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Recreational Activities
Home : Ranger
Districts : Española Ranger District
: Trails
Trail 160, Nambe Trail
 
Length: 12 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Use: Moderate
Seasons: Very late spring, summer and mid fall
Highest and Lowest Points: 7,100 feet to 11,000 feet
Trail Access: This trail is accessed easiest from the either the
Aspen Ranch or the Aspen Basin areas (Trailheads 9 and 10, respectively,
on the 2003 Pecos Wilderness map). The Borrego Trail and the Winsor
Trail are both good trails to use to access the Rio Nambe Trail.
Access from Nambe Reservoir is difficult because no trailhead exists,
and the trail just upstream from the reservoir receives little maintenance.
A fee is charged by Nambe Pueblo to use the area.
USGS Maps: Aspen Basin and Tesuque, and Pecos Wilderness (2003
edition)
Description:
From the Nambe Reservoir pick up the trail at the north end
of the dam and follow the river upstream. The canyon becomes
narrow at times with the trail traversing narrow, rocky passages
along the cliffs above the stream. Horse travel is possible
with an experienced and sure-footed animal. As the canyon
widens, the trail drops back down to the river level and crosses
back and forth numerous times.
At the first major fork in the river, two side canyons come
together. Take the north fork for the continuation of the
Nambe Trail. As the trail progresses farther upstream, the
canyon begins to widen considerably and soon the lower grasslands
of Rancho Viejo are encountered. At this point there is the
intersection of the Rio Capulin and the Rio Nambe called La
Junta. The south fork is the Rio Nambe. Cross both rivers
and continue up the Rio Nambe along its north bank. From here
the trail makes only a few crossings back and forth across
the river, and remains mostly on the north side. Along the
way, intersections with Borrego
Mesa Trail 150 and the Capulin
Trail 158 may be spotted. About one and one half miles
before Puerto Nambe, the large grassy meadows of La Vega are
encountered. From here the trail climbs up to join the Winsor
Trail 254 just below the flat grassy meadows of Puerto
Nambe. |
Notes:
 This
trail follows the entire length of the Rio Nambe from the
Reservoir to the headwaters at Puerto Nambe. There are 3 vegetation
zones.
Although
there is a 3,000-foot elevation change it is gradual and spread
out over 12 miles.
The
river is quite large at the lower elevations and may be impassable
early in the season when runoff is heavy. |
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