Mount Taylor (Tsoodził, the turquoise mountain)

The Navajo people believe that the Creator placed them on land between four sacred mountains: Blanca Peak in Colorado, Mount Taylor in New Mexico, the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona, and Hesperus Peak in Colorado.

Regardless of your beliefs, it's hard to miss the Turquoise Mountain on the western horizon when you live in the Duke City. And it begs the question, is the mountain calling to you? It did for me earlier this week and I heeded the call.

Mt. Taylor from Lobo Canyon.

I started by getting lost in Grants. Fortunately, the attendant at the gas station, told me to take a turn at the Pizza Hut and follow the road past the Lotaburger and the prison into Lobo Canyon and then north up to the mountain. Just a friendly reminder, as the signs say along the road, do not pick up hitchhikers for any reason.

It's a steep climb out of Grants and into Lobo Canyon.

The Lobo Canyon road gains several thousand feet before the paved portion comes to an end and you transition to Forest Road 239.

Forest Road 239 - the best gravel road I've ever seen in my life.

My four cylinder Corolla, with Big O Tires I might add, just loved Forest Road 239. As the road climbed the Corolla cruised without any strain. We drove past several hunting camps, past the aspen groves and climbed higher with every mile.

As we started to reach the tree line we understood why Mt. Taylor is so spectacular. The mountain reaches up to 11,300 feet - 922 feet higher than Sandia Peak. And since the surrounding mesa country is dramatically lower you can see for what appears to be well over 100 miles in every direction.

Looking west.

Forest Road 239 eventually intersects with Forest Road 453 which takes you up to La Mosca Lookout. The Corolla didn't seem to mind so we followed 453 all the way up until the gravel ended. Before us lay a narrow dirt road with rocks and ruts. My wife wasn't 100% positive that our little car could make it but what is the low gear for anyway, right?

The Lookout tower - it appears to be boarded up and abadoned.

We followed this dirt road until we were about 1000 yards from the top and had to make a decision.

Fortunately, this incline had level spots along the way so we went for it. The Corolla strained up the grade and the tires seemed to slip now and then but the level spots helped us regain traction. The road was narrow and with the steep drop offs didn't leave that much room for error. But we made it to the critical hair pin turn several hundred yards up from our starting point. That's when I brought the car to a stop and surveyed the final incline to the top.

I didn't see any level areas on that road. It was just a straight shot to the top. If I started up that incline and lost my traction we would have two options - sliding backwards and eventually off the road at the hair pin turn or veering off the road into an embankment. Hmmmmmmmm........what to do? We were about 500 yards from the top and all I needed was a vehicle with guaranteed traction. But, my little front wheel drive car had done enough and back down the road we headed.

We followed the dirt road and eventually Forest Road 453 back to Forest Road 239. Several times, on the way down, we passed hunters in their four wheel drive trucks smirking at the idiots in the Corolla who tried to make it up to the summit.

Once back on Forest Road 239 we continued to head north and eventually intersected Forest Road 453. So, if I had made it to the Lookout I should have been able to drive around the summit without any issues. (Time to get a jeep or four wheeler?)

Forest Road 239 eventually turns from gravel to really nice packed dirt as you head into the village of San Mateo.

Along Forest Road 239 as it descends into San Mateo.

The village of San Mateo is surrounded by beautiful mesas.

Eventually Forest Road 239 gave way to pavement and we headed south to Milan and I-40.

Grants is only about 82 miles west of Albuquerque. The loop from Grants to La Mosca Lookout to San Mateo and then Milan covers less than 60 miles. Milan is just over 5 miles west of Grants. So, this adventure is also an easy day trip from the Duke City. I would guess that you have another couple of months before the Forest Roads are impassable but late Fall on the mountain must be something to see.