New Mexico · Hiking

Road Canyon

Road CanyonPhoto: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
3.2 mi
round trip
1,341 ft
climb
9,099 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Road Canyon 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.

Road Canyon is a moderate out-and-back hike in the Sacramento Ranger District of Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico, about 3.2 miles long with a total elevation gain of 1,341 feet. The trail's low point sits at 7,744 feet and the high at 9,099 feet, so the climb makes up about a third of the route. The trail is on natural surface and is open to horses and bikes. It is managed by the Forest Service, and the land is listed as a national forest unit. The trail is open year-round. Late spring and early fall tend to be the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the Cloudcroft weather station, about 12.5 miles away, show May highs around 66°F and October highs around 60°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 16 each month. The Rim Trail lies about 0.3 miles away, and the Apache Point Observatory Road is about 0.4 miles away. Sunspot is about 0.9 miles off, and the Road Cyn Alt route is about 0.8 miles away.

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

    Best time to visit Road Canyon

    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, 12.5 mi away at 8,679 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.