Wheeler Peak: the Highest Point in New Mexico

One of the main objectives during our first trip to New Mexico in 2006 was to climb Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico. With a round-trip trek of 15 miles and a climb of roughly 4150 feet, this would be the toughest hike either one us had ever attempted.

Located in the Carson National Forest, Wheeler Peak is about 90 miles north of Santa Fe in the Sangre De Cristo (Blood of Christ) range. To reach the summit we took the Wheeler Peak Trail (also known by locals as the Bull-of-the-Woods Trail), which begins from the Twining Campground at the Taos Ski Area.

Standing at 13,161 feet Wheeler Peak is the tallest mountain in New Mexico. It’s located within the Sangre De Cristo (Blood of Christ) Mountains, which is considered to be the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains. Generally speaking, the climbing season for this mountain runs from late May through November. Because we happened to hike this trail at the very beginning of the season, we were warned by locals that there would be a section of trail below the treeline where we would most likely run into some snow. Although that section still had quite a bit of snow, we were able to pass through it with only a little extra work.

From the Taos Valley Ski Area the Wheeler Peak Trail (#90) proceeds in a northeasterly direction towards the Bull-of-the-Woods Pasture. At roughly eight-tenths of a mile it crosses over the Rio Hondo, and shortly thereafter you’ll arrive at the Long Canyon Trail junction. Hikers should stay to the right here.

At roughly 2.1 miles you’ll arrive at the Bull-of-the-Woods Pasture. Near this pasture, or meadow, the trail intersects with the Gold Hill Trail. Hikers should again stay to the right to continue on the main trail, which now makes a sharp turn towards the southeast. Shortly thereafter it begins to climb the northern slopes of Bull-of-the-Woods Mountain. You should note that while hiking in this area you'll be passing through private property.

The trail continues along the western slopes of Bull-of-the-Woods Mountain to a saddle along its southern flank, located roughly 3.2 miles from the trailhead. From here the trail begins to ascend towards 12,163-foot Frazer Mountain. As it crosses over to skirt along Frazer’s eastern slopes, hikers will cross into the Wheeler Peak Wilderness. This 19,661-acre wilderness area is home to bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, marmots, pikas and golden eagles. From this lofty perch, just below the summit, you'll enjoy commanding views of Wheeler Peak and the La Cal Basin towards the south.

Just beyond the summit of Frazer Mountain my wife and I reached another snow field, roughly one-half acre in size. Instead of walking around it we decided to walk over it, as it seemed to have a pretty firm crust. We were almost to the middle when I made the mistake of walking a little too close to Kathy, which created too much weight within a small surface area, and thus I broke through the crust. A little shocked at the suddenness of it all, I found myself waist deep in snow. Lesson learned!

From Frazer Mountain the trail drops roughly 360 feet to reach La Cal Basin, a favorite camping spot for backpackers. From the basin the trail climbs almost 1400 feet to reach the summit of Mount Walter. At 13,133 feet, Mount Walter is the second highest named peak in New Mexico. However, it’s usually not considered to be an independent mountain because it only has 53 feet of topographic prominence.

From Mount Walter the path leads you along a narrow ridgeline to reach your final destination, still a little more than a third-of-a-mile away. It was here that we experienced some extremely high winds. As a precautionary measure I held onto Kathy to make sure she didn’t get blown off the mountain! Hikers should note that high winds are fairly common along this stretch.

At roughly 7.5 miles hikers will finally reach the summit of Wheeler Peak. From the top you’ll enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, the Taos Valley, as well as Williams Lake in the valley directly below. Wheeler Peak ranks as the eighth highest state high point. It’s named for U.S. Army Major George M. Wheeler who surveyed much of New Mexico in the late 1870s. A plaque at the summit reads as follows:

Named in honor of Major George Montague Wheeler (1832–1909) who for ten years led a party of surveyors and naturalists collecting geologic, biologic, planimetric, and topographic data in New Mexico and six other southwestern states.

Trail: Wheeler Peak Trail (Trail #90)
RT Distance: 15.0 Miles
Elevation Gain: 4150 feet
Max Elevation: 13,161 feet
TH Location: Taos Ski Area
Map: Carson NF Trails Illustrated Map

Santa Fe - Taos Hiking Guide: - The Santa Fe­ - Taos area contains a wide selection of easily accessible trails throughout its mountains and high desert places - where outdoor enthusiasts can explore the diverse topography and ecosystems of northern New Mexico year-round. Now for the first time in one convenient volume, veteran local guidebook author Bob D'Antonio introduces you to 52 great hikes within an hour of these two towns. From alpine peaks to sage-covered mesas, northern New Mexico offers incredible hiking opportunities - and this guide leads you to the best.