This trail is on Fort Bliss.  Access may be limited to active and/or retired U.S. military personnel, their dependents, and/or guests.

This trail is located in the Franklin Mountains State Park.  There is a $4.00 per person access fee to enter.

The Ron Coleman Trail is an approximately 3.8 mile hike from McKelligan Canyon to Smuggler's Pass via the ridge line of the Franklin Mountains. It requires some class 4 scrambling skills, and the endurance to gain about two thousand feet in elevation. The trail is somewhat marked with rock cairns and some blue spots painted along the trail. There are some side trails that can be a bit confusing at times; however, keep your nose pointed north and there should be no problems with navigation. This trail is in the Franklin Mountains State Park.  There is a $4.00 per person access fee.  This track was downloaded from Backpacker Magazine web site.

This trail is on BLM land in New Mexico.  There is currently no fee to use this trail.   Submitted by Samat

This trail is located in the Franklin Mountains State Park.  There is a $4.00 per person access fee to enter.

Downloaded from Trimble Outdoors

A 3-day, 2-night, approximately 33 miles out-and-back hike to Granite Peak in the Gila Wilderness Area of New Mexico.  This trek downloaded from Trimble Outdoors.

Lush river canyons meet high desert mesas on this 23.7-mile, 3-day loop in the Gila Wilderness.This trek downloaded from Trimble Outdoors

Approximately 4.5 miles one way.  No water available along the trail.  Carry plenty of water and high energy snacks.

The weather in the Guadalupe's is good even in the hottest part of the summer due to the high elevation.  Get an early start and you can avoid the worst of the intense sun coming from the Southwest. 

This is a very strenuous hike that gains about 4K feet in the first 4 miles and then stays at or above 8K feet for the remainder of the trek until the steep descent down Bear Mountain. 

You'll need to carry at least a gallon of water a day.  There is little or no water in the back country. 

The deciduous evergreen forest that appears at the summit is well worth the effort and views from Bush Mountain rival those of Big Bend.

This is a quick overnight stay in the back country camping area of White Sands National Monument.  There is no water available, so you must carry all the water you will need for an overnight backpack trip.  The trail is short -- less than one mile.

The Apache Kid Wilderness Loop is located in the San Mateo Mountains in SW New Mexico.  Start on the Shipman Trail #50 in the high desert and climb to Ponderosa, Spruce, & Fir forests with some aspen groves.  This route is very scenic and very rugged.  Route finding skills are mandantory as the trails are lightly traveled and the tread can be lost altogether.  Water can be scarce so carry plenty.  Your reward is isolation and abundant wildlife.  I saw turkey, deer, elk, rabbits, gophers, and a mountain lion!  Total hike is 23+ miles when you add the last segment on Trail #50

TO TRAILHEAD: From I-25 between Socorro and TorC, take FR 139 west to FR to FR 377 then 10 miles to trail head

This Hike begins at the Gila National Forest's Catwalk Recreation area, then proceeds to the South Fork of Whitewater Creek into the Gila Wilderness.  The hike leaves the South Fork and gaurenteed water at Tennessee Meadow and joins the lightly travelled East Fork Whitewater Trail gaining elevation to Spider Saddle.  From Spider Saddle take the Holt-Apache trail for a quick hike to Nabours Spring, and then to the summit of Grouse Mountain.  Backtrack to Spider Saddle and decend to Whitewater Creek via the Winn Canyon Trail.  At the Winn Canyon/Deloche Canyon junction with the Whitewater Creek trail find good camping sites before starting the trek west downstream Whitewater Creek Trail until rejoining the Catwalk trail back to the crowds enjoying the Recreation Area.

Save this popular hot springs hike for an early morning or a late evening when the crowds have lessened. The easy, 1-mile out-and-back leads to two natural hot pools overlooking a pine-blanketed canyon in the Santa Fe National Forest.

From the parking lot adjacent to NM 4, hike south toward San Antonio Creek on a network of dirt trails. After 800 feet, cross the creek and begin a short climb over loose rocks and exposed tree roots. After the steep but brief ascent, dip into Spence's clear blue, 100-degree waters and savor the panoramas of Jemez Canyon to the south. Follow the same route back to the trailhead.

Difficult to moderately difficult 10 mile out and back.  There is a 1900' elevation gain.  Hillsboro Peak is locate in the Black Range, of the Gila National Forest.  Fire lookout tower at the top.  No water along the trail, so carry all that you will need.  Camping permitted on top.

Not in hiking condition?  No problem.  Just make it a habit to do a few laps around Eastwood Park ( aka Album Park) and you'll be ready for the trail in no time at all. Each lap is just 1.1 miles, so its easy to keep track of just how many miles you have done.  Elevation gain is negligible.

