Guaje Ridge
- 10.4 mi
- round trip
- 2,096 ft
- climb
- 9,748 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Jun, Sep
- best months
Is Guaje Ridge open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Santa Fe National Forest.
Road Conditions
Agency alert covering Santa Fe National Forest · USFS · Santa Fe National Forest
Headquarters Well Area Closure on Española Ranger District
Agency alert covering Espanola Ranger District · Order 03-10-06-25-17 · USFS · Espanola Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Santa Fe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Guaje Ridge is a hard out-and-back hike in the Espanola Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The route runs about 10.4 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 2,096 feet, from a low point of 7,726 feet to a high of 9,748 feet. The most comfortable stretch for a visit is typically late spring through early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Los Alamos, which sits about 1,000 feet lower, show June highs around 72°F and September highs around 66°F, with July and August bringing the most wet days. The station's figures are not adjusted for the higher elevation of the ridge. The hike is open from about May 1 to October 15. Bikes are allowed on the natural-surface trail. The Quemazon Trail (287) and Pipeline Road both lie about 0.4 miles away, and the Old Caballo Peak Trail (277) and Guaje Canyon Trail are each about 1.1 miles off.
- Quemazon Trail (287)Hiking0.4 mi
- Pipeline RoadHiking0.4 mi
- Old Caballo Peak Trail (277)Hiking1.1 mi
- Guaje Canyon TrailHiking1.1 mi
- Mitchell Trail AreaRock climbing2.4 mi
- CliftyRock climbing2.4 mi
- North Rd. WestRock climbing3.3 mi
- School CanyonRock climbing3.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Pipeline RoadHiking · Next door
- Quemazon Trail (287)Hiking · Next door
- Guaje Canyon TrailHiking · ~2 min drive
- Quemazon TrailHiking · ~2 min drive
- Valle de los Posos TrailHiking · ~3 min drive
- Old Caballo Peak Trail (277)Hiking · ~2 min drive
- Pajarito Nordic TrailHiking · ~3 min drive
- Knapp TrailHiking · ~3 min drive
- Guaje Canyon Trail (282)Hiking · ~2 min drive
- Camp May Multi-use TrailHiking · ~3 min drive
Best time to visit Guaje Ridge
Best months: May–June and September. 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
36° / 9°
9 wet
Feb
38° / 12°
9 wet
Mar
44° / 20°
9 wet
Apr
52° / 25°
8 wet
May
62° / 32°
8 wet
Jun
72° / 39°
8 wet
Jul
74° / 45°
15 wet
Aug
71° / 43°
15 wet
Sep
66° / 35°
11 wet
Oct
57° / 26°
7 wet
Nov
45° / 17°
6 wet
Dec
36° / 9°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Los Alamos 13 W, NM, 9.6 mi away at 8,716 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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.
