more stats
2.1 miles
Distance
176 ft
Climb
-174 ft
Descent
00:16:54
Avg time
1 ft
Altitude change
6,667 ft
Altitude min
6,788 ft
Altitude max
6,675 ft
Altitude start
6,677 ft
Altitude end
-23.6%
Grade max
15.8%
Grade min
3,911 ft
Distance climb
3,553 ft
Distance down
3,533 ft
Distance flat
00:16:54
Avg time

First Mesa Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Gravel Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    High Desert Trails
    Gallup, New Mexico
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
    • 5 in Gravel Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #73853 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #104452 in Trail Running
    • #345437 in Hiking
    • #7916 in Gravel Biking
  • State Ranking
    #572 in Mountain Biking · New Mexico [+]
    • #725 in Trail Running
    • #2,596 in Hiking
    • #51 in Gravel Biking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC, Fat, Gravel
  • Direction
    Both Directions[+]
    • Both Directions for Trail Running
    • Both Directions for Hiking
    • Both Directions for Gravel Biking
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Easy
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    Year Round
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Year Opened
    2015

The First Mesa Loop is the easiest and shortest of the three Mesa trails. Starting from Six Flags, it climbs to the edge of the mesa with great views to the south before descending back to Six Flags. Generally considered easy, there are a few loose sandy sections and a few rocks gardens to make it interesting but nothing too hard.

Tags
SandyViews

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 5 rides
  • 14 miles avg distance
All
  • 44 rides
  • Last: Oct 17, 2026
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update trails status or condition

First Mesa Loop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Mar 10, 2025 @ 8:10am
Mar 10, 2025
 Some sand here and there but overall great condition and riding fast.
Dec 6, 2024 @ 12:47pm
Dec 6, 2024
Jun 10, 2024 @ 4:54am
Jun 10, 2024
 Sandy and very loose in sections
May 16, 2024 @ 12:46pm
May 16, 2024
 Super nice and unexpected! The parking area is not where it's shown on TrailForks - it's moved to the new road just a little south of the...
Apr 25, 2024 @ 2:35am
Apr 25, 2024
more »
Status:
on Mar 10, 2025
Ideal
Avg: 3.89 (4 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to first-mesa-loop trailhead (35.547380, -108.787360)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      11 more »
      mtb
      130 |
      Sep 14, 2020 @ 8:55pm
      Sep 14, 2020
      mtb
      126 |
      Aug 1, 2020 @ 4:03pm
      Aug 1, 2020
      mtb
      150 |
      Aug 1, 2020 @ 4:03pm
      Aug 1, 2020
      mtb
      322 |
      May 30, 2018 @ 9:55am
      May 30, 2018

      Videos

      1 more »
      High Desert Trail 2019
      mtb
      5:53 | 453 | Jul 18, 2022 , Gallup

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Routes with this trail

      21
      Joy Ride 15-mile Route
      15 miles • 914 ft • 4 • Loop • Race •
      This is a moderate 15-mile loop on the High Desert Trail System.
      3.8 ★★★★★
      4 Ratings
      5 ★
      4 ★ 75%
      3 ★ 25%
      2 ★
      1 ★

      2 Reviews & Comments

      Zesoloist
      Ride CW. Don’t see much difference CCW. Many loose sandy corners. Less so as you ride west
      wgwestervelt wgwestervelt
      I would suggest riding this one clockwise.

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      Nearby Trails

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is First Mesa Loop located?
      First Mesa Loop is located in High Desert Trails, Gallup, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the High Desert Trails trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.54738, -108.78736.
      ▼ How hard is First Mesa Loop?
      First Mesa Loop is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Easy. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for First Mesa Loop?
      First Mesa Loop has 176 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 174 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 6,667 ft to 6,788 ft.
      ▼ Is First Mesa Loop a point to point trail?
      First Mesa Loop is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is First Mesa Loop?
      First Mesa Loop is 2.1 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on First Mesa Loop?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on First Mesa Loop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride First Mesa Loop?
      First Mesa Loop is best visited during: Year Round.
      ▼ How do I access First Mesa Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to First Mesa Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride First Mesa Loop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 17 minutes to ride First Mesa Loop. The trail is 2.1 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is First Mesa Loop?
      First Mesa Loop is a very popular trail. There have been 352 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 439 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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