*Important!: The Cat Walk has been closed to the public due to the fires and floods of spring/summer 2012. You should call first before planning a visit.*
When choosing an image to carve for this letterbox's stamp, the following song came to mind:
"I'm too sexy for my hat
Too sexy for my hat
Whatcha think about that?
And I'm a model, you know what I mean
And I do my little turn on the catwalk
Yeah,on the catwalk, on the catwalk, yeah
I shake my little tush on the catwalk
I'm too sexy for my cat
Too sexy for my cat
Poor pussy, poor pussy cat
And I'm too sexy for this song."
Maybe you, too, can 'shake your little tush' on the Catwalk?
The area offers a beautiful, shaded picnic spot next to Whitewater Creek, a challenging (moderate) one mile trail along the
historic mining water-line route from the 1890's, a Gila Wilderness trailhead access, and a bird watcher's paradise.
(Dogs are allowed, but the trail can be rugged and narrow.)
For more info/pics:
http://www.rozylowicz.com/retirement/catwalk/catwalk.htmlThe closest campground is Bighorn Campground which is located within walking distance of the town of Glenwood, and there are
rustic motels in town, too.
Directions
The area is approximately 5 miles from Glenwood, NM, off NM 180 at the end of NM Hwy 174 (Catwalk Road).
After paying your $3.00 fee, and choosing your route (easy: right side trail or moderate: left side) proceed to the Catwalk.
The first portion of the trail is relatively easy and passes hidden pools, small splashing waterfalls, and unique bridges.
After reaching the end of the suspended Catwalk, you will be continuing on to the more difficult trail (Don't turn back! It's really
not all that difficult. You'll be doing moderate hiking on unpaved, rocky, mostly uphill trail. But still so easy that my young children
and I had no problems at all. And you're almost always in the shade and the views are beautiful) until you reach the 3/4 mile pipe trail marker.
After the marker, keep an eye out for the steep metal stairway that leads down to the Waterfall and Swimming Hole.
Walk 12 steps past these stairs, then look to your right at the Rock Grotto with an old gnarled tree on the right side.
Climb up the left side of the Rock Grotto towards the huge tilted "UFO" boulder. Under this boulder, inside a small 'cave', behind
a flat pink rock, you will find your Catwalk reward!
Be extremely discreet. This can be a very busy trail. Please re-hide exactly as you found it, tucked and hidden behind
the pink rock, inside the small cave.
Note: Don't be concerned with the steepness of the stairs leading down to the waterfall. They are really quite easy and so worth it
to splash in the watering hole and soak your feet in the cool refreshing water. Go for it!
Hike Length: 1.5 miles
