Best Views in New Mexico? San Mateo Peak Trail, Apache Kid Wilderness

Maybe the best views from any hike in New Mexico! We hike to 10,139 foot San Mateo Peak from Springtime Campground trailhead, in the least visited Wilderness area in the lower 48; the Apache Kid Wilderness! The San Mateos, near Truth or Consequences, are a spectacular "Sky Island" mountain range, surrounded by low chihuahuan desert. Along this trail you experience everything from high desert vegetation, Ponderosa Pine forests, all the way up to Spruce/Fir and Aspen forests at the peak! Amazing views, and amazing bird life!

Birds observed:
Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers
Red Faced Warbler
Gray Flycatchers
House Wrens
Northern Flickers
Acorn Woodpeckers
Olive Warbler
Dark Eyed Juncos
(others I know I'm forgetting)

The views from the peak are somewhat obstructed, but the beautiful forest is worth the effort. The best views are found all along the hike! At 8.8 miles round-trip, with 2900' in elevation gain, this hike is not a walk in the park, but the trail is good and, well, there is actually a trail... something we don't often hike. Tami enjoyed it. ;)

#outdoors #wilderness #hike #newmexico #views #peak #newmexicotrue #explore #mountains #hiking #adventure

[rickblasing]

nice video! i'm hoping to get into this area this upcoming weekend. how bad/good was the drive into Springtime CG? would my AWD Toyota Matrix make it? (6 inch clearance)