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Easy Hiking trails
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Dry
Mills Canyon
Dry
Mills Canyon
is an easy trail suitable for small children and families.
Offering beautiful forest scenery and dominating mountain
scents this trail is a must.
Trail Description:
A 2 mile round
trip hike along a relatively short trail that is easily
accessible from Ruidoso.
What
is there to see:
Exquisite forest scenery and a chance to encounter
an elk or deer.
Hiking
Difficulty: Easy
- bring your kids!
Altitude
Change:
640 feet.
Average
Hiking Time: 2 hours.
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Nogal
Peak Loop
Nogal
Peak Loop
is an easy hike that offers panoramic views of much
of the northern portion of the White Mountain Wilderness.
The chances of seeing deer and/or elk along this route
are good.
Trail
Description:
A 5.5 mile round-trip hike around the
highest peak in the White Mountain Wilderness.
What
is there to see: Views
of Nogal Peak and Water Canyon. Excellent area to
view wildlife.
Hiking Difficulty: Easy.
Altitude
Change:
900 feet.
Average Hiking Time: 3.5 hours.
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North
Eagle Creek Trail
North Eagle Creek Trail
is an easy stroll up an aspen and conifer filled canyon
a mere 20 minute drive from Ruidoso.
Trail Description: A
3 mile round-trip hike into the southernmost part
of the White Mountain Wilderness.
What is there to see:
Towering conifers alongside a trickling mountain stream
give the feeling of total seclusion.
Hiking Difficulty: Easy
- flat and easy to follow, the kids will love this
endeavor.
Altitude
Change:
700 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
2.5 hours.
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Perk
Ridge Trail
Perk
Ridge Trail is an easy trail to find, just
off the upper canyon right in Ruidoso.
Trail
Description: This 4
mile round-trip hike offers varying terrain with two
significant hill climbs.
What is there to see:
Views of Sierra Blanca, deer, and wild turkeys are
easy to find.
Hiking Difficulty: Easy
to moderate.
Altitude
Change:
950 feet.
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Moderate
Hiking trails |
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Argentina
Canyon Loop
Argentina
Canyon Loop is a popular hike featuring gorgeous
forest scenery, running streams and alpine meadows.
Elk sightings are not uncommon along the upper reaches
of this hike.
Trail Description:
A 6 mile round-trip hike
into the upper Bonito Creek drainage.
What is there to see:
Once atop the crest trail, a breathtaking view includes
the Organ mountain range as well as white sands is
to the right. An equally spectacular view of the Sacramento
mountains dominates the left.
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude
Change:
1,260 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
4.5 Hours
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Crest
Trail - Monjeau Peak to Ice Spring
If
you enjoy fantastic alpine views, this hike is the
one for you. Aspen groves, alpine meadows, and spectacular
views of Sierra Blanca and Lookout Mountain.
Trail
Description: A 7 mile, one-way hike along
the divide of the Sacramento Mountains.
What is there to see:
Everything. This hike follows the ridge so use your
imagination.
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate.
Altitude Change:
2500 feet.
Average
Hiking Time: 6
hours.
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Gaylord
Canyon Loop
Gaylord
Canyon Loop is a great hike to get away from
the crowds of people that flock to many of the more
popular trails. An unmarked trail head and difficult
to follow route through Gaylord Canyon keep the number
of hikers low and provide a feeling of solitude.
Trail Description: A
7.5 mile round-trip hike into a seldom visited part
of the White Mountain Wilderness Area.
What is there to see:
Solitude. View of Mountain Peaks.
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate.
Altitude
Change:
2,200 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
6 hours
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Lookout
Mountain
Lookout
Mountain trail begins at an approximate elevation
of 9,750 feet and climbs steadily through a spruce and
fir forest to the 11,580 foot summit of Lookout Mountain.
Due to the extreme elevation and winter snow pack, this
hike is not feasible until late spring to early summer.
The area remains accessible until late fall when the
first snows begin to arrive.
Trail Description:
A 6 mile round-trip hike to the highest point in the
Lincoln National Forest.
What is there to see:
Spectacular views of Sierra Blanca, the Tularosa Basin,
and the White Mountain Wilderness Area. Excellent
opportunities to see elk and deer.
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate.
Altitude
Change: 1,830
feet.
Average Hiking Time: 5
hours.
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Norman
Canyon Loop
Norman
Canyon Loop is another great hike to escape the masses that often
crowd the more popular trails. Even though the hike
is accessed from the popular Nogal Trail head, minor
route finding difficulties in upper Norman Canyon
limits the number of hikers and provides a feeling
of solitude.
Trail Description: A 7.5 mile round trip hike
into a remote part of the wilderness.
What is there to see:
Views of mountain Peaks. Excellent location to view
wildlife.
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate.
Altitude
Change:
2,440 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
6 hours.
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Rodamaker
Canyon Loop Rodamaker
Canyon Loop is a scenic hike in the popular
Bonito Lake area that sees little use. The hike features
beautiful forest scenery, running streams and alpine
meadows.
Trail Description:
A 7 mile round-trip hike
into the upper Bonito Creek drainage above Bonito
Lake.
What is there to see:
Running streams and alpine meadows. Panoramic views
of Buck Mountain, Nogal Peak, as well as the upper
Eagle and Bonito Creek drainage systems.
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude
Change:
1,880 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
5.5 hours.
