New Mexico peaks
New Mexico climbs
First Ascent Awards
1002 of 3,016 peaks 33%
Top climbing months
July 15%
August 12%
June 11%
New Mexico mountains highlights
- Wheeler Peak (13,161 ft) is the highest peak in New Mexico, and hiking to its summit requires crossing a boulder field, navigating steep switchbacks, and traversing a narrow ridgeline before reaching the summit.
- The Sandia Mountains are a popular hiking destination, with the most popular peak being Sandia Peak (10,378 ft), which can be reached via the Sandia Peak Tramway or by hiking the challenging La Luz Trail, which gains over 3,000 feet in elevation in just 7 miles.
- The Organ Mountains in southern New Mexico are known for their unique and dramatic rocky formations, with the most popular hike being to the summit of Organ Needle (8,990 ft), which involves a steep scramble up a rocky gully to reach the exposed summit block.
- The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains, and the most popular hike is to the summit of Mount Baldy (12,441 ft), which involves hiking along a scenic ridgeline and summiting the second highest peak in New Mexico.
- The Jemez Mountains are a volcanic range that is home to several popular hikes, including the summit of Chicoma Mountain (11,561 ft), which is the highest point in the range and requires a challenging cross-country ascent to reach its summit.
Latest climbs
"Pretty rare angles of the Jemez. From the top, the colors of the vegetation on the caldera floor are outstanding; it almost looked like an impressionist painting.
GPS elevation readout on summit: 10,398 ft." — chrisjohnston • Sep 26, 2026
"Planned a multi-day backpacking trip to snag this peak. Unfortunately the wettest weather in New Mexico in a long time had similar plans. Started the hike in the rain, then camped in the tree line near horseshoe lake. then it rained more that night. The next morning we went 2 miles up to the summit, then back to decamp, and down to our car (we were going to stay a second night at Lost Lake, but because of the wind and rain, opted for a hotel room instead. Despite the weather, this was a great hike and a great trip." — marc • Sep 17, 2026
"Although this was a pretty routine-feeling summer day after 10 am, the morning was clearly crisper than normal and there was no rain or storm in the forecast whatsoever. It really looked like the summer monsoon season was just out of steam.
The trail up to Mount Wheeler using the Summit Trail (#67) is extremely well-maintained, as expected. All class 1, no scrambling necessary on anything I covered. That being said, it was still a beater of a climb and once past Williams Lake, it flirted with 1,000 ft./mile more-or-less the entire remaining ascent. The views started at Williams Lake and were spectacular from then on; quite literally not a dull moment for the eyes. All angles of the cirque's eastern side could be viewed (and photographed) clearly, and there is a great view of Horseshoe Lake on the short traverse between Mt. Walter and it's north peak. It is well worth going to the northern peak of Mt. Walter (Peak 13,045'), as just about the entire Williams Lake cirque can be viewed from it (and no one was there so it is a quiet lunch spot, well away from the hustle and bustle on Wheeler Peak's summit). It was possibly the best view of the circque all day.
The erosion o..." — chrisjohnston • Sep 12, 2026
"Although this was a pretty routine-feeling summer day after 10 am, the morning was clearly crisper than normal and there was no rain or storm in the forecast whatsoever. It really looked like the summer monsoon season was just out of steam.
The trail up to Mount Wheeler using the Summit Trail (#67) is extremely well-maintained, as expected. All class 1, no scrambling necessary on anything I covered. That being said, it was still a beater of a climb and once past Williams Lake, it flirted with 1,000 ft./mile more-or-less the entire remaining ascent. The views started at Williams Lake and were spectacular from then on; quite literally not a dull moment for the eyes. All angles of the cirque's eastern side could be viewed (and photographed) clearly, and there is a great view of Horseshoe Lake on the short traverse between Mt. Walter and it's north peak. It is well worth going to the northern peak of Mt. Walter (Peak 13,045'), as just about the entire Williams Lake cirque can be viewed from it (and no one was there so it is a quiet lunch spot, well away from the hustle and bustle on Wheeler Peak's summit). It was possibly the best view of the circque all day.
The erosion o..." — chrisjohnston • Sep 12, 2026
"Although this was a pretty routine-feeling summer day after 10 am, the morning was clearly crisper than normal and there was no rain or storm in the forecast whatsoever. It really looked like the summer monsoon season was just out of steam.
The trail up to Mount Wheeler using the Summit Trail (#67) is extremely well-maintained, as expected. All class 1, no scrambling necessary on anything I covered. That being said, it was still a beater of a climb and once past Williams Lake, it flirted with 1,000 ft./mile more-or-less the entire remaining ascent. The views started at Williams Lake and were spectacular from then on; quite literally not a dull moment for the eyes. All angles of the cirque's eastern side could be viewed (and photographed) clearly, and there is a great view of Horseshoe Lake on the short traverse between Mt. Walter and it's north peak. It is well worth going to the northern peak of Mt. Walter (Peak 13,045'), as just about the entire Williams Lake cirque can be viewed from it (and no one was there so it is a quiet lunch spot, well away from the hustle and bustle on Wheeler Peak's summit). It was possibly the best view of the circque all day.
The erosion o..." — chrisjohnston • Sep 12, 2026