Native Plant Society of New Mexico Native Plant Society of New Mexico

Location: Sierra Vista Trail from Mossman Arroyo (I-10 Mesquite Exit, directions provided below)

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Join us for a plant walk this Saturday on Sierra Vista Trail as we explore early spring in the Chihuahuan Desert. As we walk south from the trailhead, we’ll look for wildflowers as well as flowering yucca and cacti. The area is home to a large variety of local cacti that we’ll see as we make our way along the base of Bishop’s Cap in the southern Organ Mountains.]

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We plan to walk about a mile and a half from the trailhead on a relatively easy stretch of Sierra Vista Trail, walking at an easy pace and stopping for plants we see. We will cross several small arroyos on our walk, but the trail is well maintained and there is little elevation change. We’ll return the way we went out, making this a three mile round trip walk. There are no bathrooms available and little shade. Please wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and bring water and sun protection. The last 1.2 miles of gravel road can be a little rough. While it does not require AWD/4WD, a small SUV or larger is recommended for the clearance.

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We’ll meet at 10:00 am at the Sierra Vista trailhead parking lot off the I-10 Mesquite exit. The parking lot is searchable on Google Maps as “Bishop Cap Trailhead” or can be found using this link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ehmd2A2FxzBCfmnh6

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Directions: From Las Cruces, travel south on I-10 and get off at exit 151. At the exit, take a left to head east and go straight at the first stop sign. Follow this road, which begins as paved and becomes a grated gravel road as it winds past the wastewater treatment plant. At about 3.5 miles from the interstate exit, the road narrows where it meets a wider gravel road on the left; continue straight here, heading east towards the Organs. After 1.2 miles, the gravel trailhead parking lot will be on the right.

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Field Trip Contacts: Matt Becker: 331-254-2710; Gordon Berman: 575-312-4151