Rio Puerco
- 2.0 mi
- round trip
- 305 ft
- climb
- 9,244 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Jul, Sep
- best months
Rio Puerco is a 2-mile out-and-back hike in the Coyote Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises about 305 feet from a low point of 8,921 feet to a high of 9,244 feet, and it is rated hard. The route is on natural surface, and bikes are not allowed. The most comfortable stretch for a visit runs from June through September, when typical averages from the Wolf Canyon weather station, about 10 miles away, reach highs in the mid-70s and lows in the mid-30s. That station sits roughly 1,000 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Several other trails lie within a couple of miles, including Rio Puerco Trail 385, Corralitos Trail and Highline Trail (385). For an overnight stay, Coyote Canyon campground is about 6.6 miles away.
- Rio Puerco Trail 385Hiking1.8 mi
- Corralitos TrailHiking2 mi
- Highline Trail (385)Hiking2.1 mi
- CorralitosHiking2.3 mi
- Coyote CanyonCamping6.6 mi
- Rio De Las Vacas CampgroundCamping7.1 mi
- Clear Creek CgCamping7.6 mi
- Rio de las VacasCanoeing9.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Climbing trailHiking · ~20 min drivePhoto: snowpeak, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Rio Puerco Trail 385Hiking · ~3 min drive
- PerchasHiking · ~7 min drive
- Backcountry Driving RouteHiking · ~20 min drive
- Corralitos TrailHiking · ~3 min drive
- Vega RedondaHiking · ~4 min drive
- Rio Capulin Trail (31)Hiking · ~7 min drive
- Highline Trail (385)Hiking · ~4 min drive
- PalomasHiking · ~7 min drive
- Upper Clear CreekHiking · ~10 min drive
Best time to visit Rio Puerco
Best months: May–July and September. 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
38° / 9°
7 wet · 7 snow
Feb
40° / 13°
6 wet · 6 snow
Mar
48° / 19°
6 wet · 5 snow
Apr
56° / 24°
5 wet · 3 snow
May
65° / 30°
5 wet · 1 snow
Jun
75° / 37°
5 wet
Jul
77° / 44°
12 wet
Aug
75° / 43°
13 wet
Sep
69° / 36°
8 wet
Oct
59° / 27°
6 wet · 1 snow
Nov
47° / 18°
5 wet · 4 snow
Dec
38° / 10°
7 wet · 7 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Wolf Canyon, NM, 9.6 mi away at 8,220 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
