New Mexico · Hiking

Deer Trap Mesa Trails

Deer Trap Mesa TrailsPhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.0 mi
round trip
201 ft
climb
6,981 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Deer Trap Mesa Trails open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Santa Fe National Forest.

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

Deer Trap Mesa Trails is an easy out-and-back hike of about 2 miles in the Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico. The trail rises from a low point of about 6,760 feet to a high of about 6,980 feet, a climb of about 200 feet one way. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Los Alamos show May highs around 70°F and October highs around 63°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 13 to 14 a month. The trail sits close to several other destinations. Sportsman Boulder - Rendija Canyon is about 0.3 miles away, and the Rendija Canyon Trail (297) is about 0.7 miles off. The Deer Trap Mesa Trail and Bayo Canyon Road are each about 1.1 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Deer Trap Mesa Trails

    Best months: April–June 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.

    1. Jan

      40° / 21°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      45° / 24°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      53° / 30°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      61° / 35°

      6 wet

    5. May

      70° / 44°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 53°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 57°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 55°

      14 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 49°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 38°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      50° / 28°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      40° / 21°

      6 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Los Alamos, NM, 4.7 mi away at 7,424 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Rendija Canyon TrailPhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rendija Canyon Trail

~1 min drive

0.07-mile lollipop trail in New Mexico with 12 ft elevation loss.

Guaje Canyon Trail 282Photo: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Guaje Canyon Trail 282

~2 min drive

6.02-mile out-and-back hike in New Mexico with 1,366 ft elevation gain

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Pajarito

~3 min drive

8.17-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,319 ft elevation gain.

Rendija Canyon Trail (297)Photo: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Rendija Canyon Trail (297)

~1 min drive

2.12-mile out-and-back hike in New Mexico with 175 ft elevation gain

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Deer Trap Mesa Trail

~2 min drive

Scenic 3.4-mile mesa hike with 564 ft elevation gain in high desert terrain.

Guaje Canyon TrailPhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Guaje Canyon Trail

~2 min drive

0.71-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 100 ft of elevation gain.

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Bayo Bench Trail

~2 min drive

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Otowi Mesa TrailPhoto: AlisonChaiken, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Otowi Mesa Trail

~2 min drive

0.54-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 379 ft elevation gain.

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Cabra Loop

~3 min drive

Cabra Loop is a 5.97-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 843 feet of elevation gain.

Fireline TrailPhoto: davidwilson1949, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Fireline Trail

~3 min drive

1.84-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 249 ft gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors