uesday, October 7, 2025
- Start: Rio Chiquito / Drake Canyon entrance (mile 116.2)
- End: Taos Plaza (mile 130.4)
- Distance hiked: 14.2 miles
- Gain/loss: 5,218 vertical feet
- Detours: I missed the Ojitos Cut-off trail (added 0.3 miles)
My final day on the SF2T route was my shortest one, but there was still one big climb left. After packing up early (in hopes of seeing one final sunrise), I began the climb up the Drake Canyon Loop Trail. Unfortunately, with rain in the forecast, I was met with low clouds and didn’t get the beautiful New Mexican sunrise I’d hoped for.
When I finally made it to the top of the 1,400-foot climb, I got my first glimpse of the edge of Taos. The route followed the Ojitos Trail down, which was somewhat frustrating due to the numerous short, artificially created hills/ramps designed for mountain bikes (though I only crossed paths with one person on a bike).
I also completely missed the Ojitos shortcut down to the El Nogal TH and had to walk an extra 0.3 miles as a result. Once I reached the end of the trail network, though, all that was left was the road walk into Taos where I’d celebrate the end of another thru-hike.
HIGHLIGHTS
- My first views of Taos as I crested the top of the final peak were super exciting. I could see the finish line!
- Stopping at Taos Cow on the outskirts of town to get some town food. I can 100% recommend the avocado burrito (eggs, hashbrowns, cheese, salsa, and avocado)
- I made it to the northern terminus. 130-ish miles, nearly 60,000 vertical feet gain/loss, lots of high elevation hiking, detours up Santa Fe Baldy and Truchas Peak, and two great towns in Northern New Mexico. Time to head to Taos Mesa Brewing for a beer and pizza to celebrate the end of this thru-hike.
CHALLENGES
- I failed to charge my headlamp this entire trip, because I wasn’t using it much. This omission came to bite me in the butt on my early morning start. As I made my way into Drake Canyon, the span of light kept fading more and more until I could barely see, and I had to reluctantly pull out my phone and use it as a flashlight.
- The Drake Canyon and Ojitos Trails are clearly more popular with mountain bikers than hikers because they have the short dirt ramps and whoop-de-dos (tall earth berms built into the path to slow mountain bikers down). These short inclines are far less fun when on foot.
- My photos of Taos Plaza were a little less picturesque thanks to the ugly fences and massive construction taking place to update the gazebo.