Hermit's Peak
Hermit's Peak
5
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Mountainous area behind Santa Fe known for its scenic beauty and trout fishing.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles4 reviews
Excellent
3
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Panman78
Midland, TX64 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Solo
Being near Hermit's Peak for 30 years, I've hiked it twice, with last week being the second time at 38 years old. This description is based on starting at the beginning of trail 223 beginning at the campsite shown on the map, to the top being a 4.5 mile hike, down to Hermit's cave being about another 3/8ths of a mile, back to the top, then back down the 4.5 mile trail totaling about 10 miles in all after you look around a bit.

Awesome shape: If you are an experienced hiker and hike fast, acclimated to altitude up to 10,000', are in great shape, then from the bottom to the top on trail you are looking at about 2 to 2 1/2 hours up, non-stop, and 2 hours down.

If you are like me, ok shape, smoke 3 packs a week, but workout 2-3 times a week, I did it in 3 hours pushing it, but I spent 30 minutes on the way up sucking wind and stopping for 3 and 4 minutes a lot trying to get my breath back. You can feel the oxygen leave you, and your legs begin not to work. I had to stop till I got my oxygen levels back, then go again on the next switchback. Made it down in 2 hours, but that was pushing it too. If I had to do it again, I'd be a 3 1/2 hours up guy, and it would take 2 1/2 hours to get down.

Decent shape, a little on the less in shape side, expect about 4 hours up and 3 hours down. A lot of breaks on the switchbacks getting your oxygen.

Worse than decent shape; I'll do you a favor and tell you not to do it! You'll get half way up and wonder how you're going to make it down. You'll be sucking wind, your feet will get torn up, and is rocky as the trail is, you won't like it.

Overall experience, it is almost a 3 mile hike on rugged rock just to get to the base of the mountain, then a mile up on switchbacks stepping on every rock God ever created, then you will reach a water well on top, from there having about a half a mile walk up a slight incline to the main look out. It is a beating, but the top is cool. People also camp up top, but keep in mind if you do so, weather can always be brutal on top of a mountain, dropping below freezing even in summer months if you get enough cool down, or the wind will drive you crazy.
When approaching the main lookout on the peak, if you follow a trail that runs to the southeast for about 3/8ths of a mile, you can go to Hermits cave. The trail goes down about 150 feet, so you have to climb back up, but it's there. Try not to go down the mountain from Hermit's cave. You will fall off the cliff and die.
If you hang around the top, on clear days you can see as far as Ruidoso south, Colorado northeast, and maybe some other places. It's a beautiful view, take it in, because after the hike down, you are probably going to tell yourself you will never do it again. IT IS AN ENDLESS TRAIL OF ROCKS, and if it were easy, everyone would do it. There is a well on top, the water tastes great, but make sure you take a minimum of 3 or 4 bottles of water depending on weather; that's a minimum.

Enjoy!

NP
Written October 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Byron M
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016 • Family
Not for the feeble. This trail is full of rocks. Hiking boots and plenty of water are required. Breathtaking view on top!
Written July 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cody M
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2014 • Friends
http://youtu.be/YlyxU4qpcTw?list=UUJP-fRMHOqgPR_tY_BMH_Lw
that is a link to the video we took on the hike.
took us about 3 hours to get to the top. the trail is pretty clearly marked.
We made the hike mid june it was almost 90 degrees at the bottom and we got hailed on at the top.
Written August 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

leo42
ft worth,Tx1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I can not say to much about our trip to To Hermits Peak, First of all its elevation is 10,500 feet. We left Fort Worth,Tx in July of 2005 headed to Taos N.M, It was not the fastest route but we wanted to see some back country, We drove to Las Vegas, N.M. then took Hwy. 518 towards Taos. As we drove along, the road begin to climb and wind severely and then to our suprise there was snow everywhere, Snow was up to the roofs of the hunting cabins and as we reached the top we pulled over to take some pictures but the road was very narrow, there was hardly any traffic but we were afraid to stand in the road too long, So we didn't get all the pictures we wanted. There are different roads to Hermits Peak but I find that Hwy. 518 from Las Vegas N.M. to Taos is the best scenic route.
Written July 31, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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HERMIT'S PEAK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Hermit's Peak