wheeler peak wilderness area

Our goal was to summit Wheeler Peak. There are plenty of trail websites and books you can reference for specifics. This trail is a bit strenuous with serious elevation gain. Be prepared for all types of weather, have emergency gear and plenty of food and water. As we got higher, the wind picked up quite a bit and we were thankful to have winter coats, gloves and hats with, even in August. The summit is exposed and the wind whipped around us steadily with gusts of up to 40 miles an hour. Not for the faint of heart!

Brief trip report here on our hike to the top of Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico at elevation 13,161 feet:--We did our hike August 1. We hiked to Williams Lake from the Williams Lake trailhead, and then continued up the Williams-to-Wheeler connector trail to the top of Wheeler. In reading guidebooks and other sources online, it seemed like the Williams Lake Trailhead was going to be super hard to find, but it wasn't at all. At least when we went in the summertime, it was clearly marked with signs starting in the skier parking lot. It's right behind The Bavarian restaurant, and very close the Phoenix. --GET AN EARLY START if hiking in the summer in order to avoid being anywhere near the ridgeline when summertime afternoon storms roll in. We started our hike at 7am, reached Williams Lake by 8, and the summit of Wheeler by 10. We were back at the trailhead by 12noon, right as it started raining, thundering and lightning. --The hike to Williams Lake isn't bad. It's about 1000 feet of elevation gain over 2 miles. The first part of the trail was the part that I thought was actually the most strenuous, in part because it's all loose rock. Once you get up into the trees, the trail becomes more dirt and thus more stable footing. The lake is small but very beautiful, located in a basin. --The turn-off for the Wheeler Peak summit trail is clearly marked. This trail is considerably steeper and more strenuous than the Williams Lake trail. You ascend 2100 feet in 2 miles, climbing the west face of Wheeler to the top. Most of the trail is a series of fairly narrow, tight switchbacks. Once you get above treeline, these switchbacks cross through numerous scree fields. --Spectacular views on top of Wheeler. Don't forget to sign the trail register at the top, in the pipe near the summit marker!

I highly recommend this trail. You don't have to be a super athlete to make it to the top, but the more in shape you are, the more you will enjoy it. I live in Santa Fe, at 7,000 ft, and trained for a couple of weeks by hiking in the nearby foothills. During the Wheeler hike, I still had to slow my pace so I wasn't out of breath, and near the top, on the final ten switchbacks, I had to stop every few minutes. The views of the surrounding mountains are extraordinary, and making the summit right before the peak offers a visual reward, with more spectacular mountain views to the north beyond a deep mountain valley. Most inspiring was the range of people making the climb, including a father with his 8 year old son, and a couple with their 83 year old dad. His steady pace and confident smile as he greeted me were truly inspiring. During late June - early August, start early to avoid afternoon rain and lightning storms. Several hikers were making their second attempt because they had to turn back their first time due to dangerous weather. I started at 7:00 AM, paused for about ten minutes above Williams lake, and made it to the peak by 9:45 AM. The hike down took about two hours.

Great, moderate hike to the top of the highest point in New Mexico. No technical difficulties, easy to follow. We got to the top in 3h 20 minutes (from Williams Lake trailhead). Weather was cooperative, so we've got pretty nice views from the top. Spotted several bighorns and marmots. So nice and pleasant summer hike! You need to start early: clouds starts to show up around 10:00 am and rain or thunderstorms in the afternoon are pretty common. You probably should start hike down around noon.

Hiked from Taos Ski Hill to lake and through woods, then up snow chutes to summit. Trail was blazed blue on trees until woods ended. On beginning of May there was still some snow. Trail to summit hidden. By now you can probably see path to top. Weather was great! sunny and 70.

We were told the trail would be good, but April is still way too snowy to try and summit. We battled the snow to 12,500' but couldn't make the last 800ft, it was too dangerous. Make sure you have water, jackets and a map, even if townsfolk don't seem to think you need them. Snow shoes would have been nice!

The highest peak in New Mexico, sitting at 13,161 ft above sea level, Wheeler Peak makes for some great views. There are a couple of trails that will take you to the summit. We took the Williams Lake Trail, which is a Class 2 trail. Along the way you hike through pine forests, fir and spruce forests, up to an alpine climate. This is also a great trail for viewing wildlife, we encountered marmots and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, just to name a few. Would highly recommend this hike to any outdoor enthusiast.

I have been hiking the Wheeler Peak Wilderness area for over 20 years and it remains a great treat every single time I hike it. The vistas are amazing, especially above the tree line. Williams Lake is everything you would hope for in a high Alpine lake, but the whole area is filled with enchantment. The re-emergence of the big horn sheep is a super added attraction. For years I never saw them, but now they have become a common feature on hikes on the upper range. What a sight to see! Also, the trail to the top of Wheeler Peak is newly renovated, and now, instead of hiking straight up the incline, the park service has produced a very nice switchback trail which makes this wonderful hike accessible to many more people. It remains remote, so it never feels crowded. Haul out everything you carry in - that keeps the magic here.

My husband and I were in search of snow and we found it here! We snow-shoed up to Williams Lake and enjoyed a picnic lunch there. The trails were packed snow, so for the most part we could use our micro-spikes, but towards the end we were glad we also had snow shoes. The trailhead has a large parking area with a satelite bathroom. It is in a well-travelled area, so we felt safe leaving our car there. The trail is well-marked. We plan to go back this summer!

This is a place to hike with snowshoes in the winter! It has been a gift to do so. I have hiked in this area all year round. It is nice to be in the great out of doors in the winter. One's spouse may desire to ski and one may not wish to go down hill fast! Yes, I have been hiking in the Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area in the summer too. What a pleasure. Don't forget the chocolate to eat at the end of your journey when it is time to turn around.

While I am no great athlete, I have climbed to the top of Wheeler Peak several times. It is a strenuous, but doable hike for anyone in pretty good physical condition. It is a thrill to reach the top and look east, knowing that there is nothing as high between you and the Atlantic Ocean.

I did a review in June when I hiked up via the Bull of the Woods trail then came down by Williams Lake. On August 23, my wife and I made a hike to the top via the Williams Lake route. My wife absolutely loved it once we broke out of the trees. It was a beautiful sunny day with a light wind. Marmots were everywhere, including some quite close to the trail. Also saw a grouse and some Pika's. Wild flowers were still plentiful too. Not many hikers either. I love this hike. Its more scenic IMO than a hike up Mt. Elbert, Colorado's highest peak, which I did in July. One of the nice things about hiking Wheeler, is its doable for those who are fit, not necessary to be a hiker. My wife made it, she's 52, and is not a hiker but she does walk 18 holes of golf four to five days a week.

The trail is very well marked and made for an enjoyable walk up Wheeler Peak. We went mid week, on a bit of a rainy day, so we did not see many people. The view was great, and the walk pleasant. Saw lots of marmots-in particular, a very fat guy who was only about a yard from us and posed for pictures.

Definitely worth taking the Enchanted Circle Tour. Make sure you take your camera because there is a lot to see. We were there in September so the trees weren't quite changing color yet. Allow a whole day because you stop a lot to take it all in!

What a fantastic area Wheeler Peak is. If you like long strenuous scenic hikes this is the place for you. Lots of friendly people along the way. I talked to many hikers from all over the states. The thrill of reaching the top is worth the climb.