New Mexico · Hiking

Rim Trail

Rim TrailPhoto: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
9.8 mi
round trip
2,969 ft
climb
9,184 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Rim Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for Lincoln National Forest.

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

Rim Trail is an out-and-back hike in New Mexico's Lincoln National Forest, within the Sacramento Ranger District. The route is rated expert, and the total round-trip distance is about 19.6 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 2,969 feet. The trail's low point sits at about 7,639 feet, and its high point reaches about 9,184 feet, so the climb is substantial. For timing, the most comfortable stretch runs from late spring into early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Cloudcroft weather station put May highs around 66°F and September highs around 67°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 16 each month. The trail lies close to several other routes. Road Canyon is about 0.3 miles away, Apache Point Observatory Road about 0.5 miles, and Sunspot about 1.2 miles. Sacramento N. is about 1.6 miles from the Rim Trail.

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

    Best time to visit Rim Trail

    Best months: May–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

      42° / 19°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      45° / 22°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      51° / 26°

      6 wet

    4. Apr

      58° / 31°

      4 wet

    5. May

      66° / 38°

      5 wet

    6. Jun

      74° / 45°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      72° / 48°

      16 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 47°

      16 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 42°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 34°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      51° / 26°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 19°

      6 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cloudcroft, NM, 12.8 mi away at 8,679 ft. The station sits about 500 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.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors