LLAMA EXPEDITIONS
What we have here for you is the latest version of our catalog of expedition treks. We no longer put out a printed version as there is no way print can compete with the internet for ease of dissemination of information. In addition, this HTML version takes advantage of links to allow you to flip pages with your mouse...I love this computer stuff. If you have an affection for hard copies, feel free to print out any and all of these pages with our blessing. Browse through it and if you see an expedition that tickles your fancy, go for it. If you want some professional help in choosing or want an expedition tailor made, write us at the email address adventurer2008@elpaseollama.com make sure your spam controls will accept email from this address or call 1.800.455.2627 and we'll take care of you. El Paseo LLama does it right.
We have included an index called Level Of Effort (L.O.E.) which will help you choose. A L.O.E. of 1 is like a walk on the sidewalk...flat and smooth, while a L.O.E. of 10 is rough and steep, but hike-able. We will not expose you to technical conditions. The L.O.E. also takes into consideration the hiking skills needed and the stamina required and as a rule of thumb 1-4 is easier, for the novice hiker; 5-7 is moderate, for the intermediate hiker; 8-10 is strenuous, for the advanced hiker. Also listed is the elevation range of the hike and the length of the hike. These last two factors can vary as partial hikes are a possibility.
Expeditions usually start in early April and go until the end of November. At the beginning of the season, we trek in the lower mountains and the Wild Rivers Recreation Area of the Rio Grande Gorge and move into the higher mountains as the snow melts. In the Fall, we move back down to the lower elevations as the colder weather advances. For obvious reasons, some of the treks listed here will be subject to restrictions as to the part of the season they are available.
A word to the wise.
If you live near sea level (<5000 ft.) and in a part of the country that is flat, hiking or walking there is not the same as hiking at altitude in a 3-dimensional world. Get into shape before you leave home. If you skimp here, you will work harder on your trek and have less fun. If you have a knee condition, let us know and we will help you avoid discomfit on your trek. Consult the section on physical conditioning for more details.
On this page you'll find these expeditions:
2 Day / 1 Night Expeditions
On the first day, camp is pitched after lunch. On the second day, camp is struck after lunch for the return hike. In between, you can hike, explore, hang out or play as your heart desires. See 2 Day Expeditions for more details.
Kids can Ride.This is a selection of trails that can be used for two day expeditions. Clicking on the link will take you to the Day Hike page for a description.
CHILDREN
TOO SMALL TO HIKE |
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3 Day / 2 Night Expeditions
A good time was had by all.
On the first day we hike to a campsite and pitch camp. The middle day is available for a day hike, exploration, hanging out or we can hike to another campsite after striking camp. On the third day camp is struck and we hike to the trailhead. See 3 Day Expeditions for more details
This is a selection of trails that can be used for three day expeditions. Clicking on the link will take you to the Day Hike page for a description.
GOOSE LAKE ** FISHING**
LONG CANYON 2, 3 & 4… Combines all three
The following are additional three day expeditions
DRY FORK: L.O.E. 1-4, 7800-10000 (2200 ft.), 5 miles each way. The trail into Dry Fork has vanished from the maps and almost from the face of the earth. Because the old maps put the trail in incorrectly, it took me two years to find it and to do that, I had to drop into the canyon from the ridge and hike down the trail to its starting point. The campsite is in a meadow surrounded by Aspens and has access to rarely visited areas and wildlife.
GOOSE LAKE: L.O.E. 1-5, 8600-11,700 (3100 ft) 6 miles each way. A wonderful hike up Goose Creek Canyon past old mining sites and log cabins takes us to a campsite next to Goose Lake close to the tree line and a short distance from 12,700 ft. Gold Hill. We did this one last year and loved it.
HIDDEN VALLEY: L.O.E. 1-5, 7800-10400 (2600 ft), 6½ miles each way. Very few people know of this place and fewer use it. Stunning scenery surround a meadow with a babbling brook. This is a spot that is out of the way with a secret entrance. Access to old growth forest, turn of the century deserted miner's log cabin, alpine lake, and mountain peaks. Because this meadow sees so little use, it is the definition of pristine. A winner!!
HORSESHOE & LOST LAKES: L.O.E. 1-4, 9600-11800 (2200 ft), 6 miles each way. The hike follows the East Fork trail to a campsite between the two lakes, both of which are easily accessible. The lakes have Cutthroat trout in abundance. Plenty of time to fish or explore the alpine terrain. Bring the binocs to view the Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Mule Deer Marmots, Pica and all the many bird species near the tree line. ****FISHING****
RED RIVER TO AMIZETTE: L.O.E. 1-7, 7800-11700 (3900 ft), 10 miles. This is a great thru hike. Starting at the Red River, we make the ascent to Columbine Meadow on the first day. The second day we strike camp and hike up to and along the ridge until we can drop into Gavilan Canyon where we pitch camp. On the third day, we strike camp and hike down Gavilan canyon to Amizette which was a turn of the century mining camp.
The reverse trek is also possible. Starting in Amizette, we hike up to the ridge and down into the Columbine meadow where we pitch camp. The middle day is a hike on the Cow Lake trail. On the third day, we strike camp and hike down Columbine Canyon to the trailhead.
A variation that adds five miles along the ridge on the second day will take us to the Taos Ski Valley via Long Canyon. Again, the reverse trek is also possible.
WHEELER PEAK: L.O.E. 1-5, 9600-13161 (3561 ft), 6 miles each way. A variation on the Horseshoe & Lost Lake trek (above). Instead of fishing on the middle day, we hike to the highest point in New Mexico and back to our camp nestled in the spruce ( 2 1/2 miles each way ). The natural wonders of this aerie renew the soul.
WILLOW FORK: L.O.E. 1-5, 7800- 10400 (2600 ft), 5 miles each way. The hike in is mostly easy but crosses the stream several times so that Tevas are needed. Willow Fork is a remote high mountain meadow with a grandstand view of the ridges surrounding it. The campsite is blessed with a babbling brook. We did this one for two appreciative parties last year.
Taos Valley is 5000 ft. below Lobo Peak.
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4 Day / 3 Night Expeditions
Four-day expeditions offer endless possible variations. They can be designed as a loop or a point to point trek. Or a base camp can be established and day hikes taken from that point. Lay over days to watch the world go by can be arranged as a part of the trek. All of the following expeditions can be modified to suit your needs or tastes, e.g. , any of these treks can be changed to Goose Lake and the Goose Creek Trail on the third and fourth days. Sign up and we will make your expedition the one you want. The trail system in these mountains is interwoven and because El Paseo LLama Expeditions knows the hidden and little used trails, you can see wilderness that few others have seen. Pristine means getting off the beaten trail. See 4 to 8 Day Expeditions for more details.
The following are a partial selection of possible four day expeditions. Clicking on the links will take you to the Day Hike page for a description of the trail.
COLUMBINE CANYON BASE CAMP: L.O.E. 1-4, 7800-10600 (2800 ft), up to 18 miles over 4 days. An easy ascent the first day to Columbine meadow where we establish a base camp. Each day we are there, we do a day hike on one of the trails that radiate out from this spot. We get to see a lot of the mountains without the process being too demanding... to say nothing of spending time in this gorgeous meadow. This is one of our most requested treks.
COLUMBINE CANYON TREK : L.O.E. 1-7, 7800-12200 (4400 ft), 25 miles. An easy ascent the first day (Columbine Canyon). A side trip on the Cow Lake trail the second day. The third day an ascent to the ridge line above the tree line and a hike along the ridge to Placer Fork and a descent to 10800 ft. and camp (Willow Fork is an option at this point). The fourth day is a hike down Placer Fork ( or Willow Fork).
LOBO PEAK / COLUMBINE: L.O.E. 1-9, 7800-12100 (4300 ft), 16 miles. The first day is the Yerba Canyon 1 hike. The second day is the Yerba Canyon 2 hike with the afternoon open. The third day is a 6-mile easy hike along the ridge separating the Hondo and Columbine Canyons (all above 11000 ft.) ending in the meadow at the top of Columbine Canyon. As a possible variation, we could hike from Yerba Canyon to Columbine Canyon on the second day, leaving the third day for a layover or a day hike on the Cow Lake or Dry Fork Trails. The fourth day is partly open with the hike out in the afternoon (See Columbine Canyon).
Note: Treks that involve extensive ridge travel will be modified if thunderstorms are likely to appear or if un-melted snow remains in sufficient amounts.
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5 Day / 4 Night Expeditions
All of the 4-day treks listed above can be extended to 5 days by the inclusion of a side trip or a lay over day in the itinerary. See 4 to 8 Day Expeditions for more details.
