Backpacking the High South San Juan Plateau

Let's get out and backpack into the wilderness!

This will be an easy 3-night backpack to the high country of the South San Juan Plateau. Our camp will be at a pond nestled in the trees in the vicinity of Red Lake, giving us some privacy away from the more frequented lake. The trailhead is off a dirt road between Cumbres and La Manga pass, at an altitude of 10,980 feet. We will hike in approximately 3 miles, reaching an altitude of 11.735 feet before dropping to camp at about 11,500 feet. From camp we can explore along the Continental Divide, visit Dipping Lakes at the headwaters of the Chama River, and look down into the high valley of the Chama headwaters. There may be opportunities for fishing in the high lakes.

We will leave Los Alamos at noon on Friday, July 1, drive to the trailhead, and should arrive at camp comfortably ahead of dark. We will have two days to explore the high plateau, and will hike and return to Los Alamos on Monday July 4.