New Mexico · Hiking · Near Arroyo Seco

Lower Loop

2.5 mi
round trip
636 ft
climb
9,161 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Lower Loop open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Carson National Forest.

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

Lower Loop is a 2.5-mile out-and-back hike in the Camino Real Ranger District of Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from a low point of about 8,500 feet to a high of about 9,160 feet, with a total elevation gain of 636 feet. It is rated hard, and its natural surface works for horses and bikes as well as foot traffic. The most comfortable stretch is late spring through early fall. A nearby weather station at Angel Fire, about 21.5 miles away and roughly 660 feet lower, records typical July highs around 77°F with lows near 44°F, while winter months bring regular snow days. Expect cooler temperatures on the trail itself. The Amole hike starts just 0.2 miles away, and the Canyon To Maes Trail is 0.3 miles off. For an overnight stay, Comales campground sits about 1.9 miles away, and the Fire Wall climbing area is about 2.3 miles out.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Amole Group Shelter

    Campground

    Campground · 1.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Ranchos Plaza Grill

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 12 mi
  • If it rainsKhlnmusa, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Harwood Museum of Art

    Museum

    On your way back · 15 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Khlnmusa, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Arroyo Seco

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Lower Loop

    Best months: May–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.

    1. Jan

      38° / 9°

      6 wet · 6 snow

    2. Feb

      40° / 12°

      7 wet · 6 snow

    3. Mar

      47° / 20°

      7 wet · 6 snow

    4. Apr

      54° / 26°

      6 wet · 4 snow

    5. May

      64° / 32°

      7 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      74° / 38°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 44°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      75° / 42°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 36°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 27°

      6 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      46° / 18°

      4 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      38° / 11°

      5 wet · 5 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Angel Fire 1s, NM, 21.5 mi away at 8,500 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.