This was the 2nd hike was during a 5 day camping trip to Northern New Mexico. We set up the R-Pod at Heron Lake for 4 nights. While Pat attended a 3 day workshop in Chama on dyeing wool, I drove up to Cumbres Pass for a hike on the Continental Divide Trail. The day before, I had hiked the CDT north from Cumbres Pass.
The Drive In
See the description for the CDT North Hike.
The Hike
Cumbres Pass CDT South Hike. 2021-08-13
The trail begins from the parking area on the right side of CO 17 at the top of Cumbres Pass. As yesterday for the CDT North hike, my timing was good – the Cumbres and Toltec passenger train was parked at the station, preparing to continue on to Antonito.
As it was for the CDT North, the trail is well used, smooth ground bordered by very green grasses with an abundance of flowers. From just under 10,000 feet elevation, the trail climbs a couple of hundred feet in the first half mile, then descends a bit on the top of a ridge for 3/4 mile. The views are spectacular, to the west towards Chama down the Wolf Creek valley. For the next 1.25 miles the trail climbs close to 500 feet, up to 10,469 feet elevation. Most of the distance is in open grassland with parcels of forest along the way.
Nearing the trailhead on the return, I looked down upon the Cumbres & Toltec RR siding to see a service train heading back to Chama.
Highlight
Amazing views, across green grasslands with flowers in bloom everywhere, to distant hills and mountains.
Statistics
Total Distance: 7.98 miles
Elevation: start 9,966 ft, maximum 10,469 ft, minimum 9,964 ft
Gross gain: ft. 505 Aggregate ascending 1,662 ft, descending 1,664 ft
Maximum slope: 26% ascending, 27% descending, 06.5% average
Duration: 4:41
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