Trans-America Trail — Pie Town to Reserve via the Continental Divide Grassland Corridor
Continental Divide silence and zero cell bars.
Pie Town is famous for two things: pie and being one of the most remote wide-spots in New Mexico. The TAT rolls west from here across the Divide through open grama-grass flats, volcanic mesa edges, and pinyon-juniper country before dropping into the ponderosa-heavy hills approaching Reserve on the edge of the Gila Wilderness. The Mangas Mountains loom to the south. The route is a mix of county dirt road, two-track, and USFS roads — some graded smooth enough to lull you, others with embedded basalt chunks that’ll remind you why you bolted on those sliders. Watch the afternoon sky: monsoon buildups can turn the clay sections into oil slicks in under ten minutes during July and August.
A capable high-clearance 4WD handles this in good conditions, but a locker front or rear is worth having when the clay is wet. Fuel in Pie Town is nonexistent — Quemado or Datil are your pre-run stops. Reserve has a small gas station and a diner. Cell service is essentially zero for the full segment. Dispersed camping is legal on the Apache-Sitgreaves and Gila National Forest sections — flat spots are plentiful in the pines. Best months are May–June and September–October. The Continental Divide silence at sunset out here is the kind that resets something in your chest.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 55 mi / 88.5 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7480 ft |
| Best season | May-June, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Reserve, NM |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Gila National Forest / Cibola National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Gila National Forest — USFS Trans-America Trail Official Site |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run this segment without modifications?
A stock high-clearance 4WD will handle it, but expect some rocky two-track and uneven ranch roads that will punish low-clearance rigs. Lifted is better, but it's not required — just don't bring a street SUV and expect to walk away clean.
When does this route typically open up and are there any seasonal closures to know about?
May through June and September through October are the sweet spots. Summer monsoons (July–August) can turn the dirt sections into slick clay that will stop even capable rigs, and winter snow at elevation can close stretches entirely — the route tops out near 7,480 ft.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp on this stretch of the TAT?
No permit required to drive the route. Dispersed camping on Gila and Cibola National Forest land is free and legal — standard 14-day stay limit applies, and you must camp 200 ft from water sources and 300 ft from roads where required by local regs.
What's the hardest section between Pie Town and Reserve, and what should I actually expect?
The roughest miles tend to be on the ranch and forest two-track sections west of the Continental Divide where drainage cuts and loose rock can get rowdy after any precipitation. Nothing here requires a locker on a dry day, but mud or wet conditions bump the difficulty significantly — aired-down tires and momentum management matter.
How far is the nearest gas from either end, and is 55 miles between fill-ups going to be a problem?
Pie Town has no gas — the nearest reliable fuel is Quemado, about 20 miles west on US-60. Reserve has a gas station at the south end. Plan to start this segment with a full tank; 55 miles of slow two-track burns more fuel than highway miles, especially if you're running a heavier rig.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.