Parks and Recreation

OVERVIEW

Much of the High Road to Taos passes through or near the Carson National Forest and the Santa Fe National Forest. From the High Road, you can also access trails to the 200,000 acres of the Pecos Wilderness, where you may see Rocky Mountain Bighorn, elk, mule deer, and golden eagles. The area offers many opportunities for camping and recreation, including cycling, hiking, backpacking, climbing, paddling, fishing, skiing, and geocaching. Check out the following links for more information.

RECREATION AREAS

The Public Lands Information Center offers information and maps on all the public lands in the area, including the Carson National Forest and the Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area.

Carson National Forest offers plenty of information on recreational activities, including camping, fishing, trails, winter sports, wilderness areas, and enjoying the fall colors. (See also information below.)

Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area—Santa Cruz Lake is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It offers fishing, hiking, camping, and picnic areas (check website for fees).

Nambé Falls Recreation Area—Nambé Falls Recreation Area is managed by Nambé Pueblo. It offers fishing, hiking, camping, and picnic areas (check website for fees).

MOUNTAIN PEAKS

• Sangre de Cristo Mountains—Excellent general introduction to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains from www.summitpost.orgincluding geology and history. Also see information from this website on specific peaks, including elevation, getting there, red tape, what to expect, when to go, and much more:

• North Truchas Peak
• Middle and Medio Truchas Peaks
• South Truchas Peak (also called Truchas Peak)
• Jicarita Peak

• Truchas Peak—Wikipedia article on South Truchas Peak (also called Truchas Peak), the highest of the Truchas Peaks.
• Jicarita Peak—Page from Los Alamos Mountaineers describing a hiking/climbing trip to Jicarita Peak.
• Jicarilla-Truchas Ridge Traverse—Page describing a backpacking/climbing trip to both La Jicarita and Truchas Peaks.
• Back Country Skiing Jicarita Peak—Page describing a backcountry skiing trip to La Jicarita Peak.

CAMPING

 

Camping in Carson National Forests—General information on camping in the Carson National Forest, from the National Forest Service. It's a good idea to check their current conditions site for any updates on burn restrictions or closures.

Carson National Forest Campgrounds—Table listing all campgrounds in the Carson National Forest, from the National Forest Service. Look for campgrounds in the Rio Pueblo/Camino Real district. Also see these specific listings for "established" campgrounds (the others are probably more primitive):

• Agua Piedra Campground—information from Carson National Forest website or from Public Lands website
• Comales Campground—information from Carson National Forest website or from Public Lands website
• La Junta Campground—information from Carson National Forest website or from Public Lands website
• Duran Campground—information from Carson National Forest website or from Public Lands website
• Santa Barbara Campground—information from Carson National Forest website or from Public Lands website

 

Borrego Mesa Campground—in Santa Fe National Forest.

Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area—on land belonging to the Bureau of Land Management.

TRAILS

All Trails in Carson National Forest—This listing includes all trails in Carson, including hiking, biking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, etc. Look for the Camino Real district. Extensive information is given on some trails. See also the listings below specifically for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding:

• Hiking Trails in Carson National Forest
• Mountain Biking Trails in Carson National Forest
• Horseback Riding Trails in Carson National Forest
• Cross Country Skiing Trails
• Snowshoeing Trails
• Snowmobile Trails
• ATV/Motorcycle Trails

Pecos Wilderness Trails—A series of trails in the Pecos Wilderness ranging in length from 13 to 47 miles long. Trails 7 to 12 are in the High Road area. This trails series was developed by Albuquerque Boy Scout Troop 285 in the early 1980's.

Sangre de Cristo Mountains—Scroll down to the section on the Pecos Wilderness & Trail No. 25.

See also the following specific trails.

• Trampas Lake Trail. See also description at Carson National Forest website.
• Borrego Mesa/Truchas Peak Loop
• Sheep's Head Peak Loop
• Serpent Lake Trail
• San Leonardo Lakes Trail
• Amole Canyon Trails
• Rio Grande del Rancho Trail 18
• Middle Fork Trail—Trail 24

ROAD BIKING

The High Road to Taos itself is an excellent place for long-distance cycling. It is about 60 miles from Pojoaque to Taos, if you don't take any of the lovely detours. Although some of the roads are rural with no shoulders, some have been improved in recent years. Elevation ranges from 6,200 to 8,500 feet. Traffic is sparse except for summer tourists and a small "rush hour" each morning and evening for all the mountain village residents who work in Los Alamos or Santa Fe. For more details (and elevations), see description on mapmyride.com of The High Road from Pojoaque and The High Road from Santa Fe. Also see the following rides.

Nambé Church Loop—a 5.2-mile loop through the Pojoaque valley on fairly quiet, rural roads. (Note: State Road 503 can be busy during rush hours.)

Nambé Dam Spur—"A great little out and back (6.43 mi) to add to any route passing by on Hwy 503. Crosses Nambé Pueblo lands. The upper part of the road is only open May-Oct. Please stop at the Pueblo Ranger Station to ask permission to ride to the top. The last mile up is steep!"

Pojoaque to Truchas—"Lots and lots of climbing!! Rural. No reliable services for much of the route. Plan on bringing your own food and water. Big climbs, low traffic area, scenic, very hilly"

Chimayó to Peñasco—50 miles out & back.

Ranchos de Taos to Tres Ritos—"Very beautiful and scenic ride with long steady climbs to top of pass. Beautiful views along the valleys also. Turn around at Sipapu Ski Area for about a 40-mile round-trip ride."

FISHING

 

Fishing in Carson National Forests—Information on fishing in the Carson National Forest, from the National Forest Service. See also the specific pages below.

• Trampas Lake
• Rio Santa Barbara
• Rio Pueblo
• Little Rio Grande
• Rito de la Olla
• Rio Chiquito

Fishing Lakes in Taos County—This website lists some of the smaller lakes. Look for the ones in the Jicarita Peak and Tres Ritos areas.

Fishing Lakes in Rio Arriba County—Look for lakes in the Truchas and Trampas areas.

Truchas and the Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout—Blog article on how the Truchas chapter of Trout Unlimited is working to save a native species, the Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout (Truchas means "trout").

Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area—Lake near Chimayó.

PADDLING

American Whitewater—New Mexico Rivers—This listing includes three in the High Road to Taos area:

• Rio Pueblo from Rio Lucio to the confluence with the Rio Grande
• Rio Santa Cruz from Cundiyo to Santa Cruz Lake
• Trampas Creek (Rio de las Trampas) - into the Embudo

SKIING

Located just off the High Road to Taos, directly on the Rio Pueblo, is the Sipapu Ski Resort. It is also popular as a cool summer getaway and offers disk golf and a geocache.

• Sipapu Ski Resort—Official site.
• Sipapu Ski Resort—Description from www.sangres.com.
• Sipapu Ski Resort—Description from www.sangres.com.
• Sipapu Ski Resort—Description from gottagoitsnows.
• Sipapu Ski Resort—Description from go-newmexico.com.

• Back Country Skiing Jicarita Peak—Page describing a backcountry skiing trip to La Jicarita Peak.

GEOCACHING

Geocaching Map of the High Road—from www.geocaching.com.