more stats
3.4 miles
Distance
488 ft
Climb
-323 ft
Descent
00:32:54
Avg time
167 ft
Altitude change
6,465 ft
Altitude min
6,705 ft
Altitude max
6,496 ft
Altitude start
6,663 ft
Altitude end
0.9%
Grade
-15.4%
Grade max
31.5%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
3,806 ft
Distance flat
00:32:54
Avg time

Third Mesa (North) Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    High Desert Trails
    Gallup, New Mexico
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    70 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 100 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #74411 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #83419 in Trail Running
    • #334540 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #580 in Mountain Biking · New Mexico [+]
    • #534 in Trail Running
    • #2,537 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    XC
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Season
    March-December
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • Year Opened
    2005

Connects the Mentmore Trailhead to 2nd Mesa. There are some great features on this side, including a slickrock section a a short punchy climb that many will have to hike. Can be muddy after rain and snow so best to stick to the southern portion of this trail system if its wet.

Tags
Rock slabs

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 2 rides
  • 13 miles avg distance
All
  • 59 rides
  • Last: Nov 5, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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update trails status or condition

Third Mesa (North) Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Mar 10, 2025 @ 8:10am
Mar 10, 2025
 Some sand here and there but overall great condition and riding fast.
Apr 25, 2024 @ 8:49am
Apr 25, 2024
 Beauty
May 10, 2023 @ 11:19am
May 10, 2023
 All clear. Lots of sand and some rutting due to heavy rains last year but overall good.
Nov 26, 2022 @ 2:10am
Nov 26, 2022
Jun 25, 2022 @ 3:45pm
Jun 25, 2022
more »
Status:
on Mar 10, 2025
Ideal
Avg: 4.3 (8 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to third-mesa-north trailhead (35.519930, -108.847800)
      View on Discover Map 3D Tour

      Photos

      1 more »
      mtb
      315 |
      Dec 30, 2015 @ 5:22pm
      Dec 30, 2015
      Rock formations 1

      Videos

      no videos have been added for Third Mesa (North) yet, add a video.

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      4.7 ★★★★★
      8 Ratings
      5 ★ 63%
      4 ★ 38%
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

      1 Review & Comments

      wgwestervelt wgwestervelt
      Great trail. Good combo of tech and flow.

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Third Mesa (North) located?
      Third Mesa (North) 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 35.51993, -108.8478.
      ▼ How hard is Third Mesa (North)?
      Third Mesa (North) is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.9%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Third Mesa (North)?
      Third Mesa (North) has 488 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 323 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 6,465 ft to 6,705 ft.
      ▼ How long is Third Mesa (North)?
      Third Mesa (North) is 3.4 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Third Mesa (North)?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Third Mesa (North). Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Third Mesa (North)?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Third Mesa (North) are:
      • April (4 activities)
      • October (4 activities)
      • July (3 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Third Mesa (North)? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Third Mesa (North) are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Third Mesa (North)?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 33 minutes to ride Third Mesa (North). The trail is 3.4 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Third Mesa (North)?
      Third Mesa (North) is a very popular trail. There have been 305 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 379 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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