Cowles Pond
Cowles Pond Trail is a 0.2-mile trail in Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico. The Forest Service rates it trail class 5, fully developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Santa Fe 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 | 35.8118° N, 105.6593° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 35.8101° N, 105.6595° 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
| Length | 0.2 miles, all of it evaluated accessible |
| Trail class | 5, fully developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material (hard) |
| Typical grade | 0-5 percent |
| Typical tread width | 36-48 inches |
| Minimum width | over 42 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | At least one segment meets Forest Service accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 323 |
| Forest | Santa Fe National Forest (unit 0310) |
| 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 05/01 to 09/30 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed |
| 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.
Trailheads
Winsor Ridge Trailhead No season published Pecos Wilderness Restrictions: Camping and campfires are prohibited in the following areas: Beatty’s Flats Pecos Falls within 50 feet of a trail, stream, or river within 200 feet of a lake All garbage and refuse must be packed out. Do not bury garbage or try to burn aluminum. Mechanized equipment (including chainsaws) is prohibited in Wilderness areas. Do not shortcut switchbacks on trails. Possessing, storing, or transporting any part of a tree or plant is prohibited, with the exception of dead and down wood for campfires. Do not tie horses to trees for more than 2 hours. Use highlines or pickets. The maximum group size for camping, hiking, or riding is 15 people, whether for day or overnight use. The maximum number of pack and saddle stock allowed in a group is 15. Camping for more than 14 consecutive days in one place is not allowed. Domestic goats and sheep are prohibited in the Pecos Wilderness in order to protect the bighorn sheep population from disease. Storing equipment or supplies is prohibited. | 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.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for New Mexico
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Cowles Pond Trail?
The Forest Service records 0.2 miles under this name in Santa Fe National Forest, the sum of 1 segment. All of it is evaluated as accessible.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Cowles Pond Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Cowles Pond Trail start?
The line begins at 35.8118° N, 105.6593° W and ends at 35.8101° N, 105.6595° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Winsor Ridge Trailhead, 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Cowles Pond Trail in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Cowles Pond Trail?
Cowles Campground (0.3 mi), Panchuela (1.3 mi) and Jacks Creek Horse Camp (1.6 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 7 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Cowles Pond Trail?
Trail class 5, which the Forest Service describes as fully 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 Cowles Pond Trail?
The typical grade is 0-5 percent. The typical tread is 36-48 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Cowles Pond Trail accessible?
The Forest Service has evaluated 0.2 miles of this trail as meeting its accessibility guidelines. The surface is native material.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Cowles Pond Trail?
Santa Fe National Forest, Forest Service unit 0310. The trail is in New Mexico.
Source
This page is built from 1 segment named Cowles Pond in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0310. 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.