North Truchas Peak via Trampas and San Leonardo Lakes Loop in Carson National Forest, NM

Hike North Truchas Peak via Trampas and San Leonardo Lakes Loop Carson National Forest, NM

Class 3 14.6 miles 5300 gain 8-11 hrs Loop Jun 7, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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There are three Truchas Peaks, none easily accessible, though North Truchas seemed to be the easiest approach of these rocky high points, so I set off via the Trampas Lakes Trail. Ultimately, I was hoping to make the day into a loop, and fortunately there was a resonable route to do so, so I went home happy.

Start from the Trampas Lakes trailhead and follow the well-defined trail to Trampas Lake. From here, locate a grassy break in the saddle between Unnamed Peak 12880 and Sheepshead Peak – there are a few that would work. From the saddle, traverse up to Peak 12880, then down toward the scramble leading to North Truchas Peak. There ended up being a lot less scrambling that I expected, but note that when you get to just below the base of North Truchas, keep east (left) around the cliff. I initially went to the west on my way up and scrambled up some sketchy Class 4 stuff, while on my way back I was able to find an easier Class 3 route on the east side.

From North Truchas Peak, head back pretty much back to the summit of Unnamed Peak 12880 (it's hard to stay low because of steep gullies coming from its summit), and head back to the saddle you came up from Trampas Lakes. Cotninue onward to Sheepshead Peak and then look to the west for a reasonable route down the ultra-steep grassy slope leading down to San Leonardo Lakes. I pretty much stuck to the treeline and didn't get cliffed-out at all. From the San Leonardo Lakes, locate a pretty trail that wanders down through the forest alongside a stream to the San Leonardo Lakes trailhead. Follow the dirt road back to the Trampas Lakes trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Peak 12469
12469 ft
129 rise
2
Peak 12880
12880 ft
160 rise
3
North Truchas Peak
13024 ft
624 rise
4
Sheepshead Peak
12696 ft
456 rise

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Starting up the Trampas Lakes Trail.
Starting up the Trampas Lakes Trail.
Image 1 from gallery
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Some rock cliffs beneath Trampas Peak, along the Trampas Lakes Trail.
Some rock cliffs beneath Trampas Peak, along the Trampas Lakes Trail.
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Approaching Trampas Lakes (western one).
Approaching Trampas Lakes (western one).
Trampas Lakes (western one).
Trampas Lakes (western one).
Trampas Lakes (eastern one).
Trampas Lakes (eastern one).
Trampas Lakes (eastern one).
Trampas Lakes (eastern one).
Continuing between the two Trampas Lakes, bushwhacking to the base of the ridge.
Continuing between the two Trampas Lakes, bushwhacking to the base of the ridge.
I took the grassy slope on the left, but I'm sure a few of them would work.
I took the grassy slope on the left, but I'm sure a few of them would work.
Heading up the steep grassy slope.
Heading up the steep grassy slope.
Looking back toward Trampas Lakes on the way up to the ridge.
Looking back toward Trampas Lakes on the way up to the ridge.
Image 15 from gallery
Notch beneath the ridge, looking toward Trampas Lakes.
Notch beneath the ridge, looking toward Trampas Lakes.
Starting toward Unnamed Peak 12880, North Truchas Peak visible on the right.
Starting toward Unnamed Peak 12880, North Truchas Peak visible on the right.
Unnamed Peak 12880 on the right, a view of the ridgeline with Trampas Lakes below.
Unnamed Peak 12880 on the right, a view of the ridgeline with Trampas Lakes below.
Looking back toward the notch I came up, Sheepshead Peak on the left. I'll be going that way later.
Looking back toward the notch I came up, Sheepshead Peak on the left. I'll be going that way later.
Continuing up to Unnamed Peak 12880, looking toward North Truchas Peak.
Continuing up to Unnamed Peak 12880, looking toward North Truchas Peak.
Trampas Lakes below, view from the summit of Unnamed Peak 12880.
Trampas Lakes below, view from the summit of Unnamed Peak 12880.
Unnamed Peak 12880 summit, looking toward North Truchas Peak.
Unnamed Peak 12880 summit, looking toward North Truchas Peak.
One section of Class 3 scrambling along the ridge from Unnamed Peak 12880 to North Truchas.
One section of Class 3 scrambling along the ridge from Unnamed Peak 12880 to North Truchas.
Looking back toward Unnamed Peak 12880 along the ridge.
Looking back toward Unnamed Peak 12880 along the ridge.
The solid Class 3 section.
The solid Class 3 section.
Class 3 section. The trail looks like it goes to the right around this bluff, so I went that way, but it's much easier to head to the base of the bluff, and work your way up and to the left.
Class 3 section. The trail looks like it goes to the right around this bluff, so I went that way, but it's much easier to head to the base of the bluff, and work your way up and to the left.
Approaching the summit of North Truchas.
Approaching the summit of North Truchas.
Unnamed Peak 12880 (right) and Sheepshead Peak (left) from the summit of North Truchas.
Unnamed Peak 12880 (right) and Sheepshead Peak (left) from the summit of North Truchas.
Truchas and Middle Truchas from the summit of North Truchas.
Truchas and Middle Truchas from the summit of North Truchas.
Chimayosos Peak (east) from the North Truchas summit.
Chimayosos Peak (east) from the North Truchas summit.
Back at the notch I took to gain the ridge, headed up to Sheepshead Peak.
Back at the notch I took to gain the ridge, headed up to Sheepshead Peak.
Close-up of Trampas Lakes along the ridge to Sheepshead Peak.
Close-up of Trampas Lakes along the ridge to Sheepshead Peak.
Looking back toward Unnamed Peak 12880 and North Truchas.
Looking back toward Unnamed Peak 12880 and North Truchas.
Sheepshead Peak ahead.
Sheepshead Peak ahead.
Image 35 from gallery
Image 36 from gallery
Sheepshead Peak looking back the way I came. North Truchas in the center.
Sheepshead Peak looking back the way I came. North Truchas in the center.
Another view looking back, Trampas Lakes on the left.
Another view looking back, Trampas Lakes on the left.
Looking north along the ridge, coming down from Sheepshead Peak.
Looking north along the ridge, coming down from Sheepshead Peak.
Looking back toward the ridge to Sheepshead Peak.
Looking back toward the ridge to Sheepshead Peak.
Image 41 from gallery
San Leonardo Lakes visible on the left.
San Leonardo Lakes visible on the left.
Looking back along the ridgeline one more time before heading down to San Leonardo Lakes.
Looking back along the ridgeline one more time before heading down to San Leonardo Lakes.
San Leonardo Lakes below. I pretty much just did mini-switchbacks down the steep slope, hugging the treeline to avoid cliffs.
San Leonardo Lakes below. I pretty much just did mini-switchbacks down the steep slope, hugging the treeline to avoid cliffs.
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Image 46 from gallery
Looking up the slope. Very steep.
Looking up the slope. Very steep.
San Leonardo Lakes.
San Leonardo Lakes.
Image 49 from gallery
The bigger San Leonardo Lake.
The bigger San Leonardo Lake.
San Leonardo Lakes Trail, head back.
San Leonardo Lakes Trail, head back.
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Image 56 from gallery
I got to the San Leonardo Lakes trailhead and followed the dirt road to a junction, and made a right, following that dirt road back to the Trampas Lakes Trailhead.
I got to the San Leonardo Lakes trailhead and followed the dirt road to a junction, and made a right, following that dirt road back to the Trampas Lakes Trailhead.

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