New Mexico · Hiking

Natural Arch Trail

0.3 mi
round trip
277 ft
climb
8,067 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Natural Arch Trail 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.

Natural Arch Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in the Espanola Ranger District of Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about half a mile long, with a one-way climb of about 280 feet from a low point of roughly 7,720 feet to a high of about 8,067 feet. 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 among a cluster of other routes. Old Mitchell Trail is about 0.1 mile away, and Berm City Trail and the Mitchell Trail Area climbing area are each about 0.3 mile off. La Mountain Trail is about 0.4 mile away.

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

    Best time to visit Natural Arch Trail

    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, 3.2 mi away at 7,424 ft. The station sits about 600 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.

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