Wheeler, Lake Fork, Kachina Peaks Loop in Carson National Forest, NM

Hike Wheeler, Lake Fork, Kachina Peaks Loop Carson National Forest, NM

Class 3 10.9 miles 4700 gain 6-8 hrs Loop Jun 8, 2018
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This route is sometimes referred to as the Wheeler Cirque Route. Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico, didn't seem like enough of a hike to justify driving all the way to Taos, so I was hoping to figure out a loop to bag a few more peaks. Wheeler Peak itself is really pretty, including the official trail to its summit, but to include a traverse of Wheeler, Simpson Peak, Peak 12819 (aka Bighorn Peak or Fairchild Peak, both names seen elsewhere), Lake Fork Peak, and Kachina Peak, made the day much more interesting.

Take the Williams Lake Trail to the lake, then branch off onto the Wheeler Peak Trail to the summit. From here, continue south along the ridge to Simpson Peak. There's a Class 3 scramble with only some minor obstacles before a hump between Simpson and Peak 12819. The ascent to Peak 12819 has some more obstacles, but is mostly just a steep trudge to the summit. Continue along the ridgeline, just below the highest point, to gain Lake Fork Peak's southern summit, and continue on easy ground to the true summit. From Lake Fork Peak, you'll see a small blip of a peak before you can get to Kachina. I recommend hitting this as well and then round-finding down a Class 3 section of solid rock. The alternative is to stay west and avoid this little blip, but you'll be going down awful Class 2 scree and talus, and then ultimately have to re-gain a bunch of elevation to get back to the ridgeline. Though this Class 3 section looks like it doesn't go, it does. From the blip, walk to Kachina Peak and follow the chairlift down. There is actually a blazed trail leading you to the chairlift's start. From here, look for Lift 4 and follow this as closely as you can to make it back to the Williams Lake Trail.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Wheeler Peak
13161 ft
3409 rise
2
Simpson Peak
12976 ft
56 rise
3
Fairchild Peak (Bighorn Peak) (Peak 12819)
12819 ft
459 rise
4
Lake Fork Peak
12881 ft
601 rise
5
Kachina Peak
12481 ft
161 rise

