In my Datil, Magdalena, and Hwy 60 article I mentioned Forest Road 505. On that particular trip I only went from the western end of 505 to the west homestead. I recently drove the mostly forest-less forest road from end to end, and discovered that there was more to see, including two branch roads to Garcia Canyon and 505A. 505A starts at the western homestead and appears to wind its way steeply up the side of the mountain, over rock piles and around hair pin turns, to some indeterminable summit where one might feel the impulse to let fly a yodel. I plan to investigate this further and will, of course, tell you all about it. From my initial glance, the Garcia Canyon branch seemed to go a short distance before disappearing behind a hill, presumably in Garcia Canyon. This too, I intend to explore. From the west homestead I drove onward along a curvy dirt road, and across some rather steep washes where a high clearance vehicle was mandatory. Approximately half a mile past the last wash, I stopped dead in my tracks with a gasp and a squeak as a group of about a dozen antelope went bounding across the road a mere 30 feet in front of my truck. I quickly reached for my camera, clumsily juggling it about and swearing aloud as I fumbled with it, firing off odd-angled shots of my nostrils, crotch, gearshift, and steering wheel, before finally acquiring a steady hold and pointing it out the window. By this time the antelope were a way off and had stopped to watch me spastically juggle my camera, and to point and laugh at me. They were far enough away that I couldn't get a good picture of them, even with my 420mm equivalent lens.
A Much Zoomed And Cropped Photo Of The Insolent Antelope
(Some Are Sneering, Some Are Clearly Mooning Me)
Having just been mocked by cocky antelope, I sulked off and a few minutes later came across several head of cattle, who were much too meek to mock me. These cows were milling about and grazing near another abandoned homestead. This homestead had a house, several out-buildings in assorted sizes, a cattle pen, and the crumbling foundations of some long-gone mystery edifices. Just before I got out to have a look around, I noticed two small signs designating this site as private property, so I stayed in my truck and continued on, or at least tried to. The cows were in the middle of the road and watching me with their large, dopey cow eyes. One, who was not in the road, was seemingly playing peek-a-boo with me (or would it be peek-a-moo?). I honked my horn, and mooed my most pleading moo, and they eventually let me by.
Peek-A-Moo
The last 2 miles to Water Canyon Road were flat and uneventful, and seemed a trifle boring compared to the previous 4 miles. When I reached Water Canyon Road, I turned right and drove approximately 2 1/2 miles to the Water Canyon Campground and Picnic Area. There are restrooms, picnic tables, and campsites. Water Canyon provides a cool, shady retreat for Socorro residents in the summer months. Also to be found there is a road that leads 10 miles to the top of South Baldy mountain and to the Langmuir Laboratory For Atmospheric Research. This facility is used to study thunderstorms and lightning, among other things. The road to the peak is said to be narrow, with sheer drops along the roadside, and other miscellaneous perils. A sign at the bottom warns you to lock your hubs now before proceeding. I plan to further explore this area, too, and will report back on it.
Forest Road 505 can be reached by taking Hwy 60 west of Socorro about 16 miles to Water Canyon Road, where 2 miles in you will see a sign on your right marking the 505. Another option (which is the one I favor) is bypassing the Water Canyon Road and driving another 3 1/2 miles to the west end of the 505, and starting there. Overall, the 505 is about 6 miles in length, and takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on how much you want to poke around.
View From 505 Near The East Homestead
This trip can be combined with Datil, Magdalena and Hwy 60, San Lorenzo Canyon,