El Cerro de Los Lunas Loop in El Cerro de Los Lunas Preserve, NM

Hike El Cerro de Los Lunas Loop El Cerro de Los Lunas Preserve, NM

Class 1 7.8 miles 1100 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Jun 8, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

El Cerro de Los Lunas Loop GPX Track

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The El Cerro de Los Lunas Preserve has an official map that outlines the trails that weave around the Cerro. I chose to make a loop to get the high points and also see the badlands at the base of the desert landscape. You can make this hike a bit short or longer by adding/removing trail sections. I marked a significant bypass on my attached map, but there are others as well.

After taking more time than anticipated to get my new camera ready (after my car was broken into a couple of days ago and lots of stuff stolen), I started out from the official trailhead in the already sweltering morning heat. The first mile or so of the Bowl Trail follows a wide dirt road, then meets a junction. I followed my map I'd downloaded, making a right to follow the Overlook Trail, which led up to the rim. Sandy enough to be lightly annoying, I dismissed my initial intention of running and just hiked to enjoy the scenery. The trail ascends to the southern side of the high point of El Cerro de Los Lunas (marked on their map as "Western Summit", switchbacking a couple of times before reaching the summit.

I continued along the Summit Trail, passed by the "Central Summit", and then descended to the north. I took a short spur along the Summit Trail again to reach the "Northern Summit" before backtracking and continuing down the Bowl Trail again. This trail wraps around lots of small hills within the badlands, and normally I might have shortened the hike to avoid the excessive weaving, but I was enjoying myself. The scenery isn't exactly inspiring, but it's a nice local park close to Los Lunas, New Mexico.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
El Cerro de Los Lunas
5955 ft
635 rise
2
El Cerro de Los Lunas (Northern Summit)
5853 ft
184 rise

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El Cerro de Los Lunas trailhead, view toward the peak.
El Cerro de Los Lunas trailhead, view toward the peak.
Along the Bowl Trail, sort of just a road at first.
Along the Bowl Trail, sort of just a road at first.
Approaching the junction with the Overlook Trail.
Approaching the junction with the Overlook Trail.
View back down the Overlook Trail.
View back down the Overlook Trail.
Along the Overlook Trail, El Cerro visible ahead.
Along the Overlook Trail, El Cerro visible ahead.
Cool eroded cliffs along the rim.
Cool eroded cliffs along the rim.
Following the sandy Overlook Trail.
Following the sandy Overlook Trail.
More badlands at the base of the "Northern" summit.
More badlands at the base of the "Northern" summit.
The trail narrows a bit and ascends the south side of the summit.
The trail narrows a bit and ascends the south side of the summit.
View south along the Overlook Trail.
View south along the Overlook Trail.
El Cerro de Los Lunas summit.
El Cerro de Los Lunas summit.
Onward along the Summit Trail.
Onward along the Summit Trail.
Just past the Central summit, view toward the Northern summit. I dropped down to the base of the Northern summit along the Summit Trail.
Just past the Central summit, view toward the Northern summit. I dropped down to the base of the Northern summit along the Summit Trail.
Quick side-trip to get to the Northern summit.
Quick side-trip to get to the Northern summit.
Northern summit, view back toward the high point.
Northern summit, view back toward the high point.
Northern summit, view toward Los Lunas.
Northern summit, view toward Los Lunas.
Descending along the Bowl Trail. This junction was easy to miss, actually.
Descending along the Bowl Trail. This junction was easy to miss, actually.
View along the Bowl Trail.
View along the Bowl Trail.
The Bowl Trail weaves around a bit within the badlands at the base of the Cerro.
The Bowl Trail weaves around a bit within the badlands at the base of the Cerro.
View back toward The Bowl. El Cerro de Los Lunas seen center.
View back toward The Bowl. El Cerro de Los Lunas seen center.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!