Box Canyon Road
- 1.2 mi
- round trip
- 258 ft
- climb
- 5,722 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- best months
Box Canyon Road is a short, easy hike in New Mexico, on Bureau of Land Management land within the Socorro Field Office. It is a 2.4-mile out-and-back route that gains about 258 feet, starting at roughly 5,450 feet and reaching a high point of about 5,722 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Socorro show April highs around 75°F and October highs around 73°F, while July and August average about 91°F with more wet days. Climbers and hikers have plenty close by. The Unbeatable Boulder and Major Wall climbing areas sit about a tenth of a mile away, as does the Gramont Peak Trail. Water Canyon Campground, about 8.6 miles off, is the nearest place to camp.
Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Oct
Best time to visit Box Canyon Road
Best months: March–May and September–October. 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.
Jan
52° / 23°
3 wet
Feb
59° / 28°
3 wet
Mar
67° / 34°
3 wet
Apr
75° / 41°
2 wet
May
83° / 49°
3 wet
Jun
91° / 57°
4 wet
Jul
91° / 63°
8 wet
Aug
89° / 61°
9 wet
Sep
84° / 53°
6 wet
Oct
73° / 41°
4 wet
Nov
61° / 31°
4 wet
Dec
50° / 24°
4 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Socorro, NM, 8 mi away at 4,593 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Dead Horse Trail # 12
~13 min drive
Quick, easy sub-mile trail suitable for families and beginners.
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Mesa
~15 min drive
Mesa is an 11.26-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 3,020 feet of elevation gain.
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Ryan Hill Trail (17)
~15 min drive
9.18-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 3,376 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Grand Enchantment Trail
~7 min drive
6.35-mile lollipop trail in New Mexico with 6,037 ft gain
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Copper Canyon Trail
~15 min drive
Copper Canyon Trail is a 0.41-mile out-and-back hike in New Mexico with 33 feet of elevation gain.
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)South Canyon
~15 min drive
8.11-mile out-and-back trail in South Canyon, New Mexico.
HIKE
Six Mile Trail
~7 min drive
3.48-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 7,904 ft gain.
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Water Canyon Road
~18 min drive
0.79-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 516 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Six Mile
~17 min drive
11.04-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,285 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
South Canyon Road
~10 min drive
Easy 2.7-mile canyon road walk through piñon-juniper forest.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors