New Mexico · Hiking

Cave Creek

7.9 mi
round trip
1,496 ft
climb
9,810 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Cave Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Santa Fe National Forest.

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

Cave Creek is a hard hike in the Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District of Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It is an out-and-back trail of about 8 miles, with a one-way climb of roughly 1,500 feet from a low point around 8,340 feet to a high of about 9,810 feet. The trail is on natural ground, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. For timing, summer brings the warmest weather. Typical averages from the nearby Gascon weather station show July highs around 76°F with lows near 47°F. Winter is cold, with January highs around 44°F and several snowy days each month. Camping and another hike sit right next to the trail. Panchuela campground and the Pecos River hike are both about 0.1 mile away, and Winsor Ridge and Hamilton Mesa are within a mile.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Cave Creek

    Best months: May–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.

    1. Jan

      44° / 18°

      5 wet · 5 snow

    2. Feb

      45° / 20°

      5 wet · 5 snow

    3. Mar

      51° / 24°

      6 wet · 5 snow

    4. Apr

      57° / 29°

      6 wet · 3 snow

    5. May

      65° / 36°

      6 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      75° / 43°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 47°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 46°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 41°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      61° / 32°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      52° / 24°

      4 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      44° / 18°

      4 wet · 4 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gascon, NM, 12.9 mi away at 8,250 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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