- New Mexico County HP: #4 & #5
- Summit Elevation: 13,108 feet
- Mountain Range: Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- Ancestral Lands: Lipan Apache, Ute, Pueblo
PLANNING DETAILS
Location: Truchas Peak is New Mexico’s second-tallest mountain and it is located in the Pecos Wilderness, about 40 miles due north of Santa Fe, NM
When to Visit: Late June to October. Getting to the summit requires hiking a minimum of 12-15 miles (each way), depending which direction you approach from.
Fees/Permits Required: None.
Getting There: Truchas Peak can be accessed via trails from the Carson National Forest or the Santa Fe National Forest. The most common starting point for hikers approaching from the north is the Middle Fork Trailhead at Santa Barbara Campground. Meanwhile, hikers approaching from the south often use the Jack’s Creek or Panchuela Campgrounds.
Directions to the Santa Barbara Campground (north approach):
- From downtown Santa Fe, follow US-84 north for 24 miles to the town of Espanola.
- At the junction with US-84/US-285 and NM-68, follow the signs for NM-68 toward Taos.
- Drive north/east on NM-68 for 20 miles until you reach the junction with NM-75 toward Dixon and Peñasco.
- Turn right onto NM-75, and drive 15 miles to Peñasco until you will reach the junction with NM-73.
- Turn right onto NM-73, and drive 1.6 miles to Santa Barbara Road.
- Turn left onto Santa Barbara Road and follow the road for 6 miles. The road ends at Santa Barbara Campground, and there is day-use and overnight parking just before the campground entrance. The trailhead for the Middle Fork Trail is at the end of the campground loop (near campsite #7)
Directions to Jack’s Creek/Panchuela Campground (south approach)
- From Santa Fe, follow to I-25 north (toward Las Vegas) for 16 miles.
- Take Exit 299 (NM-50), and then turn left onto NM-50 and drive east for 6 miles to the town of Pecos.
- At the junction with NM-63, turn left and follow NM-63 north for 19 miles until you reach the Winsor TH.
- If you wish to use the Pancheula Campground, turn left onto Winsor Road (toward Winsor TH) and drive for 0.2 miles, then turn right on Panchuela Road and drive 1.4 miles to the trailhead at the campground.
- If you wish to use the Jack’s Creek Campground, instead of turning left on Winsor Road, continue driving north on NM-63/Cabana Road for 1.4 miles, and follow the signs to the trailhead parking near the equestrian camp
Parking: There is free day-use/overnight parking just before the entrance to Santa Barbara Campground with space for 15-20 cars, and vault toilets. Potable water is also available when the campground is open (May 22 to Sept. 30).
Overnight parking at Jacks Creek and Panchuela Campground may require a fee. However, the Santa Fe National Forest honors the America the Beautiful Pass and Enchantment Recreation Pass in lieu of payment. There are vault toilets, but no potable water at these southern trailheads.
Pets Allowed: Yes. However, dogs must remain leashed in the Pecos Wilderness.
Kid Friendly: Because of this hike’s distance from the closest trailhead and off-trail travel, Truchas Peak is best suited for children over the age of 13.
Hiking Distance: 25-30 miles (round-trip), depending on whether the north or south approach is used.
The Summit: There is a small rock pile at the summit, with sweeping panoramic views of Middle Truchas Peak, North Truchas Peak, Chimayosos Peak, Truchas Lake, and Jose Vigil Lake. There is no sign, summit register, or survey marker at the summit.
TRIP SUMMARY
Date Visited: October 4, 2025
Hiking Route Used: Unmaintained game trails from the junction of the Skyline Trail (#254) & Jose Vigil Trail (#351) – 3.1-miles round-trip)
At least half of the people who hike to the top of New Mexico’s second-tallest peak begin their multi-day hike at Santa Barbara Campground, about 15 miles north of the mountain. The rest usually start their multi-day hike from the Jack’s Creek or Panchuela Campgrounds, about 12 miles south of the mountain.
My route was a combination of the two routes. I planned to cross paths with Truchas Peak on day 3 of my 132-mile northbound thru-hike from Santa Fe to Taos. Thus, my climb was more of a detour on this longer northbound trek than a dedicated hike from either of the commonly used trailheads.
My first two days on trail brought me north from Santa Fe Plaza to the Santa Fe Ski Basin (day 1) and then up to the summit of Santa Fe Baldy before continuing north toward Panchuela Creek (day 2).
On day 3, I planned to continue hiking north from Panchuela Creek with the goal of getting up to Pecos Baldy Lake, crossing the Trailriders Wall, detouring up Truchas Peak, and then pushing a little farther north to set up camp at Truchas Lake.
Of course, this plan was all weather-dependent. Day 3 of my thru-hike was supposed to bring the worst weather of the entire trip.
As I began my ascent from my campsite at 8,500 feet this morning, I’d mentally resigned myself to the very real possibility that Truchas Peak was not going to be in the cards for this trip. This was a real shame, because my route was literally going to pass 1.5 miles from the summit.
But, weather is weather. And none of us has any control over it.
I spent most of the morning gaining elevation, climbing 8 miles through aspens and quite a bit of deadfall, and then through the burn scar of the 2013 Jaroso Fire.
It was a windy and brisk morning as I hiked north, but the skies looked remarkably blue. Maybe the weather forecast I’d seen, predicting thunderstorms all day, was wrong. Maybe the storm system had slowed or shifted in another direction. Were these strong winds all I needed to worry about, or was it just the prologue for an afternoon of rain and lightning?
By mid-morning, I reached Pecos Baldy Lake, a glacial lake at 11,465 feet. The lake rests at the base of East Pecos Baldy, and the ferns and foliage lining the trail leading down to the lake had turned vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. October is such a glorious month in New Mexico!
My route continued north, with another two miles of gradually climbing up to the Trailriders Wall. This geologic formation was my favorite spot thus far. The wall is a broad, exposed hogback with fantastic views of Truchas Peak (13,108 feet), Middle Truchas Peak (13,066 feet), and North Truchas Peak (13,025 feet).
Today’s moody weather and low dark clouds made these prominent peaks look ominous, only confirming my fears that I wouldn’t be hiking up any of them on this trip. I’d have to return at a future date if I wanted to bag the highest summit in Rio Arriba and Mora counties.
The county line for these two counties bisects the southern edge of Truchas Peak’s summit. This makes this single mountain a “two-fer” on my list, allowing me to tick off two CoHPs on my map of New Mexico’s 33 county high points.
I stopped for lunch just before crossing the Trailriders Wall and saw the best wildlife of the trip, a Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep grazing while the dark storm clouds hovered in the background.
There was a small grouping of juniper trees at the south end of the Trailriders Wall, which I nestled down into to break the biting wind while I ate an early lunch.
The sky was a delight to watch from this high vantage point. Everything above me was constantly shifting. The clouds were low enough that I felt as if I could nearly touch them, but they were being pushed at a surprisingly fast pace above me.
These ominous clouds occasionally gave way to a glimpse of blue sky, and I wanted to get a better forecast to confirm whether the storm was breaking or building. I didn’t want to be stuck out on the exposed Trailriders Wall if lightning was imminent.
I toggled my phone out of airplane mode, and was pleasantly surprised to see I had several bars of cell service up here at nearly 12,000 feet of elevation. So I quickly checked today’s (Saturday’s) mountain weather forecast for Truchas Peak.
The forecast for the summit was actually better than it had been when I checked yesterday morning. The winds were 30-35 mph, and the wind chill would be around 27°F. But the risk of thunderstorms seemed greater in the afternoon or evening, rather than a full-day affair.
If I hurried, maybe I could get up Truchas Peak. It was almost noon now. I needed to cross the exposed 1.5-mile Trailriders Wall first. Then I would make the judgment call once I reached the junction with the Jose Vigil Trail over on the opposite end.
