Wheeler Peak

★5.0
Colorful badlands and sandstone hoodoo formations at Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness, New Mexico

Davishan99, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted

13,167 ft peak is the highest natural point in the state of New Mexico, located southeast of Taos Ski Valley in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains

General Information

Length:
8.0 miles round trip
Elevation Gain:
Approximately 2,900 ft
Difficulty:
Difficult
Hours:
Open daily, 24 hours. Daylight hiking is strongly recommended.
Fees:
Free
Pet Policy:
Leashed pets are allowed on the trail.
Closest cities with hotels:
Taos (about 20 mi)
Seasons:
Summer through early fall (typically June–October); conditions may vary due to snow and weather.
Location:
Williams Lake Trailhead, Taos Ski Valley, NM
Website:
fs.usda.gov

From Taos (20 mi): Take NM-150 north from Taos toward Taos Ski Valley, continue through Taos Ski Valley to the upper parking area near Twining Campground and Williams Lake Trailhead, then follow signs to the Wheeler Peak Trail trailhead.

Overview

Wheeler Peak (13,161 feet) is the highest point in New Mexico, in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains northeast of Taos, south of Red River, and two miles from Taos Ski Valley. It's a non-technical hike for fit hikers, and the summit has views over the Rockies. The Wheeler Peak Wilderness protects it.

TrailLengthElevation GainHighlights
Williams Lake Trail to Wheeler PeakAbout 8.5 miles round tripAbout 3,000 feetThe shortest route, past Williams Lake, then a ridge to the summit
Bull of the Woods and the Wheeler Peak Trail (from Taos Ski Valley)About 15 milesVariesA longer loop through forest and alpine ridges

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Wheeler Peak (New Mexico)", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons ; Image Size Adjusted
Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons ; Image Size Adjusted
Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons ; Image Size Adjusted
David Herrera from Albuquerque, NM, Bernalillo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons ; Image Size Adjusted