New Mexico · Hiking · Gila Wilderness

Big Timber

4.1 mi
round trip
713 ft
climb
7,488 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jan–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Big Timber open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Gila National Forest. It doesn't name Big Timber, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Gila National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Big Timber is a hard hike of about 4 miles in the Gila Wilderness, part of the Wilderness Ranger District of Gila National Forest in New Mexico. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface out-and-back that climbs from about 6,755 feet to about 7,488 feet. The route is rated hard, and the climb is about 713 feet one way. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Ft Bayard show October highs around 74°F with lows near 47°F, and May highs around 80°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The Brannon Park Trail #95 and the Cdt start about 0.1 mile away, and the Continental Divide Trail is about 1.2 miles off. Black Canyon Campground - Lower is about 6.2 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jan–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Big Timber

    Best months: January–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      56° / 32°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      59° / 34°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      66° / 37°

      5 wet

    4. Apr

      73° / 43°

      3 wet

    5. May

      80° / 50°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      90° / 60°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      88° / 64°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 63°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      83° / 58°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      74° / 47°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      63° / 37°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      55° / 30°

      6 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ft Bayard, NM, 21.6 mi away at 6,099 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.