Lonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Pie Town via the Plains of San Agustin and Datil Mesa
Radio telescopes, open sky, and pie at the Divide.
The Plains of San Agustin are not subtle. This ancient lake bed — over 50 miles long, sitting at 6,800 feet, ringed by the Magdalena and Datil mountain ranges — is where the Very Large Array radio telescope dishes stand like alien sentinels scanning deep space. The overland route drops off US-60 near Datil, picks up county and forest roads across the mesa, and runs west through open grassland interrupted by cedar breaks and occasional stock tank windmills. There is almost no traffic. Pie Town, at the far end, is a genuine two-diner crossroads town on the Continental Divide — famous among long-distance hikers and exactly the kind of place that still sells pie on the honor system.
The roads across Datil Mesa range from well-graded gravel to two-track caliche that turns into a skating rink after rain — which can arrive fast in monsoon season (July through September). A high-clearance two-wheel drive can manage dry conditions; true wet conditions demand 4WD and good judgment about when to wait. No permit required. Water and fuel in Datil or Magdalena before heading out — Pie Town has limited services. Cell coverage is essentially nonexistent across the basin. The VLA visitor center at the Array makes a worthwhile stop on approach. Dispersed camping on Cibola National Forest land is wide open and the night sky across these plains is legitimately world-class dark.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 62 mi / 99.8 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7600 ft |
| Best season | April-June and October-November |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD (4WD recommended) |
| Nearest town | Datil, NM |
| Land manager | Cibola National Forest — Magdalena Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Cibola NF Magdalena Ranger District |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock high-clearance 2WD truck handle this route, or do I need 4WD?
A high-clearance 2WD can manage this trail in dry conditions — the surface is mostly packed dirt and gravel across open basin terrain. After rain, the clay sections on Datil Mesa get greasy fast and 4WD becomes necessary. If there's any weather in the forecast, don't chance it without 4WD.
When does this route become impassable — snow, mud, or otherwise?
Winter months (December through March) bring snow and frozen mud that can shut the mesa sections down entirely. Spring snowmelt in March and April can also leave the route soft and rutted. Best windows are April–June and October–November when the surface is firm and weather is predictable.
Do I need a permit to run this route or camp along it?
No permit required to drive the route. Dispersed camping is allowed within Cibola National Forest boundaries — follow standard Leave No Trace rules, camp 300 feet from water sources, and don't stay more than 14 days in one spot. No fee, no reservation.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The Datil Mesa segment throws the most at you — loose rock, uneven shelf sections, and trail surfaces that change character quickly after weather. Nothing technically extreme, but the remoteness amplifies any mistake; there's no cell service and traffic out here is near zero. Stay on your lines, keep your speed honest, and don't push the trail after rain.
How far is it between fuel stops, and is Pie Town an actual resupply point?
Magdalena to the west or Socorro to the east are your last reliable fuel stops before the route — plan for 100+ miles without a gas station. Pie Town has the Pie-O-Neer café (check current hours before you go) but zero fuel and no services. Tank up before you leave pavement.
Trail track
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