"Pelona Mtn is located in a very isolated area. I drove there via NM-52 and NM-163 from US-60. Both roads are graded gravel/dirt with NM-52 being the far better road. The trailhead starts at an odd looking metal gate (see photo) with a sign posted stating the area is closed to motor vehicles. This gate is on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) yet is not marked with the standard CDT symbol. To get to the TH I turned north off NM-163 at virtual mile marker 25.8 onto an unsigned dirt road (FR-4051), directly across from a ranch. FR-4051 is not too bad and could probably be driven with a high clearance vehicle provided the road is bone dry. You will pass thru two ranch gates along the way. The trailhead gate to Pelona is next to a third ranch gate. A CDT marker (4x4 wood post) is visible from the TH with additional posts marking the trail route. The CDT actually passes less than an half mile from summit of Pelona. On the hike in I stayed on the CDT until I was SW of the peak then simply walked across open country to the summit. On the return hike I bushwhacked down the SE side of the mountain to the CDT which saved a half-mile of hiking. " — fredbrown585 • Mar 31, 2020