Anyone know anything about https://goo.gl/maps/NJfUh .

Who owns it/access?
Is it kite-able (whether board or buggy)?
Blowkart?

I've not been out there but always wondered. I know plenty go out to hunt meteorites there, but the salt of the lake bed ruins them, so it's not used very often. It's roughly 100 square miles / 86,000 acres, seems like there might be a useful section of it, even if it's not Ivanpah.

Looks nice. It would be worth trying to find more info about it.

Susan (npw goddess)

Thanks Susan I figured I'd ask in case anyone had figured it out ahead of me. Not figured out what it's called or land access rights at all, closest I ever come is that meteorite hunters head out to it. And there's a different dry lake/salt flats (most the time) a bit further North/West that's not worth exploring called Zuni Salt Lake.

I'm thinking I'm going to have to leave the internet and just drive out there one afternoon and check it out.

I did a little research and found out they call the area plains of san augustin. It was once a lake thousands of years ago. It is located south of old horse springs. There are dirt roads that can get you to the lake bed. I do know from what I found out that there is a bat cave on the shore of the lake that is on public land and you can go and explore the cave. The lake bed maybe on public land also. Time for sleep and do some more research later.

Susan (npw goddess)

Yeah I know about the cave, and that there's some really close NFS land, but haven't been able to track down who's land that actually is. There's Enchated Tower (a rock climbing "must" in NM) literally across the highway, and there's a NFS ranger station nearby (5 miles), which I plan to call tomorrow and see if I can find out from them anything.

The only other big new spot I've been trying to figure out access to, is if Spaceport America will let us play on their runway (roughly 10 acres of land, 12,000 ft x 40 ft) or the graded dirt they have surrounding it. As the wind is perpendicular to it most the time, which means 2 miles in each direction for a run, and given they don't have flights in/out more than once a month or so, the question is if they'll let us play for free without renting out the whole area. They have a few hundred acres surrounding the runway that's flat and graded, but I'm not holding my breath. We may be a desert state, but we lack much without foilage.

The BLM in Las Crusas should be able to answer access questions.
Or scouting party 4 hour day trip.

Randy BLM has no land near there and not much info, I already has a friend who works there try to pull it. NFS has land, and a public access on one of the roads there, but had no info on the land itself. Found a local from Datil, NM who google maps pulled the photo from nearby, who I'm emailing back and forth with, so might know something soon. County records haven't been helpful last time I tried, but I plan to try again.

I was hoping to figure out access somewhat before putting in the day trip to see whether or not it could be run on. Not much out that way to see, but I'm definitely up for making the day trip at some point to try it out. My guess is whomever owns it will be willing to let us on, unless they've got oryx, as that kind of land is worthless to run cattle on. I'll update this when I get some more answers.

There are roads around and crossing it in areas leading to what looks like ranches, large fenced areas, and well sites or watering "holes", even looks like cattle in spots.

One such spot...
Unnamed Rd
http://goo.gl/maps/LaemB

Goin' on a tangent here...

I live in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). Yes there are larger cities - that's not the point.
I can get on a 12-lane highway and drive for 90 minutes and still be surrounded by buildings. I've driven the 2,700 miles from here to the west coast twice (and back). And I still cannot fathom living somewhere as remote - desolate even - as the location of the links above. :dunno:

On the flip side: I gladly drive the 10 hours it takes to get to Wildwood :wee:

And now back to our regularly scheduled site hunting...

John you have selected a verry interesting area; Prarie San Augustine ( Lake San Augustine). Much history including secondary connection to Roswell stories. I spoke with Forest Rangers from all peaks. Magdelena was the closest and most infomative. Most of the area is private lease land with some BLM. Roads are private access, there is fencing not seen on google. the NE area is VLA,NRAO. The predominent surface is not as flat as google images. Much scrub,grass soft sand ledges etc. its such a huge area i'm sure there's a parcel to ride on even if it's the NRAO parking lot..:alien:

There is one across the road from the town of Playa [yes ] that I think is controlled by NM Tech where in past years I have seen pictures of Blocarts posted on Google Earth.
When I was there I was not able to fly the playa but did have some good static flying in the brush near "town."

The dry lake bed in Playa new mexico is privately owned.

Susan (npw goddess)