Sunspot
Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 2.8 mi
- round trip
- 225 ft
- climb
- 9,204 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- best months
Is Sunspot open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for Lincoln National Forest.
Order# 03-08-26-002: Temporary Road Closure
Agency alert covering Lincoln National Forest · Order 03-08-26-002 · USFS · Lincoln National Forest
Current Fire Restrictions and Related Prohibitions
Agency alert covering Lincoln National Forest · USFS · Lincoln National Forest
Order# 03-08-02-26-001: Bluff Springs Temporary Closure on Sacramento Ranger District
Agency alert covering Sacramento Ranger District · Order 03-08-02-26-001 · USFS · Sacramento Ranger District
Order# 03-08-02-25-001: Sacramento Ranger District Area/ Dispersed Camping and Motor Vehicle Use
Agency alert covering Sacramento Ranger District · Order 03-08-02-25-001 · USFS · Sacramento Ranger District
InciWeb - for current incidents
Agency alert covering Lincoln National Forest · USFS · Lincoln National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Lincoln National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Sunspot is an easy out-and-back hike in the Sacramento Ranger District of Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico, about 2.8 miles long with a total elevation gain of 225 feet. The trail runs on natural surface and is open year-round, and the Forest Service manages the land. The route starts at a low point of about 9,042 feet and climbs to a high of about 9,204 feet. It is a short, low-effort walk, and the trail is open to both horses and bikes. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from the nearby Cloudcroft weather station 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 (105) and Apache Point Observatory Road both lie about 0.7 miles away, and Road Canyon is about 0.9 miles off. Cathey Cyn is roughly 1.3 miles away.
Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best time to visit Sunspot
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.
Jan
42° / 19°
6 wet
Feb
45° / 22°
6 wet
Mar
51° / 26°
6 wet
Apr
58° / 31°
4 wet
May
66° / 38°
5 wet
Jun
74° / 45°
9 wet
Jul
72° / 48°
16 wet
Aug
71° / 47°
16 wet
Sep
67° / 42°
10 wet
Oct
60° / 34°
6 wet
Nov
51° / 26°
5 wet
Dec
43° / 19°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cloudcroft, NM, 11.7 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.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Apache Point Observatory Road
~1 min drive
0.60-mile out-and-back trail to Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico.
Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Road Canyon
~1 min drive
Road Canyon is a 3.20-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 17 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Rim Trail
~2 min drive
9.82-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,553 ft elevation gain.
Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Dog Canyon Trail
~7 min drive
5.12-mile out-and-back hike in Dog Canyon, New Mexico with 1,000 ft gain.
Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Rim Trail
~1 min drive
1.46-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 553 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Cathey Cyn
~2 min drive
3.40-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 482 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Upper Wills Cyn
~5 min drive
6.36-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 546 ft elevation gain.
Photo: uıɐɾ ʞ ʇɐɯɐs, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Road Cyn Alt
~2 min drive
2.60-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 7 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
Sacramento N.
~2 min drive
3.00-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 210 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Hubbell Cyn
~7 min drive
8.80-mile out-and-back trail in New Mexico with 1,624 ft gain.
Route details
- Distance
- 2.8 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 225 ft
- Summit
- 9,248 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
Season
Season: Year-round.
Questions about this route
How long is the Sunspot on Sacramento Peak?
About 2.8 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Sunspot?
About 225 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Sunspot?
It is rated easy.
When is the best time for the Sunspot?
Year-round.
Conditions and forecast on Sacramento Peak
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
