It's an enjoyable summit-to-summit traverse from Glorieta Baldy to Thompson Peak -- a three-mile hike where the ride up the bumpy road to the trailhead takes more endurance than the actual hike.
Take Interstate 25 north to the Pecos/Glorieta exit. Turn left, then right onto N.M. 50. After two miles, turn left onto County Road 63A, which turns into Forest Road 375. The rough old logging road climbs near the top of Glorieta Baldy where it dead ends at the Glorieta Campground after about 12 miles. A high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended.
The trail to Thompson Peak begins at the north end of the campground. But before heading toward Thompson Peak, hike a hundred yards up the closed road to the south to the summit of Glorieta Baldy and check out the old abandoned fire lookout tower that was built more than 60 years ago. The Baldy summit has great views.
Walk back down to the campground and you'll find the faint Thompson Peak Trail at the end of the northernmost campsite. The trail briefly climbs uphill, then descends to a saddle that has some nice views to the west. The dense forest of mostly aspen, spruce and Douglas fir trees is shady and usually cool. After a mile of gentle ups and downs, the trail rises sharply along a ridge toward the top of Thompson Peak. The unmaintained trail is hard to follow in some places. Before too long, you'll arrive at a small meadow with a large rock cairn at the top. Take a left at the cairn for the short final push to the summit.
The peak has a nice view of Atalaya Mountain and Santa Fe to the west, but every other direction is obscured by trees. North of the summit is the Santa Fe Municipal Watershed, which is closed to the public. Return via the same route.
For those who enjoy self-inflicted torture (or whose cars won't make it up the road), the summit of Glorieta Baldy can be reached via the hot, dry and steep Glorieta Baldy Trail, which begins at the north end of the Glorieta Conference Center.
Ratings: Glorieta Baldy to Thompson Peak -- An easy three miles; no water; four-wheel drive recommended. Glorieta Baldy -- A very strenuous 10 miles; no water (but there's a Coke machine at the trailhead).
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