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High Desert Trails East Trailhead

4.3 ★★★★☆ 3 Google reviews · Running trail in Gallup, New Mexico · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

We have not been able to confirm the surface, distance or shape of High Desert Trails East Trailhead yet from its own listing, the park's website or runner reviews — so those cells stay blank rather than guess. What is below comes straight from the listing and from reviewers' own words. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

High Desert Trails East Trailhead — running trail in Gallup, NM, photo 1
High Desert Trails East Trailhead — running trail in Gallup, NM, photo 2
High Desert Trails East Trailhead — running trail in Gallup, NM, photo 3
High Desert Trails East Trailhead — running trail in Gallup, NM, photo 4
Trailhead parking

What runners say about High Desert Trails East Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (3 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

The county recently built a new trailhead after Carbon Coal Road was rebuilt. The first bit of trail was lost but the rest has been rerouted to connect to trails. Lots of parking and great access to The Stem, Six Flags, First Mesa and beyond.

★★★★★ — Brian , Jan 2025

Great walk. Not much shade so be prepared. Went out during a beautiful sunset to walk. Good, well maintained path for walking, mountain biking and trail running.

★★★★★ — Justin , Jun 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 3 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“The county recently built a new trailhead after Carbon Coal Road was rebuilt.”

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Plan your run at High Desert Trails East Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners

Where to find High Desert Trails East Trailhead

Gallup, New Mexico

Get directions

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.