New Mexico · Hiking

Purgatory Chasm Trail

1.3 mi
round trip
189 ft
climb
6,281 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 16 h ago

Is Purgatory Chasm Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Gila National Forest. It doesn't name Purgatory Chasm Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Purgatory Chasm Trail is an easy hike in the Wilderness Ranger District of Gila National Forest in New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 1.26 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 189 feet, and it makes a short out-and-back trip from its low point at about 6,081 feet to a high of about 6,281 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Gila Hot Springs weather station show April highs around 73°F and October highs around 75°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 12 and 13 a month. Lake Roberts is just 0.1 mile away, and the Lake Roberts Boat Launch and Lake Roberts South Trail are each about 0.3 mile off. Spirit Canyon is about half a mile away.

Local outfitters

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

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

    Best time to visit Purgatory Chasm Trail

    Best months: April–May 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

      57° / 17°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    2. Feb

      60° / 22°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      66° / 25°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      73° / 30°

      2 wet

    5. May

      81° / 36°

      3 wet

    6. Jun

      90° / 44°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 53°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      87° / 53°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      83° / 45°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      75° / 33°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      65° / 24°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      56° / 18°

      5 wet · 1 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gila Hot Springs, NM, 11.8 mi away at 5,636 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors