Amole Group Shelter
Campground
Campground · 0.1 mi from the trail
New Mexico · Hiking · Near Arroyo Seco
South Loop
- 4.4 mi
- round trip
- 218 ft
- climb
- 8,491 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is South Loop open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Carson National Forest.
Current Prescribed Fire Activity and Plans
Agency alert covering Carson National Forest · USFS · Carson National Forest
Current Fire Restrictions and Related Prohibitions
Agency alert covering Carson National Forest · USFS · Carson National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Carson National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
South Loop is a 4.4-mile out-and-back hike on natural surface in the Camino Real Ranger District of Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico, managed by the Forest Service. It is a moderate route with a total elevation gain of 218 feet, climbing from about 8,278 feet to 8,491 feet. Bikes and horses are both allowed on the trail. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically June through September, when typical averages from a nearby weather station at Angel Fire run from highs in the mid-70s to around 69 degrees, with July and August the wettest at about 11 to 12 days of precipitation each month. Winter is cold and snowy, with highs near 38 degrees and about six snow days in January and February. Meadow Loop lies just 0.1 mile away and Hidden Loop about 0.3 mile off. Comales campground is about 2.2 miles away, and the Fire Wall climbing area is about 2.6 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Ranchos Plaza Grill
Restaurant
On your way back · 12 mi
If it rainsKhlnmusa, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Khlnmusa, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)
More in Arroyo SecoLocal outfitters
- Taos Mountain Outfitters15 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit South Loop
Best months: May–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°
6 wet · 6 snow
Feb
40° / 12°
7 wet · 6 snow
Mar
47° / 20°
7 wet · 6 snow
Apr
54° / 26°
6 wet · 4 snow
May
64° / 32°
7 wet · 1 snow
Jun
74° / 38°
7 wet
Jul
77° / 44°
11 wet
Aug
75° / 42°
12 wet
Sep
69° / 36°
9 wet
Oct
58° / 27°
6 wet · 1 snow
Nov
46° / 18°
4 wet · 3 snow
Dec
38° / 11°
5 wet · 5 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Angel Fire 1s, NM, 22.8 mi away at 8,500 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Lost Loop
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0.86-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 70 ft of elevation gain.
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Comales Trail (22)
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3.92-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 147 ft elevation gain.
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Gallegos Trail
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5.92-mile out-and-back hike in New Mexico with 1,940 ft elevation gain and loss.
