Quemazon Trail

Quemazon Trail is a hard hike in the Espanola Ranger District of Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 12.6 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 2,524 feet, taking you from a low point of 7,420 feet to a high of 9,850 feet. The trail is on natural surface and allows bikes, so it works for hikers and riders alike. The open season runs from May 15 to October 15, and the most comfortable stretch for a visit is typically late spring through early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Los Alamos, which sits about 1,100 feet lower, show June highs around 72°F and September highs around 66°F, with July and August bringing the most wet days. Several other routes start close by. Guaje Canyon Trail (282) is just 0.1 mile away, and Valle de los Posos Trail is about half a mile off. Pajarito Nordic, a cross-country ski area, is 0.7 mile away, and the Mitchell Trail Area climbing area is about 3.7 miles away.