Mesa
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 11.3 mi
- round trip
- 2,932 ft
- climb
- 8,371 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Is Mesa open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Magdalena Ranger District.
Magdalena Ranger District Bear Trap Campground Closure Order #03-03-03-26-01
Agency alert covering Magdalena Ranger District · Order 03-03-03-26-01 · USFS · Magdalena Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Magdalena Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Mesa is a hard out-and-back hike in the Magdalena Ranger District of Cibola National Forest in New Mexico. It starts at Mesa Trailhead and climbs from about 7,000 feet to the high point of 8,371 feet, with a total elevation gain of 2,932 feet over the 11.3-mile round trip. The trail is a natural-surface route, and bikes are allowed. The closest neighbors are the Copper Canyon Trail, which begins about 0.3 miles away, and Water Canyon Campground, roughly 0.7 miles off, so you can plan an overnight stay close to the trail. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show May highs around 72°F and September highs near 75°F, while July and August bring the most wet days of the year. The station sits about 1,400 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The hike is open year-round.
Best time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Mesa
Best months: April–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
46° / 17°
3 wet · 1 snow
Feb
49° / 21°
3 wet · 1 snow
Mar
56° / 25°
3 wet
Apr
63° / 31°
2 wet
May
72° / 40°
2 wet
Jun
82° / 49°
3 wet
Jul
82° / 56°
8 wet
Aug
80° / 54°
9 wet
Sep
75° / 46°
6 wet
Oct
66° / 34°
4 wet
Nov
55° / 23°
3 wet
Dec
46° / 16°
3 wet · 1 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Augustine 2e, NM, 28.1 mi away at 7,000 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Next door
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