Nature Trail
- 0.5 mi
- distance
- 11 ft
- climb
- 7,317 ft
- high point
- Lollipop
- route
- Apr–May, Aug–Oct
- best months
Nature Trail is a short, easy hike in Manzano Mountains State Park in New Mexico, managed by State Park and Recreation. The trail is about half a mile long, with a total elevation gain of just 11 feet, so it's a gentle walk that fits easily into a longer day on park trails. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 76°F and October highs around 68°F, while July and August run hotter and wetter, with highs near 88°F and about 10 to 11 wet days a month. Several other trails start close by. The Outer Loop Trail is about 0.1 mile away and the Park Entry Trail about 0.2 mile. The Wld Fire Trail is roughly 0.4 mile off, and the Kayser Mill Trail (80) lies about 2.8 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Turquoise Trail Campground37 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Apr–May, Aug–Oct
Best time to visit Nature Trail
Best months: April–May and August–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° / 18°
5 wet
Feb
51° / 23°
4 wet
Mar
58° / 27°
5 wet
Apr
66° / 32°
4 wet
May
76° / 41°
5 wet
Jun
87° / 50°
6 wet
Jul
88° / 55°
11 wet
Aug
85° / 53°
10 wet
Sep
79° / 45°
8 wet
Oct
68° / 36°
5 wet
Nov
55° / 25°
4 wet
Dec
47° / 19°
5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mountainair 8nw, NM, 3.3 mi away at 6,672 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.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Outer Loop Trail
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1.88-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 184 ft elevation gain.
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Ox Canyon
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4.80-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,708 ft elevation gain.
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Monte Largo Trail
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Steep 4.65-mile alpine climb with 3,847 ft elevation gain near Monte Largo.
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Manzano Crest Trail
~11 min drive
8.94-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 2,979 ft elevation gain.
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Park Entry Trail
Next door
0.24-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 45 ft elevation gain.
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Kayser Mill Trail
~7 min drive
0.92-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 517 ft elevation gain.
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Pine Shadow Trail
~8 min drive
5.25-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 723 ft gain.
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Wld Fire Trail
Next door
0.30-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 59 ft of elevation loss.
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Kayser Mill
~8 min drive
3.47-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,523 ft gain.
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Pine Shadow
~10 min drive
7.14-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 784 ft gain
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
