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has anyone driven from KIM CO to KENTON OK (Black Mesa) down via CR 197 etc to NM 456 ? Do I need 4 x 4 drive or can a normal sedan make it?

The route you inquire about is a little ambiguous, since Co Rd 197 turns into other roads just a few miles south of the highway. Where do you plan to cross Carrizo Creek and Black Mesa? I am interested in such a route. It seems there should be a route to save the backtracking on US 160 and also provide some scenery.

A route that I have taken may interest you. From Kirkwell, CO, at the intersection of Co Rd M and Co Rd 8, follow 8 south approximately 11 miles to Co Rd C. Take C west a half mile or so, then south of Co Rd 5. You will cross into Oklahoma about 3/4 mile east of the CO/NM/OK tri-point. Continue east and south approximately 4 miles to the Black Mesa trailhead, or another 5 miles to Kenton.

I navigated this route with ease in a Chevy Impala in dry conditions. The main route should be good in all but the wettest conditions.

You can access Kirkwell one of a few different ways from US 160 east of Kim. Co Rd 8 south; Co Rd 3 south to Co Rd R east to 8; etc.

Detour to the state tri-point. It is kind of neat. Also in the area are the Picture Canyon and Carrizo Canyon areas of the Comanche National Grassland.

Just saw your other threads referring to Sheep Pen Canyon. It is less ambiguous to me now. Interesting.

Judging from the satellite images, the roads should be okay for a sedan...they seem wide and well-grated. Might be a different story in a storm, check the forecast.

+1 for the Co Rd 8 route. If you travel via Hwy 160 east of Kim and take that route, the mileage is probably comparable to the route you are suggesting. Or maybe go take one way and come back the other? Either way, it's an awesome area down in there.

Niederbayer wrote:has anyone driven from KIM CO to KENTON OK (Black Mesa) down via CR 197 etc to NM 456 ? Do I need 4 x 4 drive or can a normal sedan make it?

I drove south from Kenton to NM 456 via CR 197 just this last weekend. A normal sedan should be fine if the road is dry.

thanks for all the replies!

Brian - I assume you meant you drove souht from Kim (not south from Kenton) - correct?

Niederbayer wrote:Brian - I assume you meant you drove souht from Kim (not south from Kenton) - correct?

Yes, I drove south from Kim to NM-456.

NM-456 is fine in a regular car (though unpaved), but I can't speak for CR 197, we didn't take that. We got a nice surprise snowstorm on that drive that turned into a 14" blizzard. Spent the night with some very nice ranchers near the NM 551 / NM 456 junction.

ended up driving down CR 8 to Kenton OK - was running late - very nice drive too

After talking to some people familiar with the road, I ended up driving it in a sedan this weekend. There are a few low-water-crossings that might not be very good in wet conditions. The crossing of the Dry Cimarron River near the Wedding Cake looked like it could get dicey.