Hamilton Mesa
Hamilton Mesa Trail is an 11.6-mile trail in Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking and horse and pack stock. It enters Pecos Wilderness.
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 | 35.8337° N, 105.6553° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 35.9364° N, 105.5459° 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 | 11.6 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 | 249 |
| 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 06/01 to 09/30 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/01 to 09/30 (month/day) |
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
- Pecos WildernessFS · about 90% 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
Iron Gate Trailhead Open May to November, weather permitting · listed closed 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. | under 0.1 mi |
Jacks Creek Trailhead Open May to November, weather permitting · listed closed 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 Hamilton Mesa Trail?
The Forest Service records 11.6 miles under this name in Santa Fe National Forest, the sum of 1 segment.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Hamilton Mesa Trail?
Hiking and horse and pack stock 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 Hamilton Mesa Trail start?
The line begins at 35.8337° N, 105.6553° W and ends at 35.9364° N, 105.5459° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Iron Gate 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 Hamilton Mesa Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Pecos Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Pecos Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Hamilton Mesa Trail?
Jacks Creek Horse Camp (under 0.1 mi), Iron Gate Campground (under 0.1 mi) and Panchuela (0.5 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 Hamilton Mesa 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 Hamilton Mesa Trail?
The typical grade is 5-8 percent.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Hamilton Mesa Trail?
Santa Fe National Forest, Forest Service unit 0310. The trail is in New Mexico.
Source
This page is built from 1 segment named Hamilton Mesa 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.