"This hikes starts among all the houses up past Taos Ski area. Follow the trail to Williams Lake and then take a left up the Wheeler Trail. Marmots and Big Horn Sheep were visible. Lightning prevented a summit that was 100 yards away. I was the tallest thing around and could have been easily struck as the Thunder and Lightning was moving in. " — UP • Oct 27, 2019

"Last year this same group hiked to the top of Mount Elbert, Colorado state highpoint, so this year during our trip we decided to head south to New Mexico and hike Wheeler Peak. Luckily, we didn't get an early start since we dealt with some clouds and wind on the ascent to the summit. We saw plenty of pika, marmot, and mule deer on the trip. Summit was socked in while we were on top, but cleared up as we headed over to Walter. During the descent we got our best weather of the day and great views before we got down below treeline again. Back to the car by 1:30pm If I remember correctly." — LGH-Tom • Aug 20, 2018

"Another sweet peak victory with LGHTom and our friend Matt from NY. We were socked in pretty much the entire way up, but things cleared up as we went over to Mt. Walter. Tons of wildlife up there! " — LGH-Dan • Aug 20, 2018

"Day 1: My daughter Christina came to town for a 2 week visit and we made plans to have a 3 day peakbagging and backpacking adventure. I originally planned for us to peakbag in the Pecos Wilderness, but fire restrictions closed the area. We decided to go to the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, home of the highest peak in New Mexico. We left the house at 5:00 AM, June 15, 2018. We drove to the town of Red River then went south on Highway 578 to the East Fork Parking area. We arrived at 8:20 and were hiking by 8:40. The starting elevation was 9630 and it was a cool clear morning. Christina brought her dog Bane along for the trip. I had a 34 pound pack and Christina had a 29 pound pack and Bane a little pack with food. New Mexico was in the middle of a drought, so I was surprised how lush and green everything was. We could hardly find a square meter that did not have wildflowers in it. We started hiking on Trail 56, later this turned into Trail 91. I have 2 speeds of hiking, one is a slow a pace, but I can do it all day without stopping. Then I have a “let’s move it” pace. I used the slow pace, and except for some standing pictures stops, we did not stop all the way until we reached our cam..." — Phil-Robinson • Jun 16, 2018

"The day of our ascent, there was a thunderstorm promised for later in the day, so we ascended faster than we would normally. Above the treelike, the wind increased dramatically, stealing the breath from you. On the summit ridge, it was extremely hard to walk as the gusts would knock you off balance with alarming regularity. We did successfully summit, and enjoyed the company of a chipmunk as we sat in the lee of the wind, once again celebrating our achievement with chocolate cigars!" — jenkinsrj@earthlink.net • Sep 22, 2017

"After climbing Guadalupe Peak, TX and Black Mesa, OK the last 2 days, today we made our way up to Wherler Peak via Bull-of-the-Woods trail. We made quick stops at BOTW Peak, Fraser Mountain & Walter Peak along the way. Took the Williams Lake trail down (with some perfect glissading). " — Kevin • Jun 4, 2017

"I reached the Taos Valley Ski road around 2 pm with a thunderstorm hitting Wheeler peak at that moment. I set up camp below the ski valley and had to wait only about half an hour for the storm to clear. I parked and began to hike to Williams Lake, then decided to try for Wheeler. I summited but quickly had to leave as a storm began to form just west of the mountain. I ran off the summit/ridge and got hailed on just a little, but fortunately there was no lightning. As quickly as the storm began to form, it broke up." — ZachTeich • Jul 3, 2016

"Took Bull-of-the-Woods trail up to Wheeler in order to hit Fraser and Walter as well. Really nice trail. Recommend breaking at the stream crossing before ascending back up toward Fraser. Once out of the tree line the views are plentiful. Descended by way of Williams Lake trail. LOTS of hikers out today, as it was a Saturday later in the season. " — aaronmcnany • Sep 19, 2015

"Night hiked starting at the Taos Ski Village, Bull of the Woods trailhead at 9pm. Hiked 4 miles up and made midnight camp on flat ridge line. Summit day was bluebird day. Hiked 12 miles in all and bagged Wheeler. Met a Ranger counting the bighorn herds. There were over 50 that day on the mountain and a herd of cows too. Lots of folks on the trail from Texas and a pair from New Mexico. Most except for 2 groups came up the 7 mi trail." — bill4reel • Jul 25, 2014

"Made the trip from Las Vegas, NV with 10 other friends from the Hiking Las Vegas hiking group, with the single objective of summitting New Mexico's highest peak, Wheeler. We took the Bull-of-the-Woods trail up, stopping at Bull-of-the-Woods Peak, Fraser Peak & Walter Peak on the way. It was an early season ascent & we did encounter quite a bit of snow on the way up, but nothing too difficult to cross. After Wheeler, we descended via Williams Lake Trail, but 1/2 way down the switchbacks, we encountered a LOT of really deep snow that went all the way down to the bottom. We decided to turn lemons into lemonade & had an impromptu butt-sliding session all the way to the bottom! It was definitely the quickest & funnest descent I've done! After that was the long slog back to our vehicles. What an amazing day! This was my 4th state high point in the last 4 years. Loved it! This is one of the best hikes I've done!" — Kevin • May 4, 2013