The "Columbine/Hondo Wilderness Study Area" North of the Taos Ski Valley is a wild mountain basin boasting one of the healthiest mountain watersheds in the region. The trail system is diverse enough to offer a spectacular hiking experience for any fitness level. Gold Hill and Lobo Peak dominate the ridgeline at over 12,000'. Elevation gained, as measured from our trail heads, ranged to about 3600 vertical feet on both hikes. We managed to climb almost to Gold Hill on our August 13, 2005 day hike, and to the top of Lobo Peak on our October 1, 2005 hike.  Each day hike was a 13 mile loop hike starting and ending on State Highway 150 (the road to Taos Ski Valley). Contact the Carson Ranger District for trail options.

View from near Lobo Peak looking toward the Jemez Mountains.

Karen Grace with co-leader Kathleen Gruetzmacher (8/13/2005), and David Brown (10/1/2005), all of Los Alamos, lead these two great day hikes.  I had been in the area on many occasions in the past, but not on these particular loop hikes.  My last trip into this wilderness study area was a cross-country ski trip to the Bull of the Woods / Gold Hill yurt that Cosima and I did with Gracia Coffin and Don Gettemy during March of 2005 (see below for link).

The August trip was best for mushrooms and wildflowers, with Columbines, among others, in full bloom.  Our October trip was spectacular due to the golden aspens.  The March trip was a fantastic spring sking experience.  I highly recommend the "Columbine/Hondo Wilderness Study Area"!