We started our summer on a high note by climbing to the highest point in the state of New Mexico. We hiked to Wheeler Peak via the Williams Lake Trail, located near Taos, New Mexico, an area known for snow skiing and hiking.
This hike starts at 10,200 feet and gains 2,961 feet over 4.1 miles. We acclimated to the high elevation by staying a couple of nights in Santa Fe, New Mexico, before attempting this trek.
High Elevation Hiking Tips:
- If you are from a lower elevation state like we are, make sure to start out slow. Don’t attempt a high elevation hike without acclimating.
- Make sure to bring lots of water, snacks, and sunscreen. We also wore hats and long sleeves to protect from the elements. Layers are always helpful.
- Check the weather conditions before going. We checked recent trail reports on Alltrails.com to see if the trail had wintery conditions. It’s also a good idea to start hikes early in the day because afternoon storms pop-up in the mountains. When you are above the tree line, lightning storms are dangerous.
- Don’t be afraid to turn around if conditions don’t feel right. You can also choose a shorter hike. For example, I would love to complete the shorter hike to Williams Lake in the future.
The well-defined path follows the Williams Lake Trail, but veers off before arriving at the lake. (We visited the lake on our way back down – pictures below). You traverse several scree fields on the way up, so horses aren’t allowed on the trail, but we saw many families with dogs.
Despite being acclimated, this hike felt very challenging due to the quick elevation gain. Alltrails.com rates this hike as ‘hard’ while the Forest Service rates this hike ‘Intermediate to Expert’.
We completed this hike in early June. We lucked out on the weather with a calm, blue sky, warm day. There were just a couple of snow patches that we had to navigate. As the afternoon went on, the snow melted and made it harder to pass without losing a hiking boot.
My older daughter (age 10) says this hike is ‘hard, but a great accomplishment.’ Her advice to kids wanting to hike it is ‘keep looking up because soon you will be at the top. Don’t give up!’
I agree this was a great accomplishment for our family. This is the highest summit we have hiked together so far. We felt confident they could do it because of the hikes they’ve completed in the past in Rocky Mountain National Park and other destinations.
At the top, we made sure to sign the register log and take a picture by the summit marker.
As I mentioned above, we stopped by Williams Lake on our way down the mountain to get a snack and spot wildlife. PS: I recently got Invisalign, and snacking while hiking with my new braces was not an easy task.
There are a lot of things to love about this hike, and I’m not ashamed to admit that one of my favorite things was ending at this Bavarian Lodge and Restaurant!
They even served Andechs beer, which is brewed in a monastery near Munich, Germany. We were able to ‘hike’ to the monastery a decade ago, so it holds a special place in my heart. Check on their site if you are interested.
Another reason this hike was very special was that my family and I hiked up these mountains when I was a kid. I had fun reminiscing with my Dad and looking at old maps and pictures.
Thanks for reading about our hike to Wheeler Peak! I’d love to know if you’ve hiked in this area and what your experience was like.
rocky mountain tot 