Truchas Peaks?

[Above_Treeline]

I have never heard of Santa Barbara being an issue for vandalism, but haven't looked at it again since we did our Truchas loop 2 years ago. So unless something changed in the last 2 years, I would be comfortable with SB. Its concessionaire operated so they have a financial interest to keep it safe: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/carson/ ... ecid=44086

Borrego Mesa has a note on the FS page that the restoom is closed and that the facility had vandalism, I am assuming they mean the restroom was vandalized? https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/santafe ... ecid=75608

The Rio Quemada trail sheet from the FS has a note about "higher than average incidence of vandalism to vehicles in this area". (You need to click on and download the Word file): https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/santafe ... &actid=104

Yeah, I saw that on the Borrego Mesa site. was hoping things had improved. Said the campground was used by locals for picnicking, lol, which I wondered about. I hope they have a nice picnic. Apparently there is 2wd access to a campground in the area, according to Espanola district. May be Borrego Mesa

The report on the link that still worked on summitpost had them coming in from the S past Pecos Baldy or something. I need to read your TR and see how far from Santa Barbara Campground it is to Truchas or N. Truchas. Sounds like a really good trip!

[Above_Treeline]

FWIW, I have tried to contact the Land Grant president a couple of times to request permission but haven't gotten any answer or any call back. I have spoken to ranger stations in the nearby areas, and I'm confident that I have correct name and phone number to call...best of luck to you and hope you are able to get permission!! This info may be helpful to you, I am not sure how accurate the mileages are but found that in some report online as I was digging for info...

Truchas Land Grant
Contact: Wilford Romero
505.351.4250

Start odometer at the Post Office on the N. side of the road shortly after entering Truchas.

At Mile 2 the Pavement turns to dirt.

At Mile 3.2 take the right fork 100 yards after cattle guard.

At Mile 4.7 go straight, do not turn right into land grant.

At Mile 5.1 go straight, do not turn right into land grant.

At Mile 6.8 the road will make a right hand turn and enter the land grant.

At Mile 8.3 take a right at the ' T ' intersection.

At Mile 8.5 take a left at the ' Y ' intersection and proceed uphill.

Trailhead is at Mile 9.7.

I had wondered if the land grant even wanted hikers there. Unfortunately, the Espanola ranger station told me you can't drive through the land grant, you have to walk now. But you can walk across, apparently.

Thanks for the info, though, you are considering going, as well?

[Chicago Transplant]

Santa Barbara to North Truchas is like 12 miles each way. We camped about 10 miles in near No Fish Lake, that was tracked on the GPS but I forgot to turn it on for summit day, so I don't know what the peak stats were beyond that. Sorry I can't be a bigger help on that front. The first 6 or 7 miles of trail are really flat and go quickly.

[Above_Treeline]

Santa Barbara to North Truchas is like 12 miles each way. We camped about 10 miles in near No Fish Lake, that was tracked on the GPS but I forgot to turn it on for summit day, so I don't know what the peak stats were beyond that. Sorry I can't be a bigger help on that front. The first 6 or 7 miles of trail are really flat and go quickly.

Yeah I think it was about the same, on the report I saw coming in from the S:

http://www.surgent.net/highpoints/nm/truchas.html

Looks like that had some flat sections too, so maybe not too bad. I need to get my backpacking gear figured out, I guess.

[Above_Treeline]

I need to see if I can figure out what's what, but here are some overlapping photos of the Truchas Peaks area taken from above serpent lake. So you can maybe see why I'm interested. Much more impressive in person. If someone knows which peaks these are,let me know

[Matt]

I'd bet that no one will mess with your car at Serpent Lake or at Cowles.
I lived in NM (near Pecos) for many years and never had issues at either of those trailheads--probably 50 days spent in Cowles.
I couldn't ever find someone to do it with me from Truchas. No one wants to lose their car or worse. This area is the opium growing capital of the southwest and the families who've been there for centuries don't like outsiders.
Personally, I don't get why you just don't do it from Cowles (Jack's Creek).
My TR from there https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... m=tripmine has a little background on why the Truchas route isn't good for non-land grant Spanish families. Laugh at us all you want. We had fun.

[Above_Treeline]

I'd bet that no one will mess with your car at Serpent Lake or at Cowles.
I lived in NM (near Pecos) for many years and never had issues at either of those trailheads--probably 50 days spent in Cowles.
I couldn't ever find someone to do it with me from Truchas. No one wants to lose their car or worse. This area is the opium growing capital of the southwest and the families who've been there for centuries don't like outsiders.
Personally, I don't get why you just don't do it from Cowles (Jack's Creek).
My TR from there https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... m=tripmine has a little background on why the Truchas route isn't good for non-land grant Spanish families. Laugh at us all you want. We had fun.

Great report, very entertaining! Sounds like you enjoyed it!

I thought it was interesting (or fishy) that I needed permission for the land grant, but vandals went in & tore up cars. Wondered what was going on there. Also wondered if there might be some insular locals there.

So do the land grant families grow the opium, or has that gotten in somehow, otherwise? Where is the opium grown, all over or mostly just Espanola area? Too bad, the bowl up quemado creek looks interesting. Any interpretation as far as his car getting torn up in Questa area? Weird, we drove through Questa. Interesting looking peaka up 522.

Serpent lake TH looks like it's set up for horse trailers, I guess. Poles and long looking parking areas. So I'm wondering if that's been cleaned up?

I don't have a tent, and have an issue with my backpack right now, so I'd have to get that figured out, before going from jacks. Was looking at hiking Hamilton Mesa this trip though, on trail 25. New Mexico is great!

