Hermit's Peak Trail - Santa Fe National Forest - New Mexico

Last weekend I made it back to Hermits Peak with plans to summit. I made sure I had my map (and a backup) just in case I left one in the car. The weather was perfect and nothing was going to keep me from the summit this time around.

Hermits peak (10,263 feet). is at the extreme southern end of the Rockies in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The peak rises 3700 ft above the town of Las Vegas in northern New Mexico. Hermits Peak Trail (number 223) originates at the El Porvenir Campground (7,543 feet) in the Santa Fe National Forest. The Trail is easy to follow (despite my ability to lose the trail on my last attempt.) There are a few places where the trail joins an old jeep road for a short distance and then turns back north. Watch for the trail signs and you shouldn’t have any problems.

 Some friends at the Hermits Peak Trailhead.

The trail with Hermits in the background

 Be sure and keep an eye out for trail signs. The trail can get confusing if you are not careful.

At the beginning of the trail you will notice a sign informing you the trail passes through private property. You will pass through an open gate in a barbwire fence shortly before crossing a small stream. For most of the way the trail climbs gradually just west of the stream. At about 1.75 miles (8,600 feet) you will cross to the East side of the stream and begin the first of about 25 switchbacks. Over the next 2 miles you will steadily gain 1,200 feet of elevation.

 Just after entering the switchbacks you will start to notice the canyon walls rising on each side of you.

At the top of the switchbacks you will begin to think you have made it to the top only to find another half mile and 360 more feet of elevation.

At the top of the switchbacks you receive your first really good view of the valley floor. The Santa Fe National Forest seems to go on forever into the surrounding foothills. From here its only about 0.6 miles and about 360 feet to the summit. The summit is relatively flat and heavily wooded. Not even 100 yards from the summit you come the Hermit’s Eastern edge which drops nearly 1000 feet strait down. Form here you can see the nearby town of Las Vegas NM and the endless flatland of Northeastern New Mexico. To the North you can see the Sangre De Cristo mountain range extending as far as the eye can see.

 The view from the top of the switchbacks

At the top of the switchbacks

Near the summit you will pass by Hermit's Spring located in a raised rock structure with a metal lid. Be sure and purify any water you intend to drink.

 Inside Hermit's Spring. Be sure and purify any water you intend to drink.

 The view to the north from the Eastern Edge of Hermits Peak.

Looking down the Eastern Edge of Hermit's Peak

Survey Marker with the elevation scratched out.

Standing along Hermit's Eastern Edge

The Hike:

Miles: 4.25 (8.5 round trip)

Starting Elevation: 7,543 feet

Ending Elevation: 10,263 feet

Elevation Gain: 2,720 feet

Approximate Time: 3 hours 25 minutes one way 

Map USGS Quadrangle cropped to 8.5 x 11 inches

Getting There:

Hermits Peak Trailhead: 35.710456º N 105.413815º W

The top of the switchbacks: 35°44'34.53"N  105°25'19.17"W

Hermits Spring: 35°44'41.99"N 105°25'15.09"W

Hermits Peak Summit: 35°44'39.73"N 105°24'54.75"W

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Hermits Peak Summit Attempt

Well it has been a long busy summer for me which has had an effect on my blogging. I have had many adventures over the past 3 months and I am looking forward to blogging about them in the coming weeks.


Back in early July a friend and I attempted to summit Hermits Peak (10,212 feet). Hermits peak is at the extreme southern end of the Rockies in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The peak rises 3700 ft above the town of Las Vegas in northern New Mexico.

 Hermits as viewed from Camp Blue Haven. Some people say it looks like a human face profile.

I say “attempted” because we never actually made it to the summit. We were both teaching at nearby Camp Blue Haven and had the “afternoon” off. Hermits is the highest peak in the area and a lot of the camp staff (as well as campers) go to summit while at camp. Due to a number of forest fires in the area the quickest route down Forest Road 18 was gated and locked. We had to drive out of our way through the town of Las Vegas, NM adding about an hour’s drive on a tightly scheduled trip.


As soon as we pulled up to the trailhead it started pouring rain. My friend and I put on our rain gear and trudged up the trail. Somewhere in the first mile we inadvertently wandered off the trail. Both of us had our rain hoods pulled down and where looking mostly at our feet trying to keep the water from dripping in our eyes. Once we noticed the trail was gone I reached into my pocket to grab the trail map. No luck…the trail map was sitting on the dash of the car. While trying to prepare for the rain I forgot to put it back in my pocket.

 Heading up the wrong path as the rain begins to clear. I blame my friend...he was in the lead!

So there we were with no trail and no map. We looked around the area to see if we could spot the trail. About 5o yards to our left we found an old jeep road leading up the mountain. I have been on many trails that follow old jeep roads for good distances and my friend and I agreed it was at least heading in the right direction. We followed the road for about a mile when it too came to an end. Not good. We were running out of time before we had to be back and both of us wanted desperately to reach the summit. I tried to recall the map from memory and knew that the trail started to switchback up a ravine ahead. So we started to bushwhack toward the ravine.

 The real trail switchbacks through the trees up this ravine. Once we made it on top of the ridge we could see where we needed to be.

Once the terrain started to getting steeper we convinced ourselves the trail had gone up a gentle ledge we passed some time back on the right. High above us we could see where we thought the trail was. We decided to climb the steep slope to our right that we believed the trail was on top of.

 The view from our private summit about 1,000 feet below the actual summit.

We eventually reached the top of a large ridge which opened up to gorgeous views of the surrounding foothills. There was, however, no trail and only steep vertical walls between us and the summit. We looked at our watches and knew we would have to head back if we were going to prevent people sending out search parties looking for us. We were only a thousand feet from the summit…it seemed so close…yet so far away.
We headed back down…found the jeep road and then the trail and eventually our car. Hermits had defeated us….but not for long.

Here is our elevation chart as recorded by my phone. Its too bad I couldn't download an adequate map while on the trail. 

We reached a maximum height of 9012 feet with an elevation gain of 1634 feet over 2.3 miles. I hope to go back soon...stick to the trail and reach the top.

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