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Starting from the Williams Lake parking area.
Starting from the Williams Lake parking area.
Williams Lake Trail.
Williams Lake Trail.
Image 2 from gallery
Approaching the junction with the Wheeler Peak Trail and Williams Lake.
Approaching the junction with the Wheeler Peak Trail and Williams Lake.
Williams Lake just below. Simpson Peak on the far left just out of frame, Peak 12481 "Bighorn" center.
Williams Lake just below. Simpson Peak on the far left just out of frame, Peak 12481 "Bighorn" center.
Williams Lake, a bump in the ridge line that I'll go over later above the lake.
Williams Lake, a bump in the ridge line that I'll go over later above the lake.
Heading up the Wheeler Peak Trail.
Heading up the Wheeler Peak Trail.
Image 7 from gallery
Wheeler Peak ahead.
Wheeler Peak ahead.
Image 9 from gallery
Image 10 from gallery
Along the Wheeler Peak Trail, looking back toward Peak 12481 (left) and Lake Fork Peak (right).
Along the Wheeler Peak Trail, looking back toward Peak 12481 (left) and Lake Fork Peak (right).
Slopes below Wheeler Peak.
Slopes below Wheeler Peak.
Image 13 from gallery
Image 14 from gallery
Image 15 from gallery
Wheeler Peak ahead on the right.
Wheeler Peak ahead on the right.
Approaching Wheeler Peak summit.
Approaching Wheeler Peak summit.
Wheeler Peak summit looking north the way I came.
Wheeler Peak summit looking north the way I came.
Wheeler Peak summit looking south along the ridgeline.
Wheeler Peak summit looking south along the ridgeline.
Close-up of the ridgeline, Simpson Peak on the left. You can see the jagged ridge in the center that marks my route.
Close-up of the ridgeline, Simpson Peak on the left. You can see the jagged ridge in the center that marks my route.
Approaching Simpson Peak on a trail after leaving the official Wheeler Peak Trail.
Approaching Simpson Peak on a trail after leaving the official Wheeler Peak Trail.
Looking back toward Wheeler Peak.
Looking back toward Wheeler Peak.
Simpson Peak, looking west toward the ridgeline to come.
Simpson Peak, looking west toward the ridgeline to come.
Class 3 fun stuff between Simpson Peak and Peak 12481 (aka Bighorn or Fairchild, I don't know).
Class 3 fun stuff between Simpson Peak and Peak 12481 (aka Bighorn or Fairchild, I don't know).
After the scramble, looking back toward Simpson Peak (right), and Wheeler Peak (left).
After the scramble, looking back toward Simpson Peak (right), and Wheeler Peak (left).
Heading up a bump that separates Simpson Peak and Peak 12481, looking back toward Simpson Peak (right), and Wheeler Peak (left).
Heading up a bump that separates Simpson Peak and Peak 12481, looking back toward Simpson Peak (right), and Wheeler Peak (left).
On the bump after Simpson, looking toward Peak 12481.
On the bump after Simpson, looking toward Peak 12481.
Peak 12481 ahead. In my opinion, this was the roughest stretch of the day.
Peak 12481 ahead. In my opinion, this was the roughest stretch of the day.
Some fun scramble section heading up to Peak 12481.
Some fun scramble section heading up to Peak 12481.
Peak 12481 summit looking back toward Simpson and Wheeler. you can see the bump as well.
Peak 12481 summit looking back toward Simpson and Wheeler. you can see the bump as well.
Peak 12481 summit, looking toward Lake Fork Peak. I don't know the name of the lake on the left, but it was really pretty.
Peak 12481 summit, looking toward Lake Fork Peak. I don't know the name of the lake on the left, but it was really pretty.
Some Class 2 stuff to gain Lake Fork Peak.
Some Class 2 stuff to gain Lake Fork Peak.
Lake to the west on the way up Lake Fork Peak.
Lake to the west on the way up Lake Fork Peak.
South mini-ascent of Lake Fork Peak, looking back the way I came. Williams Lake on the left, other lake on the right.
South mini-ascent of Lake Fork Peak, looking back the way I came. Williams Lake on the left, other lake on the right.
Lake Fork Peak south summit looking toward true summit.
Lake Fork Peak south summit looking toward true summit.
Lake Fork Peak summit, looking back the way I came.
Lake Fork Peak summit, looking back the way I came.
After leaving Lake Fork Peak summit, this is a little blip summit thing along the ridgeline, looking toward Kachina Peak. One more Class 3 obstacle below. This is likely the most technical scramble section of the day.
After leaving Lake Fork Peak summit, this is a little blip summit thing along the ridgeline, looking toward Kachina Peak. One more Class 3 obstacle below. This is likely the most technical scramble section of the day.
Looking back toward the Class 3 down scramble from the blip summit thing after Lake Fork Peak.
Looking back toward the Class 3 down scramble from the blip summit thing after Lake Fork Peak.
Approaching Kacina Peak.
Approaching Kacina Peak.
Looking back the way I came.
Looking back the way I came.
Kachina Peak summit, looking back toward the whole ridgeline I just did. You can see Wheeler Peak (far left), Simpson, the bump before Peak 12481, and Lake Fork Peak (right).
Kachina Peak summit, looking back toward the whole ridgeline I just did. You can see Wheeler Peak (far left), Simpson, the bump before Peak 12481, and Lake Fork Peak (right).
Kachina Peak summit, looking north.
Kachina Peak summit, looking north.
Heading down from Kachina Peak.
Heading down from Kachina Peak.
Looking back up toward Kachina Peak.
Looking back up toward Kachina Peak.
Follow Kachina Lift 4 back. The lifts, dirt roads, and ski slopes get confusing to navigate.
Follow Kachina Lift 4 back. The lifts, dirt roads, and ski slopes get confusing to navigate.

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