The following are a partial selection of possible five day expeditions. Clicking on the links will take you to the Day Hike page for a description of the trail.
RIDGELINE TREK: L.O.E. 1-7, 8400-12700 (4300 ft), 30 miles. The ascent is in San Cristobal Canyon to the ridge. The hike follows the ridge to Lobo Peak and from there to Gold Hill and down Deer Creek Canyon. A variety of camp sites are possible including God's Cockpit. Water is limited on the ridge so we will have to drop into a side canyon at some point to replenish.
PRISTINE
CAMPSITES |
RED RIVER TO COLUMBINE TREK: L.O.E. 1-7, 7800-12600 (4900 ft), 24 miles. Ascent is the Goose Creek trail to Goose Lake. We take the short climb to Gold hill and down to Placer Fork or Willow Fork on the second day. The third day we follow either Placer fork or Willow Fork and Columbine Canyon to Columbine Meadow. The fourth day we hike the Cow Lake trail and the fifth day we hike out Columbine Canyon. (Other variations are possible, call us.)
WEST TO EAST TREK: L.O.E. 1-7, 8700-12600 (4900 ft.), 20 miles. The ascent is in San Cristobal Canyon on the first day. On the second day, we hike over the ridge and follow the Cabin and Cow Lake Trails to Columbine Meadow. Day three is a layover day. The fourth day we hike to Willow Fork and on the fifth day, we climb over the ridge and descend Long Canyon.
LLAMAS MAKE THESE EXPEDITIONS POSSIBLE |
Hiking the ridge above Long Canyon looking toward Gold Hill.
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6 to 8 Day Expeditions
With expeditions of this length, we like to start a dialog with you to see what your desires and needs are. This allows us to pick a series of trails that will satisfy you and not overtax your physical resources. . See 4 to 8 Day Expeditions for more details
The following are a selection of six to eight day expeditions. Clicking on the links will take you to the Day Hike page for a description of the trail.
WHEELER PEAK AND BEYOND: L.O.E. 1-5, 9000-13161 (4161 ft.), 27 miles. The initial portion of this trek is follows the East Fork and Lost Lake trails to Wheeler Peak. We continue along the Ridge Trail to La Cal Basin and Bull of the Woods and hike the Gold Hill Trail to Long Canyon. This occupies the first three days. The fourth day is a day of exploring in the Long Canyon and Gold Hill area and/or rest as desired. On the fifth day we can hike to Goose Lake, Placer Fork or Deer Creek. On the sixth day we hike to the trailhead. This gem of a trek can easily be extended to seven or eight days.
LAKE FISHING TOUR: L.O.E. 1-6, 9000-12400 (3400 ft.), 27 miles. On the first day we hike to Deer Run Canyon. On the second day fishing Horseshoe and/or Lost Lakes is what we do. The third day, we hike to Middle Fork Lake and on the fourth day, more fishing. On the fifth day, we hike to Goose Lake. On the sixth day, yup… more fishing. The seventh day, we hike to the trailhead. Add another day of fishing at one of the lakes and it’s eight days. Wow!
OVER THE HILLS & THROUGH THE WOODS… L.O.E. 1-7. 7800-12700 (4900 ft.) 32 miles. We ascend San Cristobal Canyon on the first day. The second day, we climb the ridge and hike the ridge to Lobo Peak and camp at God’s Cockpit. The third day we hike the ridge and drop down the Cabin and Cow Lake trails to Columbine Meadow. The fourth day is a lay over day. On the fifth day, we ascend to the ridge and follow it to Long Canyon. The sixth day is a day hike to Gold Hill and on the seventh day we hike out. We did this trek a few years ago and we didn’t see another person’s boot print until the fifth day… it was awesome.
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Drop Camps
Want to pitch a camp and spend a some time relaxing in the high mountain air? If you have the know-how and all your own gear and only require transport to your campsite, we can Drop Camp you, your gear and supplies at the campsite of your choice and come back and pick you up at the end of your sojourn. Drop camps can go to any of the above mentioned spots. We'll even help you pick the just right spot for your camp and give you all the info about water and local trails and sights to see. Rates vary according to your needs and the distances involved. Email to adventurer2008@elpaseollama.com *make sure your spam controls will accept email from this address or call 1.800.455.2627 and we'll get you on your way to the campsite of your dreams.
CHILDREN
TOO SMALL TO HIKE |
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