Wheeler Peak & Wheeler Cirque New Mexico Hike Guide

Wheeler Peak is the highest mountain in New Mexico at just over 13,000ft. Although thousands of hikers each year summit Wheeler and call it a day, there is a much better route to be had after the state high point. Hikers looking for a great ridge scramble can tackle the Wheeler Cirque which consists of Simpson Peak continues past a few more 12,000footers, continues to Lake Fork Peak before ending at Kachina Peak in Taos Ski Area. This route is just about 10.5 miles and 4,500ft of climbing with loads of class 2 and class 3 hiking scattered throughout.

Wheeler Peak & Wheeler Cirque Quick Facts

Virtual Trail Guide: Wheeler Peak & Wheeler Cirque

Wheeler Peak & Wheeler Cirque Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)

Distance: 9 Miles RT (Wheeler Peak Only), 10.5 Miles RT (Wheeler Cirque)

Elevation Start: 11,050ft 

Highest Point: 13,159ft 

Total Elevation Gain: 4,500ft 

Estimated Time to Complete: 7-9 Hours RT

Difficulty: Difficult  What does this mean?

Class: Class 3+ – What does this mean? 

Season: May – November (expect snow outside of this period). 

Check the Weather Forecast

Directions to Wheeler Peak & Wheeler Cirque

Trailhead: Williams Lake TH

Getting Here: From Taos New Mexico, drive to Taos Ski Resort and continue on Kachina Road as it weaves through the neighborhoods and finally ends at Williams Lake TH which is well signed. 

Parking: There is a large parking area here with several portapotties located at the TH. This parking area will fill up on busy weekends since it serves for so many other activities so be sure to ge there early.

Fee: As of 2021, there is no fee to hike this one. 

Summary

Dogs: Wheeler Peak itself is dog friendly but I would not recommend Wheeler Cirque for any dog. 

Camping: The best camping for this hike are several dispersed spots along New Mexico 150 on your way to Taos. Don’t drive too close to the ski area though because spots disappear quickly. You can’t camp at the TH, but you can camp at Williams Lake about 3 miles into the hike if you were looking for a base camp. 

Make it a Loop: This hike is a loop. There is a variation which includes Mt Walter before Wheeler Peak which adds about 2-3 miles. 

Hike Tip(s): Give yourself plenty of time on this ridge, it’s 2-3 miles and extremely slow going. Additionally, after you have tackled Lake Fork Peak and are heading down towards Taos, stick to the ridge directly. There is a section after “Rich Peak” that appears to cliff out, but in reality it’s class 3 and is quite easy to find a line down. 

XFactor: Descent Route

Once you have finished Kachina Peak and enter Taos ski resort – there is a marked trail to get you back down to the parking area. However, it’s extremely primitive, steep and not well marked in all areas. Once you get down the first lift, just follow the service roads back to the start. 

Best Views: Once you get above treeline, which is quite early in the hike, views on Wheeler Peak & Wheeler Cirque are just A+ the entire time. My favorite spot was near the end of the ridge when hikers get a stunning view of a breathtaking high alpine lake. 

Wheeler Peak & Wheeler Cirque Hike Route

Gear Needed

• 14er Day Hike Packing List
• Men’s Trail Runners
• Women’s Trail Runners
• La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men’s)
• La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Women’s)
• Backpack
• Food & Water
• Optional: Climbing Helmet
• Optional: Garmin inReach
• Optional: Hiking Poles
• Optional: Headlamp
• Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
• Optional: Camera and Lens
• Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
• *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provi

My Trip to Wheeler Peak & Wheeler Cirque: September 2021

I had been wanting to head down to New Mexico for over a year but between COVID restrictions and other plans, it had been tough to find a good time. Finally, a perfect opportunity to hike Wheeler Peak came in the fall of 2021. I drove down and camped along the creek before Taos and woke up early to start up to New Mexico’s highest mountain. 

The hike to Wheeler was very straight forward and well marked with beautiful views along the way. Just don’t miss the split before Williams Lake and you are in good shape. Near the summit, I watched some mountain goats eat their breakfast and envied their simple lifestyle. After leaving the summit, Simpson Peak was very straight forward but that is where the fun began. The remaining ridge was a rollercoaster with lots of Class 2 and 3 scrambling. It was excellent hiking. Before gaining Kachina Peak and ending the traverse, there was a great class 3 section of downclimbing which might have been the most difficult of the entire hike. 

Wrapping up on the steep slopes and service roads of Taos Ski Area, the Wheeler Cirque was an excellent full day in the mountains with beautiful views and lots of fun scrambling. I would love to get back to New Mexico for more hiking, so let me know of any similar hikes in the comments below! 

Virtual Hike Guide: Wheeler Peak & Wheeler Cirque Hike Guide