A quick little getaway is Forest Service road 445. It is a 5 1/2 mile loop road near Placitas that traverses the high plains close to the foothills of the Sandias. A large sign warns against driving this road in a car, which is usually a sign of impending fun. The road is dirt with the usual assortment of washes to cross, ruts, occasional rocks, and land mines. There aren't really any land mines of course, but there are a few trail heads in the area, as well as scattered joggers, mountain bikers, and dog walkers. Trucks, and cars with some reasonable ground clearance, should have no difficulty with the road, but you might want to leave the Miata at home. The views are excellent and there are enough various obstacles to keep the driver from going to sleep. At one point along the road I spied an old cattle pen in the distance, looking lonely and forlorn. 3 1/2 miles into the loop you will come to a fork in the road. A right turn will take you several yards to a roundabout with an outhouse in the middle, while a left turn finishes the loop. It is from this point onward that is my favorite part. After 5 1/2 miles you emerge back onto the main road about 1/3 of a mile past where you left it, which is reminiscent of one of my uncle's famous "shortcuts." I drove this road in both directions so that I could recommend to you the better of the two ways (don't you love me?), and I definitely choose starting from the west entrance. To get to forest road 445, go north 15 miles from the Big I to exit 242 for Bernalillo/Placitas and head east (toward the mountain) 2 1/2 miles to the turnoff and parking lot.
