Cabezon Peak

Cabezon Wilderness Study Area, NM Central New Mexico + Albuquerque

Trip stats

Distance
2.2 mi
Net Gain
1,300 ft
Time
1-2 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 3
Route
Out/Back
Peaks
1

Ratings out of 10

Effort
2.4/10
Personality
7/10
Beauty
5/10
Solitude
3/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

  1. Cabezon Peak
    7,785′ elevation · 1,508′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

35.596880, -107.105190

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Oct 8, 2018 — Cabezon Peak is a fairly popular and short scramble northwest of Albuquerque, and it's a lot of fun. From the parking area, follow a great trail to the south side of Cabezon Peak and look for the trail as it turns north and heads up loose Class 2 scree. From here, a Class 3 move takes you to higher ground and to the mouth of a canyon, where the crux of the day waits, a Class 3 move, followed by some low Class 3 scrambling up the gully. The trail continues to be well-defined as you head up the east face of Cabezon Peak and to the summit.

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Photos

21 photos

  1. Starting from the Cabezon Peak Trailhead, head up a well-traveled trail around the south side of Cabezon Peak.
  3. Looking back along the trail.
  4. Heading up a scree slope on the south side of Cabezon Peak. The route continues around to the east side of Cabezon Peak.
  6. Short scramble to start off.
  8. The necessary gully to get to higher ground.
  9. Class 3 section with some kinda thoughtful climbing moves.
  10. Continuing up the gully.
  11. Another Class 3 section to get out of the gully.
  12. Photo of me scrambling just to the right of the gully because somehow I thought that was the route, when the gully ended up being a lot less scary.
  13. If you're scrambling on this exposed stuff, there's an easier way (just to the right in this photo up the gully).
  15. Along the east side of Cabezon Peak.
  16. More fun scrambling on black rock with green lichen.
  18. Final scramble. When you top out, there's lots of loose rock, so watch your step.
  19. Looking down at the last scramble to the summit.
  20. Approaching Cabezon Peak summit.
  21. Cabezon Peak summit looking west.

Photo 1 of 1

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Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

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