Upper Gallina
- 5.2 mi
- round trip
- 1,486 ft
- climb
- 10,282 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Jun, Sep
- best months
Is Upper Gallina open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Santa Fe National Forest.
Road Conditions
Agency alert covering Santa Fe National Forest · USFS · Santa Fe National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Santa Fe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Upper Gallina is a 5.2-mile out-and-back hike in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness, part of the Coyote Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico. The trail rises from a low point of 8,781 feet to a high of 10,282 feet, a climb of 1,486 feet one way, and is rated moderate. The route is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail lies within designated wilderness. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Los Alamos show July highs around 74°F with lows near 45°F, though that station sits about 1,600 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The station also records more wet days in July and August, about 15 a month, while October brings highs near 57°F and fewer wet days. The hike is open from May 1 to November 1. Several other trails lie within a few miles, including Las Vacas Trail (51), San Jose and Rio Gallina. For an overnight base, Clear Creek Campground is about 10 miles away.
- Las Vacas Trail (51)Hiking1.7 mi
- San JoseHiking2 mi
- River TrailHiking2.4 mi
- Rio GallinaHiking2.5 mi
- Penas Negras Trail (32)Hiking2.6 mi
- AnastacioHiking2.8 mi
- Clear Creek CgCamping9.7 mi
- Clear Creek GcgCamping9.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Cdt - New Mexico SectionHiking · ~25 min drivePhoto: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- San JoseHiking · ~3 min drive
- Old Cecelia TrailHiking · ~5 min drive
- Las Vacas Trail (51)Hiking · ~3 min drive
- Rio GallinaHiking · ~4 min drive
- Vega RedondaHiking · ~8 min drive
- River TrailHiking · ~4 min drive
- LuceroHiking · ~5 min drive
- Rio Puerco Trail 385Hiking · ~9 min drive
- Penas Negras Trail (32)Hiking · ~5 min drive
Best time to visit Upper Gallina
Best months: May–June 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
36° / 9°
9 wet
Feb
38° / 12°
9 wet
Mar
44° / 20°
9 wet
Apr
52° / 25°
8 wet
May
62° / 32°
8 wet
Jun
72° / 39°
8 wet
Jul
74° / 45°
15 wet
Aug
71° / 43°
15 wet
Sep
66° / 35°
11 wet
Oct
57° / 26°
7 wet
Nov
45° / 17°
6 wet
Dec
36° / 9°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Los Alamos 13 W, NM, 26.8 mi away at 8,716 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.
