From Desert to Sky: The Cloud-Climbing Rail Trail Snorts of fire-breathing, smoke-belching steam locomotives no longer echo in the Sacramento Mountains. For years, an overgrown roadbed and a few weathered trestles provided the only clues that rugged little trains once pulled loads of logs and passengers between Alamogordo and Cloudcroft on the Cloud-Climbing Route. Today, visionaries and volunteers of the New Mexico Rails- to-Trails Association are transforming the right-of-way into a unique pathway to outdoor enjoyment, inspiration and recreation. Visitors can again discover the magnificent scenery and panoramic views along the Cloud-Climbing Rail Trail. In the late 1800's, railroads provided a major transportation link throughout the west. Railroads, however, cannot be built without lumber for cross-ties. Casting eager eyes on the vast timber stands of the Sacramento Mountains, the Eddy brothers hired the country’s best mountain railroad engineer to build the Alamogordo & Sacramento Mountain Railway. For 26 miles, the railroad climbed nearly 4,000 feet, winding along ridges, clinging to ledges and creaking across canyons on sturdy wooden trestles. For a time, scheduled excursion trains supplemented railroad revenues by carrying passengers to the fledgling community of Cloudcroft. As the train climbed the precipitous canyon walls, spectacular views unfolded around every bend, treating passengers to vistas of desert, mountains and sky. Within 50 years, a new highway and the upstart internal combustion engine caused the decline of the railroad. In 1947, the line was torn up and sold as scrap. The Cloud-Climbing Route lay abandoned but not forgotten for another half-century. What was a steep and crooked path for a railroad is now a wide and easy path for hikers, mountain-bikers and cross-country skiers. In some places, the trail offers barrier-free access. Enjoy the trail . . listen closely! Perhaps the sounds echoing in the trees still bear faint traces of a far-off steam whistle. New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association P O Box 44 Cloudcroft, NM 88317 www.nmrailstotrails.org 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization Salado Canyon Trestle Bridal Veil Falls Depot Replica at Trestle Recreation Area Cloud-Climbing Rail Trail Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints. Cloud-Climbing Rail Trail www.nmrailstotrails.org Tips For Hikers N Take plenty of drinking water. N Use sun protection: hats, sunglasses, sun block, and use sturdy footwear. N Be aware of sudden weather changes and nature’s little surprises (rattle snakes and black bears have occasionally used our trails). N Keep your dogs leashed. N The water in the creeks is not safe to drink. N Check with the Cloudcroft Ranger Station for up-to-date forest conditions and restrictions. 575-682-2551

Cloud-Climbing Rail Trail · PDF fileFrom Desert to Sky: The Cloud-Climbing Rail Trail Snorts of fire-breathing, smoke-belching steam locomotives no longer echo in the Sacramento Mountains

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From Desert to Sky:The Cloud-Climbing Rail Trail

Snorts of fire-breathing, smoke-belching steam locomotivesno longer echo in the Sacramento Mountains. For years, anovergrown roadbed and a few weathered trestles provided theonly clues that rugged little trains once pulled loads of logsand passengers between Alamogordo and Cloudcroft on theCloud-Climbing Route.

Today, visionaries and volunteers of the New Mexico Rails-to-Trails Association are transforming the right-of-way into aunique pathway to outdoor enjoyment, inspiration andrecreation. Visitors can again discover the magnificentscenery and panoramic views along the Cloud-Climbing RailTrail.

In the late 1800's, railroads provided a major transportationlink throughout the west. Railroads, however, cannot be builtwithout lumber for cross-ties. Casting eager eyes on the vasttimber stands of the Sacramento Mountains, the Eddy brothershired the country’s best mountain railroad engineer to buildthe Alamogordo & Sacramento Mountain Railway.

For 26 miles, the railroad climbed nearly 4,000 feet, windingalong ridges, clinging to ledges and creaking across canyonson sturdy wooden trestles. For a time, scheduled excursiontrains supplemented railroad revenues by carrying passengersto the fledgling community of Cloudcroft. As the trainclimbed the precipitous canyon walls, spectacular viewsunfolded around every bend, treating passengers to vistas ofdesert, mountains and sky.

Within 50 years, a new highway and the upstart internalcombustion engine caused the decline of the railroad. In 1947,the line was torn up and sold as scrap.

The Cloud-Climbing Route lay abandoned but not forgottenfor another half-century. What was a steep and crooked pathfor a railroad is now a wide and easy path for hikers,mountain-bikers and cross-country skiers. In some places, thetrail offers barrier-free access.

Enjoy the trail . . listen closely! Perhaps the sounds echoingin the trees still bear faint traces of a far-off steam whistle.

New Mexico Rails-to-Trails AssociationP O Box 44

Cloudcroft, NM 88317www.nmrailstotrails.org

501 (c) (3) non-profit organization

Salado Canyon Trestle

Bridal Veil Falls

Depot Replica at Trestle Recreation Area

Cloud-Climbing Rail Trail

Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.

Cloud-Climbing

Rail Trail

www.nmrailstotrails.org

Tips For Hikers

N Take plenty of drinking water.N Use sun protection: hats, sunglasses,sun block, and use sturdy footwear.N Be aware of sudden weather changesand nature’s little surprises (rattle snakesand black bears have occasionally usedour trails).N Keep your dogs leashed.N The water in the creeks is not safe todrink.N Check with the Cloudcroft RangerStation for up-to-date forest conditionsand restrictions. 575-682-2551