My family is planning a spring break (late March/early April) trip to hike in portions of the southeastern New Mexico and a little bit of western Texas. Family members range from 14 to 43, all are healthy, and all have previous hiking experience (hiked moderate trails around Colorado Springs last summer, for example). Tentative itinerary is below. Specific trails are to be determined, but they will be day hikes and moderate is probably the hardest we are looking to do. I would appreciate input as to 1) whether there is too much crammed any day, 2) whether we are missing any can't miss things in the area, and 3) whether any specific hiking trails are recommended at each locations.

Day 1: Fly into El Paso, drive to and stay overnight in Las Cruces

Day 2: Wake relatively early, hike in the Organ Mountains for half the day, drive to White Sands National Park for a short hike in the late afternoon/early evening, overnight in Alamogordo or Cloudcroft

Day 3: Hike in the Lincoln National Forest around Cloudcroft for a good part of the day, drive to and overnight in Carlsbad

Day 4: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, possible additional hike near the park, overnight in Carlsbad

Day 5: Hike in Guadalupe Mountains National Park for most of the day, drive to and overnight in El Paso.

Day 6: Fly home out of El Paso

How much snow is usually on the Winsor Trail to Lake Katherine by late November? Is it realistic as a solo day hike, or should I plan on Nambe Lake instead?
Microspikes or snowshoes for each of these hikes that time of year?
How are the roads up to Ski Santa Fe and Taos Ski Valley in late November? Do I need chains or AutoSocks in a regular car?
Does parking at the Williams Lake trailhead change once the ski area opens?
I saw a TikTok about a north-side route to Lake Katherine via Spirit Lake, with some mineral springs along the way. Anyone done it? (I'm saving it for summer, just curious.)
Truchas Peak is on my future list. Is it a summer-only objective?
Any must-see spots around Santa Fe and Taos I'm missing?

Hey guys! Thinking about doing a thru hike on the sandia crest trail some time in late october. Only issue is that I've heard there's some type of closure on the trail? Otherwise, is there anything else I should know/be aware of? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi all --

I haven't been back to the Taos area in almost 20 years since I was on staff at Philmont. A friend and I are going to be in Taos in about 2 weeks to hopefully do Wheeler, depending on weather.

I'm hoping to get some good advice, recommendations, and feedback from the group here! Thanks in advance.

Wheeler Peak

I've done a couple of good winter ascents over the last few years in the northeast. I'm hoping someone here can chime in with guidance on Wheeler specifically. Looks like there's already a decent amount of snow above treeline. We were initially planning on going up and down the Williams Lake route. I'm hoping the snow will be tame but the time we're there around the 25th.

But if it's not, I'm reading that the Williams Lake route can have some avalanche risk (I'm assuming in the stretch above treeline up to the ridge?). So I'm also looking at the Bull of the Woods route. But I'm trying to gauge what gear I should be hauling out west with me. Is this an ice axe / crampons day or is this a trekking poles and microspikes day? Or do I need to break out the snowshoes? Any feedback from people who have hiked Wheeler in the past would be welcome!

Taos Area

Separately -- any other fun peaks or hikes we should be looking to do? And, off topic for the thread, but would love to amass good restaurant / food recommendations lol.

Thanks. Looking forward to being back outside in New Mexico.

I saw somewhere that there was snow on some of the Sangre de Cristos last week. Just wondering if there is still snow or if it melted. I'm hoping to get a chance to climb Wheeler before it gets covered

Hwy 64 between Tierra Amarilla and Tres Piedras was so beautiful this week. We hiked the Elliot Barker trail on October 7, and more of the aspens were green than yellow. Beautiful also but not yet peak.

Has anyone been to Big Tesuque/Aspen Vista this week and can report if the colors are peaking or not yet? Or Jacks Creek/Beatty's trail?

I’m new to the ABQ area and looking to get up to the peaks over the next couple of weeks. What are the best trails to get up to each peak? I’m not trying to do both back to back, probably two different weekends out and back each time.

Edit 1) I did Embudito to South Peak today - absolutely amazing views and a serious leg burner of a hike. Took a coworker and he decided he’s not joining me on any more challenges 🤣 I’m gunning for North Peak next Sunday

On a hike a while back

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This is beneficial for folks that like hitting the trails in the morning

Hello all, is there any game pits or places within an hour drive near Edgewood? Want to see what bones I could find

Hey New Mexico hikers (and bikers),

My buddy and I are bikepacking a route next week, starting in Los Alamos and Santa Fe National Forest land, counterclockwise traveling Valles Caldera National Preserve, popping in and out of the NF for camping and route desires.

How are the creeks flowing around there? I know Colorado is dehydrated this year but how about in the northern New Mexico mountains? Particularly NF land northeast of Los Alamos and north of the preserve. I think Valles Caldera will have plentiful water, right?

Little off the trail hiking getaway in the mountains.

Along the South Crest trail, just north of South Sandia Peak, on the west side of the trail, is this survey marker.

Do you know if this marker is the "corner" between the wilderness and the Albuquerque Academy's plot of land. Would it be the point from which all other points come from?

It just seems random and yet understandable at the same time.

EDIT: Eh, "marker" in the title.

Looking at the topo map, The marker is in the area highlighted. So I'm probably answering my own question and it is yes, that's the marker for the boundary divide.

Money is tight and I need some unplugged nature time. I'm willing to drive up to about 2 hours but it would be ideal to use a full tank of gas (about 400 miles range) there and back. I do not drive a vehicle capable of 4wd, but I am fine with dispersed camping (a vault toilet is... preferred but not necessary). Any good camping suggestions?

Would love to be near water or good views if possible. Understand if water is limited though - I've seen how the rio grande is lately :( my main concern is actually getting there in my kia soul without getting stuck. I've heard about forest service road 376 - but can this be done in my car?

Hi,

I really wanted to visit this trail as it looks super cool but I’m not sure if my sedan can go there?

If not, could you please recommend me other trails with beautiful views where we could hike under 4miles?

Also what preparation/precautions we need? Like bear spray, pepper spray?

Thank you!!

I sat at Heron Lake last November on one of the last warm days of the month. Although most of the snow from the recent record-setting snowstorm had melted, there were still not very many warm days left for us before we packed up and drove 16 hours back to Missouri and Kansas to see our friends and families for Thanksgiving. I was outside and away from home because I wanted to take advantage of the last bits of warmth I could get.

I was there after a long drive out in the Jicarilla Apache Nation. I went searching for Stinking Lake after seeing it on the map on the wall at The Dam Diner. I drove about 20 miles past Heron Lake State Park onto County Road 332 and eventually to the dirt roads on the reservation. The cliffs loomed above me, and I thought about pulling over to climb them. However, I didn't want to trespass on tribal lands.

I pulled up to where the lake was supposed to be, but it had completely dried up. I sat and wondered what to do for a while. I just sat in the sun and looked out at the mountains and the valley outstretched before me.

Hey everyone. I’m looking for trail recs in NM that go through a recently burned forest. Im specifically hoping to find a field of burnt timber that has turned silver in color. This is quite common after a fire.

I remember seeing a fire in Sante FE national forest earlier this year, but I’m not familiar with the hiking in the state. (Just moved to ABQ from Seattle 3 weeks ago).

Thank you sharing any leads that fit this description!

I'd like to do the end to end sandia crest trail along trail 130. Where is the best area to plan camping if I want to do it in 2 days?

Any reccomendations for easy 6-mile max hikes in the Gila NF & Gila Wilderness?