This is a high-altitude hiking route that starts at the Taos Plaza. It goes through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe National Forest, Carson National Forest, and Pecos Wilderness. Expect panoramic views above the treeline, 9 alpine lakes, high alpine meadows, aspen groves and dozens of rivers and creeks. There are a few side trips to peaks that I'm still researching.
Summary: Santa Fe to Taos Southbound (SF2T SOBO) - 128 miles, 22,900 AEG, 21,900 loss. 10 hiking days with no more than 15.3 miles per day. Resupply on day 5 before dinner.
I will post the 10 day itinerary, but I want to keep things fluid. On the days that have less than 15 miles, we have the option of getting a little bit ahead of schedule. There are 100 campsites (some just flat places for several tents, some more than that) and 87 reliable water spots. The guidebook & gpx file clearly list where the next water & camp will be.
I like the idea of breaking camp and starting to hike as soon after sunrise as possible. NM is an hour behind AZ, so sunrise is a little before 6am. We will stop for breakfast after a couple hours of hiking. It will allow for breakfast without coats & hats, and give us a chance to dry out gear and relax after getting in some miles in the cool of the morning. This would mean that lunch would be later, and on shorter days, we might be able to have lunch at camp. Sunset is after 8pm, so a late dinner would also work. This will also help with the monsoons that happen more in the afternoon, when we may be at, or close to camp. I don't want this to be awful, so if it doesn't work for the group, or doesn't work on certain days, then we'll modify the plan.
8/1 - Drive to Taos - I will be dropping off resupply packages at 2 places along the way. I can meet people in Prescott, my husband can meet in Chandler, or we can work something out to get me your food for to put in the packages and clothes for the ride home (more details below). Camping TBD near Taos.
8/2 - Hike Wheeler Peak - 8.3 miles, 2972 AEG This is the highest peak in NM & it is a beautiful hike. Camping TBD, near Taos.
8/3 - hike day 1 - Taos Plaza to El Atajo 9.6 miles, 1400 gain, 100 loss. Water regularly available. Water near camp. Sections 6-8 to 6-4, camping at mile 119.48. John & I have parking spots reserved at a place in Taos that offers showers. John's car will be in Santa Fe, so we can use this spot for someone. TBD distance from start, but I think it is less than 3 miles and could be Ubered for the ones leaving cars.
8/4 - hike day 2 - El Atajo to Rio Chiquito Bridge Campsite - 12.5 miles, 1150 gain, 1300 loss. Longest water carry is 7.2 miles, water at camp. Sections 6-4 to 6-1, camping at mile 108.42
8/5 -hike day 3 - Rio Chiquito Bridge to Beaver Pond - 11.6 miles, 1400 gain, 1000 loss. 6 water sources will longest carry about 5 miles. Sections 6-1 to 5-3.
8/6 -hike day 4- Beaver Pond to Trail 124 Camp - 10.5 miles, 2600 gain, 1400 loss. Water near camp, 6ish mile water carry & then regularly available. Sections 5-3 to 4-9.
8/7 hike day 5 - Trail 124 Campsite to Aqua Pierdra Campground - 12.3 miles, 1400 gain, 3300 loss. 10+ water sources, with a 6 mile carry. Sections 4-9 to 4-5.
Resupply here; I'd like to leave a car at the campground. Paid parking is $7 a night and there is a camp host close by. Paid camping here. I want to leave an extra set of clothes and things that I "wish I had brought" in the car so I can change out things. We can leave the food supplies at Sipapu.
Sipapu Ski Resort is 2.3 miles down the road. They have hotel rooms, dorm bunk rooms and campsites. They can sell showers, have a store with hiker food and supplies, restaurant & food truck. They will accept resupply packages. My plan is to drive here with the car left at the campground, take a shower and eat some real food. Depending on how many people want to stay here, we can get a group room for about $30/person. RSVPs close on 7/21 to ensure this can be reserved in time.
8/8 hike day 6 - Aqua Piedra to Middle/West Fork - 14 miles, 4100 gain, 3250 loss, sections
8/9 - hike day 7 - Middle/West Fork to Pecos Baldy NW 2 - 14.8 miles, 3675 gain, 1375 loss, sections 3-5 to 3-1.
8/10 - hike day 8 - Pecos Baldy NW2 to Stewart Lake Primary Campsite - 14.6 miles, 2545 gain, 3950 loss, sections 3-1 to 2-4. Campground is up a steep slope looking down at the lake.
8/11 - hike day 9 - Stewart Campsite to Winsor/Borego/Tesuque Creek Campground, 15.3 miles, 2680 gain, 4200 loss, sections 2-4 to 1-7
8/12 - hike day 10 - Winsor/Borego/Tesuque Creek to Santa Fe Plaza, 13.6 miles, 1300 gain, 2700 loss. Longest water carry is 5 miles, with 8 water sources.
Free shuttle bus back to Taos to pick up cars, drop person off at Aqua Piedra for car. Free showers at Taos parking spot. Camping TBD.
8/13 - drive home
Resupply info
- Initially need to carry food up to day 5 afternoon snacks
- Sipapu - day 5 - package needs to have day 5 dinner to day 11 breakfast. Day 5 dinner, day 6 breakfast can be bought at the Sipapu reatuarant or store.
- Day 5 we'll also reach the car parked at Aqua Piedra. I'm changing out my clothes and leaving things that I may want to pick up here. We'll have access to the car overnight.
- Can leave clean clothes & drive home snacks in Taos car
- We will need to arrange to get your supplies by 8/1. I live in Prescott, my husband works in Chandler, so either of those are easy meeting spots. We can come up with another plan if needed.
Cost
- shared cost for car at Aqua Piedra, $7 per night $84.
- shared cost if you choose to stay at Sipapu. We can discuss room options, but if we fill a room, it will be about $30/person
- Potential Uber costs to share when car is dropped off before the start of the hike $20
- Gas if ride share to Taos.
- GPX file for the hike. It lists all the camping and water spots. It can be uploaded to most hiking apps. I am not tech savvy and got it into Alltrails myself. $10 on website. I ask that everyone gets this.
Shared resources
- Please bring a battery bank to contribute to group navigation. I don't know if we'll stay together, re-group at intersections, or divide up by pace. I don't want to be the sole navigator, but it doesn't make sense for each person to use their own phone each day. Let's find a way to share to conserve battery power.
Monsoons - it will be monsoon season. Dangerous thunderstorms can pop up at any time. Please have a plan for you and your pack for serious rain storms.
Weather - daytime highs will be 60s to low 80s, nighttime lows could be in low 30s up to 50s.
Altitude - 7000 to 12,000+, this is a high-altitude hiking route. Please know the signs of altitude sickness and consider joining us on 8/1 to have a little time to get used to the higher altitude.
Fires - No, both Santa Fe National Forest and Carson National Forest have bans.
No bear can needed, but there are bears in the area. Please have a safe way to store your food.
What I need to know from you: where are you coming from? Where do you want to meet to hand off resupply items? Do you want to carpool? Do you want to stay in a room at Sipapu? Please make sure I have these answers by 7/21.
The website santafetotaos.org has all kinds of info.
I'm capping the trip at 10 people due to campsite size in many of the places. I'm waitlisting people that I haven't hiked with until we have a conversation about your experience. This is clearly not a beginner trip.
You are responsible for your own safety. I have no specialized training and I haven't hikes this route before. Please make sure this type of trip fits with your abilities.
