Black Range Crest
Black Range Crest Trail is a 31.2-mile trail in Gila National Forest, New Mexico. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. It enters Aldo Leopold Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Gila National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 32.8239° N, 107.7742° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 33.1429° N, 107.8543° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 34 segments.
The trail
| Length | 31.2 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 5-8 percent |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| Trail numbers | 79 |
| Forest | Gila National Forest (unit 0306) |
| States | New Mexico |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed year-round |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Aldo Leopold WildernessFS · about 47% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
Emory Pass #79 Trailhead No season published | under 0.1 mi |
Board Gate Saddle #79 Trailhead No season published | under 0.1 mi |
McKnight #79 Trailhead No season published | under 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Juan Mesa
7 mi from the trail midpoint · 105 acres
- PrescribedRx Divide Well Piles Fy27
12 mi from the trail midpoint · 10 acres
- PrescribedRx Papa Road Piles Fy27
13 mi from the trail midpoint · 20 acres
- PrescribedRx Lincoln Canyon Piles Fy27
14 mi from the trail midpoint · 10 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for New Mexico
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Black Range Crest Trail?
The Forest Service records 31.2 miles under this name in Gila National Forest, the sum of 34 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Black Range Crest Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Black Range Crest Trail start?
The line begins at 32.8239° N, 107.7742° W and ends at 33.1429° N, 107.8543° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Emory Pass #79 Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Black Range Crest Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Aldo Leopold Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Black Range Crest Trail?
Iron Creek Campground (1.7 mi), Railroad Canyon Campground (2.4 mi) and Gallinas Campground - Upper (2.8 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 4 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Black Range Crest Trail?
Trail class 2, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Black Range Crest Trail?
The typical grade is 5-8 percent.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Black Range Crest Trail?
Gila National Forest, Forest Service unit 0306. The trail is in New Mexico.
Is there a fire near the Black Range Crest Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Juan Mesa at 7 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 34 segments named Black Range Crest in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0306. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.