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Telephone
Canyon Loop
Telephone
Canyon Loop is an easily accessible hike that
offers everything from clear mountain streams to panoramic
vistas. Although the trail head is located just outside
of Ruidoso, this hike does not see the barrage of
hikers that many of the more popular trails do.
Trail Description: A 6 mile round-trip hike
into the southern part of the White Mountain Wilderness.
What is there to see:
Running streams and mountain vistas.
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate.
Altitude
Change:
1,300 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
4.5 hours.
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Turkey
Canyon Trail
Turkey
Canyon Trail
is a popular hiking destination in the upper Bonito
Creek drainage. In addition to the forest scenery,
numerous mines in the canyon offer a first-hand glimpse
into the history of the area.
Trail
Description:
A 7.5 mile
round-trip hike on an easy to follow, well maintained
trail.
What is there to see: Opportunity to see
century-old mines.
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate.
Altitude
Change:
1,505 feet.
Average
Hiking Time: 5.5
hours.
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Strenuous
Hiking
trails
The
following hikes are difficult and dangerous. It is
not recommended that unconditioned or inexperienced
hikers attempt these trails. Furthermore, the mountains
are quite unforgiving. Rapid changing weather and
wild animals are immanent threats and hikers should
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Aspen
Canyon Loop Aspen
Canyon Loop is a strenuous 8-hour hike among
abandoned mines, with views of Nogal Peak and plenty
of opportunities to see deer and elk.
Trail Description: A
10.5 mile round-trip hike into the upper Bonito drainage
of the White Mountain Wilderness. This trail is not
difficult to follow but it is quite rugged.
What is there to see:
View of Mountain Peaks. Opportunities to see deer
and elk.
Hiking Difficulty: Strenuous
Altitude
Change:
2200 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
8 hours.
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Crest
Trail - Ice Spring to Barber Ridge
A 10.5 mile
round-trip hike into the upper Bonito drainage of the White Mountain
Wilderness
Trail Description:
This 10.5 mile round-trip hike is not without
pitfalls. Like any other long distance hike there
are many opportunities to become stranded so be prepared.
What
is there to see: Views of Nogal Peak and White
Horse Hill. Opportunities to see deer and elk.
Hiking Difficulty: Strenuous
Altitude
Change:
2200 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
8 hours.
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Mills
Canyon Trail
Mills
Canyon Trail begins at an elevation of approximately
7,080 feet at the Mills Trail head located about three
miles below Bonito Lake. The trail climbs up the Mills
Canyon and eventually ends at the lookout located
on Monjeau Peak.
Trail Description: A
9.5-mile round-trip hike from Bonito Creek to Monjeau
Peak. This trail is certainly the easiest of the strenuous
hikes.
What is there to see:
Running streams and alpine meadows. Panoramic views
of Nogal Peak.
Hiking Difficulty: Strenuous.
Altitude
Change:
2,560 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
7.5 hours.
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Pancho
Canyon Trail
Pancho
Canyon Trail offers a hike up a canyon on the
southeastern end of the Capitan Mountains. The canyon
features a two-year old burned area and jagged rock
cliffs. A long, rough access road to the trail head
and a 2,800-feet elevation gain combine to keep the
number of hikers low and provide a secluded atmosphere.
Trail Description: A
9 mile round-trip hike up a forested canyon on the
south side of the Capitan Mountains.
What is there to see:
Opportunity to see the regeneration of the forest
within a recently burned area. Views of the Sacramento
Mountains and the lower Rio Bonito drainage. Spectacular
rock formations.
Hiking Difficulty: Strenuous.
Altitude Change:
2,800 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
7.5 hours.
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Pierce
Canyon
Pierce
Canyon offers a hike on a well-maintained trail
that starts in the Pinon Pine and Juniper foothills
and culminates on a conifer-studded ridge high in
the Capitan Mountains Wilderness.
Trail Description: A
9-mile round-trip hike up a forested canyon on the
south side of the Capitan Mountains.
What is there to see:
Opportunity to see changes in vegetation zones as
altitude is gained. Postcard view of the Sacramento
Mountains, the Rio Bonito and Rio Ruidoso drainage
system.
Hiking Difficulty: Strenuous.
Altitude
Change:
1,600 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
6.5 hours.
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South
Fork Rio Bonito Loop
South
Fork Rio Bonito Loop may very well be the most
scenic hike in the White Mountain Wilderness Area.
The trail head is located just above Bonito Lake and
as a result, the lower parts of the trail experience
heavy use during the summer season. However, due to
the large distance and net elevation gain of the loop
hike, probably only
1 hiker out of every 20 that visit the area actually
completes the loop.
Trail Description:
A 12-mile round-trip hike into the South Fork
Rio Bonito drainage above Bonito Lake.
What is there to see:
Running streams, alpine meadows and large aspen groves.
Panoramic views of the eastern portion of the White
Mountain Wilderness Area.
Hiking Difficulty: Very
Strenuous.Altitude
Change: 3,250
feet.
Average Hiking Time:
9.5 hours.
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Three
Rivers Canyon Loop
Three
Rivers Canyon Loop offers the arduous hiker
some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in
the White Mountain Wilderness area. A hiking distance
of 12 miles and a 3,600 feet elevation gain combine
to separate this area from the Three Rivers Campground
visitors.
Trail Description: A
12-mile round-trip hike into the rugged part of the
White Mountain Wilderness area.
What is there to see:
Running streams, alpine meadows. Views of towering
rock cliffs.
Hiking Difficulty: Very
Strenuous.
Altitude
Change:
3,600 feet.
Average Hiking Time:
9.5 hours.
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