Class 2 7.2 miles 2700 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Oct 15, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Cookes Peak GPX Track

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Note that my total mileage was about 7 because of where I parked. You could reduce the length of this hike to about 5 miles, or have to extend it to up to probably 10, depending on how much clearance you have.

A classic New Mexican desert peak that somehow I totally forgot about, Cookes Peak's rocky summit looms over the desert floor, quite a distance from any city of significance, but a great side-trip if you're on I-10. The road gets rough, but I made it most of the way there. Apparently, where the road splits, you need to keep left onto BLM land (and subsequently a worse road) to avoid private property, but the signage isn't great. This side road comes back to join the main road shortly after (see the end of the split on my map just before my start point). Depending on where you park, walk along the road for any number of miles and you'll make it to the true trailhead, which is an old eroded road. Follow this eroded road for a bit, and cairns will begin to guide you on a social trail. It's easy to follow, mostly keeping to the gully the whole way, until you reach the ridge, where the trails/cairns seemed to just disappear. You should find an old barbed wire fence that heads up the ridge: the trail seems to stay to the left of it most/all of the way. A fun, short Class 2 scramble leads you to the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Cookes Peak
8408 ft
2568 rise

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Starting along the dirt road where my car couldn't get past. Cookes Peak is in the center.
Starting along the dirt road where my car couldn't get past. Cookes Peak is in the center.
Turn left up an eroded dirt road that doesn't allow motor vehicles. Cairns start to markt he route.
Turn left up an eroded dirt road that doesn't allow motor vehicles. Cairns start to markt he route.
Headed up the canyon northeast of Cookes Peak - Cookes Peak visible ahead.
Headed up the canyon northeast of Cookes Peak - Cookes Peak visible ahead.
A social trail continues up the canyon, occasionally crossing the creekbed, and pretty easy to follow the whole way.
A social trail continues up the canyon, occasionally crossing the creekbed, and pretty easy to follow the whole way.
Image 4 from gallery
Image 5 from gallery
Out of the canyon and switchbacking up to the east ridge of Cookes Peak.
Out of the canyon and switchbacking up to the east ridge of Cookes Peak.
Cookes Peak ahead. The route follows the ridge seen in this photo.
Cookes Peak ahead. The route follows the ridge seen in this photo.
Looking back down the way I came.
Looking back down the way I came.
Cookes Peak, just a ridgeline away.
Cookes Peak, just a ridgeline away.
Image 10 from gallery
Image 11 from gallery
Image 12 from gallery
Approaching the short scramble section on Cookies Peak.
Approaching the short scramble section on Cookies Peak.
Looking down along the ridgeline.
Looking down along the ridgeline.
Class 2 fun.
Class 2 fun.
Image 16 from gallery
Class 2 section.
Class 2 section.
Image 18 from gallery
Approaching Cookes Peak summit.
Approaching Cookes Peak summit.
Cookes Peak summit, looking north.
Cookes Peak summit, looking north.
Cookes Peak summit, looking east down the ridgeline I came up.
Cookes Peak summit, looking east down the ridgeline I came up.

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!