My Public Lands Roadtrip: White Ridge Bike Area in New Mexico
Today, #mypubliclandsroadtrip rides the White Ridge Bike Trails Area - tucked away in rugged, scenic country west of the Ojito Wilderness.
The White Ridge Bike Trails cross a landscape of spectacular beauty and exceptional geology, meandering through the Pueblo of Zia, State of New Mexico, and public land managed by the BLM. They follow the edges of the San Ysidro Anticline (aka Tierra Amarilla Anticline) - folds in the Earths rocks in which each half of the fold dips away from the crest. The center of an anticline often erodes away leaving a mirrored set of ridges. Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous rocks are upturned by 60 degrees or more to form the ridges of sandstone and other rocks of greatly contrasting colors including brown, black, green, red, yellow, and white.
Fossil remains of rare dinosaurs, plants, and trees from the Jurassic period are located in the Morrison Formation. Natural erosion processes have exposed the bones of huge dinosaurs and large segments of petrified trees. These fossils are approximately 150 million years old! The longest dinosaur ever recovered, Seismosaurus, was discovered only a few miles west of the Trails in what is now the Ojito Wilderness. Paleontologists and geologists use this great variety of life to construct geologic timelines and interpret climate changes over the Earth’s history.
Although the Trails have been developed primarily for mountain biking, hikers are welcome on the entire trail system, and one segment is also open to equestrian use.
My Public Lands Roadtrip: White Ridge Bike Area in New Mexico
Today, #mypubliclandsroadtrip rides the White Ridge Bike Trails Area - tucked away in rugged, scenic country west of the Ojito Wilderness.
The White Ridge Bike Trails cross a landscape of spectacular beauty and exceptional geology, meandering through the Pueblo of Zia, State of New Mexico, and public land managed by the BLM. They follow the edges of the San Ysidro Anticline (aka Tierra Amarilla Anticline) - folds in the Earths rocks in which each half of the fold dips away from the crest. The center of an anticline often erodes away leaving a mirrored set of ridges. Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous rocks are upturned by 60 degrees or more to form the ridges of sandstone and other rocks of greatly contrasting colors including brown, black, green, red, yellow, and white.
Fossil remains of rare dinosaurs, plants, and trees from the Jurassic period are located in the Morrison Formation. Natural erosion processes have exposed the bones of huge dinosaurs and large segments of petrified trees. These fossils are approximately 150 million years old! The longest dinosaur ever recovered, Seismosaurus, was discovered only a few miles west of the Trails in what is now the Ojito Wilderness. Paleontologists and geologists use this great variety of life to construct geologic timelines and interpret climate changes over the Earth’s history.
Although the Trails have been developed primarily for mountain biking, hikers are welcome on the entire trail system, and one segment is also open to equestrian use.