Great Hikes in New Mexico Part 2: Pecos Wilderness

The Pecos Wilderness located in the Santa Fe National Forest, Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District, is a personal favorite of mine as I have many great memories of backpacking with my husband up there when we were still dating. Last week the Forest Service completely lifted fire restrictions for the Pecos Wilderness due to the arrival of much-needed monsoonal rains. However, other areas of the Santa Fe National Forest near Jemez and Cuba are still under restrictions and natural hazards exist in those areas from the Las Conchas and the Pacheco fires. Always check with the Ranger before you head out and if you missed Part 1 of this series, you might want to review the health and safety information that I provided there (yesterday's post). 



Pecos Wilderness, June 2010 (photo courtesy of Rick Dotson)



Unlike the hikes I discussed in yesterday’s post, there’s water almost everywhere in the Pecos and this time of year you can expect it to rain every afternoon. May and June are the driest months while July and August are the wettest. If you head out between October and April, beware that winter storms are common throughout those months, but the cross-country skiing is awesome!

The quickest way to get to the Pecos Wilderness from Albuquerque is through the Santa Fe ski basin; however, I prefer to enter through the Town of Pecos. Take I-25 north to Pecos/Glorieta (Exit 299) and at the intersection of NM-50 and NM-63, turn right onto NM-63 and the Pecos Ranger Station is right there. After getting your maps and information, drive north toward the mountains to Cowles, the gateway to several great camping spots. From Cowles, you can hike to Pecos Baldy in a day, but if you plan to head up to Truchas Peak, the second highest point in New Mexico at 13,103 feet, you’d better plan on at least an overnight trip.

Bring your fly rod and a change of shoes! Several creeks and glacial lakes exist throughout the Pecos and the trout (rainbow, brown, and cutthroat) will bite! Just ask Corey who went backpacking with his dad up there last June.

Corey Dotson backpacking in the Pecos, June 2010 (photo courtesy of Rick Dotson)

There is diverse wildlife and many great photo opportunities so bring your camera and you will see bighorn sheep, deer, gray jays, and maybe even some elk. On my last trip up there, I saw a ptarmigan on Pecos Baldy.

Have fun!

~Lori Dotson, CPT
President, DotsoFit, LLC

All Rights Reserved (2011)