The Lucero Mesa Ride had 14 4x4's on it. We had nice weather, after several days of high winds and cold. We spent the entire day driving around all the rugged dirt roads in this  nice  and isolated BLM area, west of Albuquerque. 

After going through a few gates, we dropped into Low range. We bumped, and then  bounced our way through canyons and up on mesas. No one was around except cows and us. This area is  a volcanic area, the Lucero Volcanic area, with 3 major eruptions from 6-8 million years ago, with the last eruptions about 1 million years ago. This made for interesting cliffs and rugged rocky roads.

For a lunch spot, we had  great views, looking east toward the Rio Grande valley, with Albuquerque off in the distance. The Sandias and Manzanos to the East and Mt Taylor to our Northwest. A beautiful  place to enjoy lunch and visit. After lunch we drove on south, around through mesas and canyons. Then we turned around and drove back out of this area and back to the highway.

We aired up and some went on home and some grabbed a burger at the Pit Stop/ Laguna Burger cafe on I 40.

Lucero Mesa is a wonderful area to visit and the club has been doing rides in this area for many years.

Lucero Mesa Ride 2026 (overflow) . . March 8, 2026   

Jack Dickey lead an overflow ride to the same area.  [No Photos :-(] Here's his summary of the experience:

Fifteen people driving twelve rigs enjoyed a cool, sunny early spring day in the Lucero Volcanic Field and Sierra Lucero area.  We met at The 66 Pit Stop and after a brief driver's meeting departed promptly at 8:30 am.  After a short drive on Interstate 40, the route turned south on Highway 6.  The roads were dusty as usual and the group spread out to avoid the heaviest dust.  Luckily a slight breeze helped move some dust off the roads.  After numerous gates, we traversed BLM lands on rugged two-track roads.  At first we headed north and accessed the long ridge north of Sierra Lucero.  Flat, open spaces on a ridge top provided a lunch spot with amazing views in all directions:  Sandias to the north, Rio Puerco and Rio Grande valleys to the east, Sierra Lucero to the south, and Zuni Mountains and Mt. Taylor to the west.

At 1:00 pm, after a relaxing 45 minute lunch, the group headed south along more two-tracks and began a rocky climb along the northeast side of Sierra Lucero.  This route was rocky with steep climbs and decents.  A flat, wide spot on the east side of the mesa provide a convenient place for a short break and turn around to start the return trip.  Other than a rancher tending cattle on the flats, not another vehicle was encountered along the two-track roads.  We reached the air-up spot at Highway 6 at 5:00 pm.  A few folks gathered back at The 66 Pit Stop for an authentic Laguna Burger.  With the first day of daylight savings time folks made it home before dark or shortly after sundown.  Everyone had an enjoyable time in the high desert pinon and juniper scrub lands.