I made a deal with myself. If the clouds looked light, and there was still no rain at the junction, I’d consider an ascent. If the dark, foreboding clouds returned, I’d take the safer option and continue on to Truchas Lake instead.
The cold wind blew ferociously against my back and left side as I made my way over the Trailriders Wall. During lunch, I’d layered a second pair of gloves over my hiking gloves to keep the tips of my fingers warm and pulled on my warm Smartwool beanie. Plus, I was wearing three layers (my wool hiking shirt, my wind jacket, and my rain jacket), to ward off the near-freezing temperatures.
Yet, despite this brutally cold wind plaguing me, every fraction of a mile across the Trailriders Wall seemed to give me more hope. The darkest clouds were blowing north and away from Truchas Peak. The weather behind me (e.g., heading my way) was still cloudy, but with fluffier white clouds and some patches of blue. It didn’t look that bad, to my amateur meteorologist eyes.
Once I got to the trail junction, I decided to go for it. I hadn’t felt a single raindrop. And while the wind was relentless, I felt optimistic about attempting the climb. I could always turn back if the weather changed on me. I wasn’t too proud to abandon this summit bid, if it became unsafe.
Much like yesterday’s detour up Santa Fe Baldy, though, I didn’t want to carry all the extra weight in my backpack. I could move much, much faster in this weather if I only had minimal gear.
So, I found a spot in some trees where I pitched my tent out of the worst of the wind. Then I offloaded the heaviest items I wouldn’t need—my sleeping bag and sleeping pad, my food bag, my cooking gear, and so on. It all went inside the tent. I only wanted to carry water, some snacks, my rain pants, and the essentials like my phone and GPS.
After leaving all my bulky or heavy gear behind, I began the hike uphill through the trees. The trail was steep, but a grove of trees provided a brief respite from the wind before I popped out above treeline at a flat open plateau where I was pummeled again.
This plateau is where the defined trail up Truchas Peak ended. From here, it was nothing but a handful of game trails leading me toward a slope filled with giant boulders. I picked the flattest route I could find as I worked my way over to the left side of the first sub-peak I’d need to negotiate on the southern end of the Truchas Peaks.
The boulders gave way to a few game trails that clung to the steep slope. I’m not sure if there was a right or wrong path to take. Some sent you scrambling over high boulders, others left you to navigate a steep ravine. But nothing was technical. It was just slow and exposed.
After working my way around this southern sub-peak, the terrain opened up to a wide ridge with the summit of Truchas Peak finally visible again. The wind continued to pummel me as the sliver-gray clouds still whisked across the sky overhead, but the weather still seemed to be holding.
A series of game trails were worn into the slope of the ridge at different elevations. It was hard to tell which one would be the easiest. The lowest trail seemed to be the most defined, but that would mean I’d have to head up to the summit at the steepest angle. Meanwhile, the highest trail seemed to dead-end at a rocky face that would undoubtedly require some scrambling to reach the top.
In these cold, windy conditions, I opted for one of the lower trails and set off, huffing and puffing as I made my slow progress across the terrain that looked deceptively easy. The summit looked much closer than it was, and the rocky route up the ridge wasn’t super easy to walk on.
Down below me, the views of Jose Vigil Lake seemed to sparkle in the occasional sunlight. The lake was a deep emerald color, and the aspens on the peaks behind it made for a stunning background.
Once I reached the far end of the ridge, it was time to turn right and slowly pick my way uphill toward the summit. With each step, the elevation seemed to steal more of my energy. I had not acclimated to the high elevation during the past two days of this thru-hike, even though I’d been hiking 20-mile days between 9,000 and 13,000 feet.
What was I thinking? I wasn’t a 20-something who ran up mountains. I’m a 50-something woman who lives at sea level. But rather than beginning this defeatist cycle of naysaying, I just repeatedly put one foot in front of the other. With enough steps, I’d get there eventually.