The Devil’s Hall Trail is a relatively easy hike up Pine Spring Canyon to a narrow, scenic canyon. It is a particularly beautiful hike in the fall when the big-toothed maple trees in the canyon are turning brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Any time of year hikers can marvel at the large cliffs rising up to Guadalupe Peak and the geological processes that created Devil’s Hall and the Hiker’s Staircase.

This is a moderate 4.2 mile round trip hike with minimal elevation gain. It will take from 2 to 3 hours to complete the round trip hike.

There is water at the trailhead of Pine Springs, McKittrick Canyon, and Dog Canyon, but there are no water stations along the trails and all park water sources are protected and must not be disturbed.

Please plan to pack in all water needed for your hike. It is recommended to bring one gallon of water per person, per day.

Please fill out the envelope at the trail head, and pay $4.00 per person.

Step back in time to the 1890’s. This was when mining was big industry in the region. Many people came to the area in search of fortunes. Popular mining camps like Mogollon still have inhabitants nestled deep in the forest. Gold and silver were found up Whitewater Creek, but he narrow slot canyon made it difficult to transport the ore. In 1893, John Graham built a mill to process crude by installing a four-inch metal pipe that clung to the side of this narrow canyon. This was later replaced with a larger n18” pipe. The pipe not only transported crude, but also supplied water for the town. Remnants of this pipe can still be seen as you traverse along the first mile of this trail. Remnants of the old mill can still be seen near the parking lot for the start of this hike. The area known as “The Catwalk” got its name from the repairmen whose task it was to walk and maintain the line. The old metal walkway has been upgraded to a new state of the art steel structure.l

This hike took me from the McKittrick Canyon ranger station up the Permian Reef Trail, past the Wilderness Ridge campsite to the TX-NM border and slightly beyond.  This is very isolated desert country, with no sources of water and little shade, so be careful to bring what you will need.  I had a relatively calm day, but high winds are common here.  The trail climbs for its first 3 miles for about 2000 ft of elevation gain before reaching the comparatively level top of the ridge, actually a sloping, rolling, plateau  The plateau is covered with gnarled pines and junipers.  The mountains here are the remains of a massive reef system that formed during Permian times, before dinosaurs even existed.  The reef structure is geologically related to the important petroleum deposits of Texas.  A rusted turnstile marks the state boundary, but the trail continues into the Lincoln NF.  I walked a bit past the border to have lunch just to say I did, then retraced my steps to the ranger station.   After a hike like this, an ice-cold Lonestar back at the campground is just the thing!

Got a week? Step into the Pecos Wilderness and experience New Mexico’s most popular wilderness area. This challenging traverse will test both your physical and navigational skills as you hike amongst the marmot and pika while enjoying breathtaking views.

Make your way via a combination of primitive and well-traveled trails as you make a NE to SW crossing through the heart of this 223,667-acre wilderness area. You will travel past 6 lakes and numerous streams and rivers including the headwaters of the mighty Pecos, which flows 926 miles before emptying into the Rio Grande. You will find isolation in remote less-traveled areas, but you will also visit some of the most popular spots where you are bound to run in to a variety of backcountry travelers.

Mapped by Bill Velasquez

TO TRAILHEAD: Take 76 to Penasco. Follow 75 to 518. Turn right. Proceed past Anagostura. Take FR 161 to the trailhead for Serpent Lake.

This 9.8-mile out-and-back connects old-growth evergreens and the Mogollon Mountains, a series of 10,000-foot peaks in Gila National Forest.

This gateway trail into the Gila high country snakes 4.9 miles through fir, pine, and aspen groves climbing 1,280 feet over a moderate grade and a couple of steep pitches. Located about half-way between Albuquerque and Phoenix, the Gila Crest Trail traces the highest part of the Gila National Forest and is extremely popular in the fall when the aspens turn golden yellow. This trail preview stops at Hummingbird Saddle but this spot is also a good jump off point to to climb 10,110-foot Mogollon Baldy or to explore nearby Redstone Park.

Most backpackers overnight at Hummingbird Saddle below 10,896-foot Whitewater Baldy. But, for a more secluded campsite, choose the other inviting saddle located about 3.2 miles from the trailhead. If you choose this alternative campsite, plan accordingly: the closest reliable water sources are at Bead Spring, 1.6 miles to the north, or south of Hummingbird Saddle, nearly 2 miles away.

- Mapped by Bill Velasquez

TO TRAILHEAD: From Albuquerque, take I-25 S to exit 150. Turn left onto US 60 and left again to take NM 12 south. After 74.1 miles, turn left at US 180 and drive 1 mile south of the town of Alma before turning left onto NM 159. Continue north and east (veering right as NM 159 becomes Bursum Rd.) for approximately 20 miles to the trailhead at Sandy Point. After the old, mining town of Mogollon--worth a tour if you have the time--the winding, narrow road turns to dirt.