Mountain · 3 routes
Mount Walter
13,114 ft · New Mexico
- Summit
- 13,114 ft
- Routes
- 3 ways up
- Season
- March 15 – November 15
Routes up Mount Walter
- Wheeler SummitModerateabout 1,891 ft of climbing4.4 mi round tripSee the route
- Wheeler Peak Trail #90Expertabout 4,023 ft of climbing11.5 mi round tripSee the route
- Wheeler PeakExpertFrom Wheeler Peak Trailhead · about 3,645 ft of climbing8.2 mi round tripSee the route
| Wheeler Summit | Wheeler Peak Trail #90 | Wheeler Peak | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starts at | — | — | Wheeler Peak Trailhead |
| Climbing | About 1,891 ft | About 4,023 ft | About 3,645 ft |
| Round trip | 4.4 mi | 11.5 mi | 8.2 mi |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Expert | Expert |
| Terrain | Hike | Hike | Hike |
| Season | March 15 – November 15 | — | — |
About Mount Walter
Mount Walter is a summit in the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, part of the Questa Ranger District of Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico. The nearest town is Taos Ski Valley, about 2.3 miles away. The Wheeler Summit hike starts just 0.2 miles away. The Twining Blue Lake Pack Trail, Willams Lake and Lost Lake all lie within about a mile. For an overnight base, Twining campground sits roughly 2.9 miles off.
Forecast on Mount Walter
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.
Questions about Mount Walter
How tall is Mount Walter?
13,114 ft (3,997 m).
How many routes go to the summit of Mount Walter?
3: Wheeler Summit, Wheeler Peak Trail #90 and Wheeler Peak.
What is the shortest route up Mount Walter?
Wheeler Summit, about 4.4 mi round trip.
Where do the routes up Mount Walter start?
Wheeler Peak starts at Wheeler Peak Trailhead.
When is the best time to climb Mount Walter?
March 15 – November 15.
Mountains nearby
Wheeler Peak13,159 ft · New Mexico2 routes0.4 mi awayPhoto: Davishan99, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Simpson Peak12,971 ft · New Mexico1 route0.9 mi away
- Old Mike Peak13,105 ft · New Mexico2 routes1.2 mi away
- Fraser Mountain12,150 ft · New Mexico1 route1.7 mi away
- Lake Fork Peak12,879 ft · New Mexico1 route1.9 mi away
- Gold Hill12,698 ft · New Mexico1 route6.0 mi away
Facts about this place
Where it is
- Wheeler Peak Wilderness · Wilderness
- Questa Ranger District · Ranger district
- Carson National Forest · National forest
- Nearest town
- Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico · 2.3 mi
Source: Wilderness.net boundaries; USFS EDW boundaries; USGS GNIS populated places
Conditions
Active alerts for Questa Ranger District as of Oct 9, 2026:
Valle Vidal Camping Restrictions
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Annual Summer Closure of Wheeler Peak, Williams Lake, and Surrounding Area
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
Wheeler SummitHikingPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.2 mi
Twining Blue Lake Pack TrailHikingPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.9 mi- Willams LakeHikingPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)1 mi
- Lost LakeHiking1.1 mi
- TwiningCamping2.9 mi
- Goose Lake FishingLake fishing5.5 mi
- Cuchillo Del MedioCamping6.6 mi
- Lower HondoCamping7.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Is Mount Walter 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.
