Tres Papalotes
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Looking southwest.
Looking northwest.
Looking towards the south.
Positioned on the location of an old mining camp, Tres Papalotes Group Campsite is approximately 16.7 miles southeast of the Sauceda Ranger Station. Tres Papalotes in Spanish means "three windmills." This area is accessed by permit for group camping which allows up to 12 persons to use the site. Amenities include two tables and one fire ring. This area is popular with geology and mountain biking groups.
Surrounding the campsite is evidence of several types of mining operations. In the 1930s miners searched for gold, silver, and mercury. One miner wrote, "We selected 55 tons. We had a shaft 40' feet deep a mine tunnel into mt. From shaft on vein. 5 tons of pure ore collected $365.-ton. Took out 25 tons, shipped to El Paso."
GPS Coordinates (NAD83):
- UTM13 Easting: 619055.0093
UTM Northing: 3259210.6998 - Longitude DD -103.7722817819
Latitude DD 29.4566782026 - Longitude DMS -103 46 20.2144
Latitude DMS 29 27 24.0415
Access: 2-Wheel Drive High Clearance natural surface road.
Getting there (all distances & travel times are approximate):
- Located in the Solitario Backcountry Zone
- Distance from Sauceda Ranger Station to Solitario Road: 8.5 miles
- Distance from Solitario Road to campsite: 8.2 miles
- Driving time from Sauceda Ranger Station: 1 hour 10 minutes
Nearby Trails:
- #8 Burnt Camp
- #36 Lower Shutup
- #52 Right Hand Shutup
- #57 Solitario Loop.
