Mariposa Basin Park 5K

Taylor Ranch

Distance: 3.30 miles
Surface: Asphalt
Elevation Gain: 118 feet

Mariposa Basin Park is located in the Taylor Ranch area of Albuquerque. Take Taylor Ranch Road north from Montano Road. Turn west onto Kachina Street at the first traffic signal. The park entrance is a short distance on the north side of Kachina

I will go through a lot of pain to beat someone. If there’s pride and ego on the line, if I’m desperate, then I’m willing to go to a place where it hurts a lot more.

– Shalane Flanagan

Hidden Pond

As you run along Mariposa Basin Park perimeter trail you will pass a hidden pond where local wildlife live. In this image the running trail is on the higher ground above the pond.

Start of the Run

This short uphill segment leaving the parking lot intersects with the Mariposa Basin Park perimeter trail. This 5K circuit route is all asphalt and the runner only has one street to cross. This is the kind of route you’ll want to do often.

The Fork Returning to The Perimeter Trail

In the background is Sandia Mountain. In the middle of the image is the soccer field bounded by the Perimeter Trail. This is the point where the run leaves and returns to the park. Running the route as described, you would make a right here and return to start.

Wooden Bridge

About a 1/4 mile after leaving the park, you will cross over a wooden bridge, where there is another fork. As soon as you cross the bridge take the trail on the right. It will be a short distance from there to where the trail intersects with Mojave Street. This is the first turnaround point. When you get back to the fork near the wooden bridge, continue on the path going westerly away from the park.

The Soccer Field

The soccer field is clearly visible from the perimeter trail. It is used year round for sports, running drills, kite flyers, Frisbee and anything fun people think of. In the winter, many species of waterfowl winter on the field and nearby ponds.

Two Duck Ponds

The two duck ponds are connected by a short channel running beneath a bridge. Many hundreds of ducks will winter here, but there are a few ducks that are year round residents.

Finish of the Run

In the foreground on the right side of the image you can just see where the trail is beginning to fork. It is a short downhill segment to the parking lot.

Route Description:

At northeast corner of the parking lot is a walk way leading up from to the path that loops along the edge of Mariposa Basin Park. This is where the run begins.
Start running in the counter clockwise direction, just after you pass LBJ Middle School there will be a fork. At this point you will go straight ahead leaving Mariposa Basin Park.
About a 1/4 mile from the fork, you will cross over a wooden bridge, where their is another fork. Take the trail to the right. It a short distance from there to where the trail will intersect with Mojave Street. This is the first turnaround point. When you get back to the fork near the wooden bridge, continue on the path going westerly away from the park.
The trail will soon intersect with Ildefonso Drive. Cross Ildefonso and continue on the path with is now on the opposite side of the drainage. Eventually, the path will intersect with Tesuque Drive. This is the second turnaround point. Run straight back, over the wooden bridge to the first fork and finish the loop around the park and back to start.