williams lake

Even though this hike was a little crowded for my taste, it was wonderful! The effort level is about medium on the scale. You are going from about 9k feet to almost 12k. Nature is abundant on this hike. The lake is beautiful but small. I prefer going just a little further and admiring the falls!

A clear snow feed small lake nestled in the Sangre de Christo Mountains (Southern Rockies) of Taos Ski Valley, NM. Wortht the 1.5 mile hike to get to it and a beautiful spot. Watch for wildlfe and the stars at night are fantastic. A meal at the Bavarian is great, located at the base of the hiking trail.

This is a moderate day hike through spectacular high alpine scenery to a beautiful mountain lake. The trailhead picks up in Taos Ski Valley and takes you up into gorgeous ponderosa pine and aspen forest, eventually leading you to Williams Lake. Saw a bald eagle. Not in the greatest shape, but with a couple of short breaks, I was able to complete the hike up without any problems. The hike down is, of course, easier. Highly recommended if you'd like to enjoy the unique flora and fauna of northern New Mexico and get some healthy exercise. The lake is a lovely spot for a picnic.

December is cold and even colder for our German Shepherd who decided to go for a swim by breaking through the ice after she ran out onto it, and swim she did by even rolling in the shallows. (No worries as she did it for fun and wasn't in deep) The hike was fun and exhilarating as we did a fast hike. Beautiful location and you can eat in the Bavarian Lodge near the ski resort before or after the hike.Due to the cold December day we didn't see anyone else around, except when on the way back we passed 1 other couple who also had kids and dogs. So it was secluded and peaceful!

This hike is gorgeous! Loved it! A little challenging for those of us from a lower altitude, but so worth the payoff of the mountaintop views at the end and the beautiful woods all along the way. I was glad we did the canyon hiking on our first day because I would have been spoiled for anything else after this.

The hike to Williams Lake is a favorite "tune up" hike for locals but it's also enjoyed by people visiting the Taos area from all over the world. The hike begins from the visitors parking lot near the Bavarian Lodge and Restaurant, about a 15 minute drive up-mountain from the base area at Taos Ski Valley. Most of the hike is through the forest with occasional distant views of nearby peaks. The trail is about two and a half miles long and will be a bit steep for some, but once arriving at the Lake you are surrounded by above-timberline peaks, including Wheeler Peak which, at 13,160', is the highest peak in New Mexico. With a bit of luck you might spot some of the bighorn sheep that inhabit the open slopes above the Lake. If you don't live at a high altitude you should keep in mind that the hike is between 10,000 and 11,000 feet; the air is thin and the weather can change without much warning. Many tourists hike the trail in shorts and sandals without any thought of high altitude preparedness. A sudden thunderstorm (common in the summer months) can drop temperatures dramatically and hypothermia is a risk. Even if the weather at the beginning of your hike is clear and warm, you should follow standard high altitude protocols by carrying an extra warm layer, a water proof layer, drinking water, sunscreen and sun glasses.

A lovely hike once you get out of the ski area and away from the crowds. If it is a weekend be prepared to see lots of fellow hikers, and many with dogs, and many dogs off-leash. We are devoted dog owners and often hike with our large dog, but the number of poorly trained/behaved dogs and oblivious owners we saw in one short hike blew us away. The views of the mountains are beautiful, but Williams Lake is really just a small spring/stream fed pond. Love;y, but if you are looking for seclusion or a solitary experience, you will have to hike elsewhere

A wonderful trail to a small glaciated lake high in the mountains of northern New Mexico. We have visited many times as it is one of our favorite places on earth! The two mile hike is easy enough for beginners; more athletic hikers can choose to go on from the lake to summit Wheeler Peak.

First, it takes at least 45 minutes from the beginning of Hwy. 150 to get to the beginning of Twining Road, and that was without traffic. Then Twining road is a gravel road that is extremely rough, and it takes another 20 minutes to get to the trailhead. Keeping in mind that the trail begins at 10,000 feet, it's already an effort to begin the hike. We only went part way because the trail is so rocky and difficult to negotiate. We normally are comfortable with hikes that are two to four miles long, but we gave up after about 1/2 mile, and never made it to Williams Lake. It was a little faster coming back.Another trail which was easy to access and very enjoyable was the one running along the Rio Grande canyon. Going out 64, turn left instead of right at 150, cross the bridge where everyone is gathered looking down, and enter the parking lot on your left. You can see the beginnings of the trail right above you. There are also awesome picnic spots right on the rim. The trail goes for over eight miles, but just a few hundred yards yield fabulous views. Probably not a good trail for small children as there are no guard rails.

Loved the short hike to Williams Lake, that for us seemed more like a glacial pond - I actually wondered 'if we were there'. Then I read the sign Williams Lake 11,040 feet - helpful! A very cool location, great place to stop and have lunch or a snack. Peaceful and the majesty of the mountains can be enjoyed. Definitely worth the stop.On the way down, take the fork in the road to the left and climb above the treeline. This is a more aggressive hike with steeper slopes (that lead to the summit but thats an 8 mile trip and we didn't have time unfortunately). Being above the tree line and looking at the valley was well worth the extra time on the mountain.Note - get your info before you go, the gals in the visitor information centre had very little contribute to where to hike and the types of info you typical want/need (difficulty, length, water, wildlife, etc.)

As a Coloradan. My expectations were a little high. The hike, although steep and rocky in the beginning, was fairly easy for my spouse and I. The trail eventually evens out into dirt, so don't lose hope! (We ran it ourselves). Don't get me wrong though, there were A LOT of people stopped on the trail catching their breath, including a Texas couple we befriended before the hike. There was some festival going on, which meant a lot of traffic - so some people had trashed parts of the trail and destroyed some of the plant life which was ANNOYING. Regardless, it was awesome. The chipmunks are friendly, the views are beautiful. The sky is incredible and it was well worth it. BRING YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER - just in case! The portable restrooms were out.

The hike up was challenging, especially since I am overweight, but there are plenty of places to stop and rest. The lake itself was nice but just looked like a regular lake. The view is beautiful and we thought we would have a quiet afternoon. Not! There was a church group there blowing the elk horn continually and people brought their guitars and bongo drums to play. While the lake wasn't what we were expecting, the hike was very much worth the drive out to the ski area.

We parked at the Hikers' parking lot near the Bavarian Restaurant - so you start out at about 10,000 feet. The hike is not difficult - unless you have a problem with the thin air at this altitude) and the trail is well marked and maintained. We hiked over Labor Day weekend, so although this trail runs through the Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area - you will not be alone. We saw two different pairs of Red Deer and tons of chipmunks. Beautiful Views throughout and the lake is at the bottom of a cirque of 13,000 foot peaks. The lake is just below the timberline so the views are soaring. Highly recommended. It is also possible to take a new side trail (well maintained with hundreds of zigzaps up to the summit of Mt. Wheeler from near the top of the Williams Lake trail. The Williams Lake hike is a bit over 2 miles each way. Adding Mt. Wheeler will add about 3 hours to your hike at a leisurely pace.

This is my favorite hike in Taos County. In early August the wildflowers greet you with every meadow. I suggest you start by 9 am so you have plenty of time to walk slowly, enjoy the scenery, have a picnic at the lake and get back down before the afternoon thunderstorms move in. Come prepared for a wet trail, rain, and cool temps. Bring water, a lunch, rain jacket and close toed shoes. I have seen many an unprepared hiker on this trail. If you hike with a dog keep it leashed. Not everyone loves your dog. You might meet horseback riders or bicyclists. It can easily been hiked each way in 3 hours with time to rest and eat at the top. The road is driveable in the summer with most any car. Only in the winter is 4 wheel drive required.

A little bit strenuous going up but if you go slow it's no problem. Plan on spending some time up at Williams Lake so u can walk around the lake or just keep going up to wheeler Peak