Venado Peak and Latir Peak via Bull Creek

Carson National Forest, NM Southern Sangre de Cristo + Jemez Mountains

Trip stats

Distance
14.6 mi
Net Gain
4,100 ft
Time
7-10 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 1
Route
Loop
Peaks
2

Ratings out of 10

Effort
5.8/10
Personality
6/10
Beauty
7/10
Solitude
4.2/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

  1. Venado Peak
    12,734′ elevation · 2,971′ prominence
  2. Latir Peak
    12,708′ elevation · 308′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

36.747540, -105.499160

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

Sep 23, 2018 — I've been on a kick with exploring New Mexico's mountain ranges this year, and somehow the Latir Peak Wilderness eluded me, so I decided to take a break from the rough scrambles of Colorado and enjoy a pleasant trail up to a couple of bald peaks, Venado Peak and Latir Peak. From Cabresto Lake, follow the well-maintained Bull Creek Trail to the junction with itself. I took the left fork, later returning from the right fork. Head up the trail to the saddle of Venado Peak and Cabresto Peak, where the trail starts to become more and more faint and then disappears, cairns marking the way through the alpine meadows. Head up to Venado Peak (which is slightly off the official trail, but only for about a quarter mile), and then continue to Latir Peak (also slightly off-route), before heading back down the meadows, looking for a big cairn marking the end of the trail-less meadows and easily followed trail down to Heart Lake. Follow the Bull Creek Trail back to the junction, and retrace to Cabresto Lake.

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Photos

42 photos

  1. Starting out from Cabresto Lake.
  2. Looking back toward Cabresto Lake.
  3. Along the Bull Creek Trail.
  7. Bull Creek Trail starts to open up.
  9. Bull Creek Trail, about to head up to the saddle between Cabresto Peak and Venado Peak.
  10. Approaching the saddle.
  11. Looking back the way I came.
  12. Looking toward Venado Peak (center).
  13. Looking toward Cabresto Peak (right) on my way to Venado Peak.
  14. Venado Peak ahead.
  16. Looking back the way I came, following cairns through the meadow since there's no trail. You can see Cabresto Peak on the right.
  17. Latir Peak up there somewhere in the middle, but first, I took a right and bagged Venado Peak.
  18. Approaching Venado Peak.
  20. Venado Peak, looking toward Virsylvia Peak.
  21. Venado Peak, looking toward Latir Peak.
  22. Back on the trail toward Latir Peak.
  23. Looking toward the ridge to Latir Peak.
  25. Looking back toward Venado Peak and Virsylvia Peak.
  26. Latir Peak ahead.
  27. Latir Peak just past those people.
  28. Laitr Peak, looking back toward Venado Peak (right).
  29. Latir Lakes to the east.
  30. Continuing along the grassy ridge.
  33. Heart Lake below.
  34. Heading down the Bull Creek Trail to Heart Lake.
  35. Looking back toward the ridge I came down from.
  36. Heart Lake.
  37. Continuing down the Bull Creek Trail.

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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