Sierra Ladrones, Spanish "thieves mountains'" named because Navajo and Apache raiders of the settlements along the Rio Abajo would take stolen stock here, safe from pursuit in the mountains' steep  and treacherous canyons.  Later, non-Indian rustlers and highwaymen used these rugged mountains as a hideout, and legends abound of treasure still hidden here.  Often called simply Los Ladrones.  Highest elevation, 9,210; Ladron Peak is 9,143ft.    

The Ladrones is a nice long day trip and even better for car camping if you’re prepared.  The road tends to be rocky, not muddy.  It begins at the Bernardo exit off I-25 south of Bosque and north of San Acacia.  It tracks south across on old trestle bridge on the barely paved section that was once the main highway.  Soon it turns dirt and heads west and northwest making a slow wash-boarded arc around the north of the mountains.

This is marked as County Road 12 on the Delorme Atlas and can be followed, with only a few confusing forks and a couple hours, all the away around and down into the Rio Puerco Salado Valley at the ghost town of Riley.  Here it fords the Puerco and this is where you’ll wish you had a truck, not a sedan.       

What appears to be one distinct mountain from Albuquerque becomes far more complex up close.  Using your instincts to avoid the few ranches it is not hard to find a nice place to tuck a night camp – or a few hundred head of stolen sheep in your last life maybe.  It’s BLM land, high pinon-juniper forest.  Common sense says use existing road tracks and fire rings.  It’s far enough away from the glow and hum of the city to really notice the dark quiet night.  You’ll find magic, if not treasure, watching stars out there.

Appreciatively, Coco

edited for typo 11/10/08

Comments

[mjh]

Thanks for this posting, Coco; I've linked to it. I was just asking Johnny_Mango about the area. peace, mjh

[Jon Knudsen]

Great area...and often overlooked. I think the road from Bernardo to Magdalena is the closest "high-lonesome" experience around here. I had a flat on that road once and the wind and dust were so severe that changing the tire burned my face and turned my eyes red. Also, speaking of red eyes, all those junipers give off a lot of pollen if you're camping there at the wrong time. But I do love that road...and especially crossing the river into Riley (but I thought it was the Rio Salado rather than the Rio Puerco).

[Coco]

Oh! Jon, you're right. It's the Salado not the Puerco. Thanks for reading, Coco

[Glenn Sveum]

I've climbed her three times. Each time I have taken a slightly different route, and loved each one. It is truely a magnificant, desolite, lonely place. I would advise not to go during deer hunting season, but at other times, you probably won't see another human being. The views are expansive and breathtaking. The climb gets more difficult as you acsend, and doing it solo is dangerous, if you screw up, the penalties can be high. I love Ladron Peak and I hope it stays desolite like it is now forever!

[olfrt]

Having lived northwest of the Ladrone for 35 years now I revel in its wild freedom, and can only rue the day you chose to make it more public. There is already a 99 unit subdivision surrounding Riley and another four section subdivision currently being developed north west of the mountain.
However if you are determined to drive to Riley be warned: if the Rio Salado is running more than it's usual trickle DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS. At flood stage the river can run about 8 feet deep and the crossing can still look very benign to the hapless pilgrim.
The area adjacent to the mountain and the mountain itself are part of a Bureau of Land Management wilderness study area and taking a vehicle off the county roads is forbidden, although hiking is fine. The small herd of Rocky Mountain bighorns are protected by law and are reclusive. But watch you might see one or more.
Please pack out what you bring in. We who live here wouldn't think of bringing trash and leaving it on your driveway or lawn, so don't litter the country and or the roads. That state road 12 is my driveway, even if it is 30 miles long. Thanks .

[Greg Bishop]

You have piqued my wanderlust.