New Mexico · Hiking

Upper Wills Cyn

6.4 mi
round trip
821 ft
climb
9,439 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Upper Wills Cyn 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.

Upper Wills Cyn is a 6.4-mile out-and-back hike in the Sacramento Ranger District of Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico, on Forest Service land. The trail climbs from a low of about 8,628 feet to a high of about 9,439 feet, with an elevation gain of 821 feet. The trail is a natural-surface route that allows both horses and bikes. It is rated hard, so plan for a steady effort over the course of the day. Late spring and early fall tend to be the most comfortable times to go. 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 more frequent wet days. Other trails lie close by, including the Upper Wills Canyon Alternate Trail (9278A), Corral Cyn and Thousand Mile Cyn. Apache Point Observatory Road is about 2.3 miles away.

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

    Best time to visit Upper Wills Cyn

    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, 12.4 mi away at 8,679 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

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