As I crested the final climb, I was treated to an unexpected surprise. There was someone else out here on the mountain! I hadn’t seen a soul all day. There’d been some tents near Pecos Baldy Lake, but I’d literally not seen a soul in the past 24 hours. And, now, here I was on the top of Truchas Peak, and there was a man and his dog!
My fellow hiker was beginning his descent, but I convinced him to stay a minute longer. I got him to return to the summit to take my photo while we both tried to remain upright in the super-strong gusts of wind. Thank goodness all my extra layers were protecting me from the wicked cold up there.
I didn’t remain too long at the summit. I felt like I’d pressed my luck with the weather as much as was reasonable today. The sooner I got back down to treeline, the better.
On my way back down toward the ridge, I opted for one of the higher routes to save my knees from the pain of descending the steepest bit. I caught up with the other hiker and his dog, just as I reched the area with the vertical rock wall that required scrambling,
I was surprised to see them taking the scramble route instead of detouring around it. This direct approach meant he had to lower the dog from ledge to ledge, slowing his progress significantly. It seemed like a questionable choice to me. But then again, I wouldn’t hike this peak in a pair of socks and Chaco sandals either, and that’s what this guy was wearing.
Different strokes, for different folks…
Back at the end of the ridge, I started to feel my first raindrops of the day. The thrill of the climb was now behind me, and the dragging fatigue from the last few days seemed to have jumped on my back for a piggyback ride back down the mountain.
From here on out, the descent turned into a virtual slog. All my energy seemed to evaporate. But, at least the rain seemed to hold off. I only got a smattering of passing raindrops as I slowly picked my way back toward the Jose Vigil and Skyline Trail junction.
Eventually, I made my way down to the safety of the trees where I’d stashed my tent and gear. I quickly packed everything back up and guzzled some water. It was time to hike the final miles to Truchas Lake, where I’d set up camp (for real this time) and reward myself with a cup of steaming hot chocolate.
When I finally made it to Truchas Lake (11,860 feet), the sun was already beginning to drop behind the mountains, and I could feel the weather start to shift yet again. It was going to be a cold, cold night up here.
Hail started to pelt me as I was filtering my water at the edge of the lake, then it abruptly stopped three minutes later. It felt as if the weather gods had granted me a momentary reprieve to find somewhere sheltered from the wind to set up camp before the next two rounds of hail would pelt the ground again.
Summiting Truchas Peak was 100% worth the detour. And tomorrow, I would continue north toward Santa Barbara Campground, where my food resupply was waiting for me at this thru-hike’s halfway point.
BONUS MATERIAL
Public Camping Nearby:
- Santa Barbara Campground is a USFS campground on the northern edge of the Pecos Wilderness, located approximately 15 miles north of the high point. This seasonal campground offers 22 RV and tent campsites, picnic tables, fire pits, vault toilets, and water faucets. The campground is open from late May to September 30. Reservations are available online during most of the season, but transition to a first-come, first-served basis from September 11-30. Cost: $22-60, depending on whether it is a single, double, or triple campsite.
- Panchuela Campground is a rustic campground in the Santa Fe Mountains, approximately 12 miles southeast of the high point. This seasonal campground offers 6 tent campsites, a vault toilet, trash cans, fire rings, and picnic tables. Three of the campsites also have three-sided log shelters with fireplaces. There is no potable water, but Pancheula Creek runs nearby. The campground is open from May 13 to November 24, and reservations are available on a 6-month rolling basis. Cost: $5 per campsite.
- Jack’s Creek Campground is a larger USFS campground in the Santa Fe Mountains, approximately 12 miles southeast of the high point. This seasonal campground offers 39 tent and RV campsites, vault toilets, picnic tables, fire pits, trash cans, and an equestrian camp. There is currently no potable water, but the USFS was beginning to install a water system in 2025. The campground is open from May to October, and all sites are first-come, first-served. Cost: $10 per campsite
Resources:
- Highpointing Truchas Peak (Peakbagger)
- Truchas Peak (Summit Post)
- Santa Fe to Taos Thru-Hike (the route I used)
- Truchas Peak Weather Forecast (Mountain Weather)