Hike New Mexico
w/Tom & Ken
Hike New Mexico
w/Tom & Ken
Ute Mountain
Hike Statistics
Nearby City / Locale:
Costilla-Amalia
Hike Difficulty:
Moderate
Total Length of Hike:
2.8
Max to Min Elevation:
2365 ft
* Total Ascent / Descent:
2388 /
28 ft
Estimate based on track data
Logistics: One Way
Exposure Type: Mixed sun/shade
Seasons :
Fall&Spring
"Wow" Factor: Bragging rights to a prominent landmark ascent
Authors last hiked: 2022-05-29
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On-line directions to the trailhead:
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Scroll down to see photos and additonal information. Click on photos for enlarged view. Red segments on the elevation chart indicate slopes of 18 degrees or higher.
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TRAIL TIPS!
Ute Mountain is a 10,093-foot elevation (3,076 m) summit located in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. It's a bit hard to find the road into this Rio Grande Del Norte official trailhead, they don't do much visitor work up there. You want to proceed North on NM522/CO159 to a mile before Costilla, and turn West on unmarked CR-B paved road to Jaroso. You will see Ute Mountain looming at the end of the road. Then travel North on Road 8 a mile to State Line Road and turn left or West for a mile until you reach the RGDL Monument sign. Turn South there and proceed on decent dirt roads suitable for any car-SUV to the trailhead.
From the BLM parking lot, proceed uphill on the washed out dirt road, curving East and uphill. Reach the forested upper mountain edge in 1/2 mile, and continue for 1.75 miles through Ponderosa forests until the upper mountain begins to show stunted aspen forests and glades. At this point the road turns into a trail through the mixed forest, and reaches a summit cairn in another 2/3 mile. The best North views are had while ascending the mixed aspen forest, so look behind you! For Western and Southern views of the Rio Grand Gorge and open vistas, you will need to roam 500' farther than the cairn, where the forest opens slightly. Return as you came.