[Above_Treeline]

Possibly another way to get there. Summitpost claims it's safe, especially compared to Borrego Mesa etc. Trampas lakes

https://www.summitpost.org/view_object. ... _id=173461

[TravelingMatt]

I have heard tales of vandalism at the Quemado trailhead, as many people have stated in various posts over the years. Apparently it goes through a land grant and you need permission from the president of the land grant. No permission and you will risk vandalism, but even with it, who knows? If the vandal doesn't know you have permission... so why risk it. I have also heard its high clearance 4WD, has parking for 2 cars with no place to turn around and has really confusing roads that don't follow the maps. Sounds like a nightmare.

Back in 2009, I called the landowner and left a message. A couple days later he called me back and gave me permission. All of the numbers I would have possibly left with him had 312 area codes, so he wasn't turned off by some city slicker coming out to New Mexico to climb his mountain. Anyway, I got to the trailhead and climbed Truchas without incident, although I did make a wrong turn trying to get there. It was a nice outing otherwise.

Can't speak to others' experiences or how it is today. Although I have been on summits in NM that were on national forest land (and whose approach was 100% NF, and to which I drove on a USFS road) and told by putative "natives" to GTFO "their" mountain. New Mexico can be like that.

[dfeezell]

I hiked North Truchas Peak in 2014 from Trampas Lakes. We didn’t have any trouble with our car and there were a couple other cars at the trailhead that were fine. Saw some locals on ATVs, but they didn’t bother us. There was still a bit of an anti-outsider vibe, but Trampas is generally considered “safe,” at least for the Truchas Peaks area. The trailhead is down a long dirt road, so it is pretty isolated and if anything negative went down, you would be on your own.

Jack’s Creek approach from the south is a viable alternative, but you have to put in over 20 miles round trip to climb any of the Truchas Peaks. That being said, it’s a beautiful approach. I also felt like the northern approach from Santa Barbara campground was safe too and also beautiful. I didn’t have any issues there and it’s a pretty heavily used area. I don’t personally know any NM hikers who have recently accessed the Truchas Peaks from either Rio Quemado or Borrego Mesa. Nobody I know wants to risk it. Hope that helps!

[quattordesch]

I did Truchas Peak as part of a three-day backpacking trip from Jack's Creek last summer. I cannot speak to the other trailheads, but Jack's Creek was busy and had no signs of vandalism. Left the car for 2 nights and had no issues. The hike in is very nice and worth it if you have the time. PM me if you want more details.

[Above_Treeline]

I have heard tales of vandalism at the Quemado trailhead, as many people have stated in various posts over the years. Apparently it goes through a land grant and you need permission from the president of the land grant. No permission and you will risk vandalism, but even with it, who knows? If the vandal doesn't know you have permission... so why risk it. I have also heard its high clearance 4WD, has parking for 2 cars with no place to turn around and has really confusing roads that don't follow the maps. Sounds like a nightmare.

Back in 2009, I called the landowner and left a message. A couple days later he called me back and gave me permission. All of the numbers I would have possibly left with him had 312 area codes, so he wasn't turned off by some city slicker coming out to New Mexico to climb his mountain. Anyway, I got to the trailhead and climbed Truchas without incident, although I did make a wrong turn trying to get there. It was a nice outing otherwise.

Can't speak to others' experiences or how it is today. Although I have been on summits in NM that were on national forest land (and whose approach was 100% NF, and to which I drove on a USFS road) and told by putative "natives" to GTFO "their" mountain. New Mexico can be like that.

Great to hear from someone who made it in from that side! So you made it all the way to the TH? What kind of vehicle is needed?

I thought about it yesterday, and I've had trouble around here. Someone seemedto be breaking in to the vehicle while we were fishing, and another time someone tried to burn my truck, apparently. Not much heroin, i dont think, but plenty of meth. Always something.

That gives me an idea: stay in Espanola, and have the motel, airbnb, etc call. A bit of luck and you might end up with someone he knew. Could help.

I hiked North Truchas Peak in 2014 from Trampas Lakes. We didn’t have any trouble with our car and there were a couple other cars at the trailhead that were fine. Saw some locals on ATVs, but they didn’t bother us. There was still a bit of an anti-outsider vibe, but Trampas is generally considered “safe,” at least for the Truchas Peaks area. The trailhead is down a long dirt road, so it is pretty isolated and if anything negative went down, you would be on your own.

Jack’s Creek approach from the south is a viable alternative, but you have to put in over 20 miles round trip to climb any of the Truchas Peaks. That being said, it’s a beautiful approach. I also felt like the northern approach from Santa Barbara campground was safe too and also beautiful. I didn’t have any issues there and it’s a pretty heavily used area. I don’t personally know any NM hikers who have recently accessed the Truchas Peaks from either Rio Quemado or Borrego Mesa. Nobody I know wants to risk it. Hope that helps!

Thanks for the info. Yes, Jacks creek looks good, but yeah, 20+miles doesn't appeal to me. Interesting to know nobody wants to risk it at Borrego Mesa etc. So I guess
Trampas, Santa Barbara, and Jack''s Creek are about as safe as it gets?

I did Truchas Peak as part of a three-day backpacking trip from Jack's Creek last summer. I cannot speak to the other trailheads, but Jack's Creek was busy and had no signs of vandalism. Left the car for 2 nights and had no issues. The hike in is very nice and worth it if you have the time. PM me if you want more details.

Pm sent. Good to know, I would think that th is used a lot by people from Santa Fe and stays pretty safe.