A crisp, early morning in February begged for a brisk hike in inspiring scenery. There are many options for loops using the Cabra Trail and there are many options for starting points. On this day I started at a small parking lot near Guaje Pines Cemetery. A short stint on the OO Grant Trail leads into Rendija Canyon and intersects the Rendija Trail. This trail follows the canyon bottom in this area and quickly leads to the Cabra Loop trailhead. Cabra Trail starts on the Rendija Canyon floor in the midst of Ponderosa forestland and climbs rapidly up a drainage toward Guaje Ridge. Cabra is the least steep of the various trails that climb up to Guaje Ridge Trail. The forest eventually gives way to large burn areas that were created by the Cerro Grande fire in 2000. Despite the burn, the area retains a rugged beauty. The trail up the canyon eventually breaks over the lip of Beanfield Mesa. From there, the trail continues to ascend up the mesa slope until it meets Pajarito Trail near where the trails intersect Guaje Road. A turn down Pajarito Trail heads down grade and eventually down into the canyon North of the mesa. Like upper Cabra Canyon, this canyon was burned in 2000. Pockets of Ponderosas remain but the terrain is now predominantly open grass covered slopes. Pajarito Trail eventually reaches Rendija Canyon Trail and the return to the starting point. 
