Re: Driving to Osier from Chama

The Apache Canyon Road to Osier is a long haul. Did it a couple of times many years ago and found it takes just as long if not longer than FS 103 from the Mogote/Sublette end. It is a slow grind, whereas FS 103 can be done easily at 25 mph through much of the distance.

.......then there is the ford of the Los Pinos River. Possible in mid-late summer, not so much in the spring.

Years ago I was told the Spruce Hole route to Osier was suitable for pack horses and not much more. I never tried that route.

FS 103 still can be treacherous after a hard rain. The clay on the road on the back side of Osier Mountain gets REAL slick.

Over the years the Osier Road has been improved. I drove it last year - the first time in probably 15 years, and it was much better, especially the switchbacks going down into Osier.

In the mid-80's there was a guy who daily drove his 1970 Mustang to Osier......

drgw0579 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's the Osier Expressway from Mogote, that
> takes about 40 minutes.
>
> Someone tried to tell me that the road out of La
> Manga Pass where the sign says "Spruce Hole" will
> get you to Osier Park. I tried it once and gave
> up after a bit. On Google Maps, you do see
> there's a location called Spruce Hole, but it
> doesn't seem to be anywhere near where I wanted to
> be.
>
> Then there's the road from Apache Canyon. I've
> heard it's possible to make it to Osier, but that
> requires crossing the Los Pinoss down from Osier
> (a little bit past the loop). The one chance I
> had time to explore this, the river was running
> high and I was chicken to try to cross. If you
> stand at Hamilton Point or Cascade Trestle, you
> can sort of image how a road would have to go over
> the top of the mountain. Again Google Maps shows
> a road all the way, but you are going to make a
> big loop. If you are at Los Pinos and want to get
> to Osier, you might be able to get their faster
> than by way of Mogote. You got to assume you can
> cross the river. I'f be interested whether anyone
> as made this trip. Looks like you'd get some
> great views.
>
> Bill Kepner
>
> *no the Los Pinos and Conejos don't connect west
> of La Manga...