"I left my home at 6:30 AM, June 15, 2017, to hike Gallo Peak, elevation 10,003, and Peak 10,057 in the Manzano Mountains. From Tijeras, New Mexico I headed south on highway 337, then at the town of Manzano I turned right onto Highway 131. In a short distance I turned onto Forest Road 253 and drove to Red Canyon Picnic Grounds. You do not need any special vehicle for this drive. There is a parking lot for hikers. It was a beautiful, cool, clear, crisp morning. The starting elevation was 7938 feet. I started hiking at 7:40 AM. I hiked through the picnic grounds to Trailhead 89. It was a well maintained trail to the ridge. It is a nicely shaded beautiful forest of white furs, aspen, ponderosa pines and many other attractive trees, bushes and wildflowers. There is not much elevation gain on the first mile of the hike, only about 300 feet. About a half mile into the hike is a pretty little stream with small pools and small waterfalls. After so many hard bushwhacking hikes it sure felt good to be on a trail. A little into the hike I ran into a hunter’s lost dog. I tried to shoo her back down the trail, but she kept following at a slight distance. Finally, I let her come along with me...." — Phil-Robinson • Jun 15, 2017

"The Manzano Crest Trail near Gallo Peak is good and the fire damage doesn't extend that far south. There are a lot of fallen trees on the slopes of the peak itself and the peak is a ways upslope from the trail so it's a chore to get up there." — Brian-Pilgrim • Aug 23, 2014