Rio Quemado Falls  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  11,100' Lat, Long:  35.9837, -105.652 Map Page Views:  1,978. Good page?    Administrators:  Aaron Hobson, Jason Halladay, Anthony Stout, LeeAB, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Jason Halladay on Jan 26, 2008 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

The Rio Quemado Falls in December 2005.

Description 

Often referred to as the best waterfall in New Mexico, the Rio Quemado Falls are a beautiful set of waterfalls high in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of New Mexico. For most of the year they offer a nice distraction to day hikers, backpackers and peak baggers destined for the high summits of the three Truchas Peaks. In winter, these ~60-foot waterfalls offer some enjoyable and very isolated ice climbing routes.

The ice is generally in from mid-December until March I'd guess. The easiest line follows a stair-stepped line up the center of the falls but harder lines with steeper ice seem likely on the left side while mixed options appear possible on the right side.

Getting There 

Access to the Rio Quemado Falls is best done from the west via a very confusing maze of dirt roads from the town of Truchas, NM. Even having driven the roads many times, I still have trouble finding the trailhead in winter. It's best to go scope it in summer with a 4WD vehicle as the roads can be very rough. Also, the area here has a bad historical reputation for vehicle vandalism. That said, here's the best I can do:
From the town of Truchas, drive east on the dirt road NM 75/NF639 for about 3 miles to where the road forks. Stay right. The general idea from here is to stay in the valley next to the creek but on the creek's north side. Numerous side roads will appear from time to time but stay on what appears to be the most traveled road. Your destination is the trailhead of 35° 59.80'N, 105° 41.43'W. A map might be helpful but probably not due to the crazy number of roads back there.

The trail is listed as Rio Quemado Trail 153. From the trailhead it's about 3 miles up to the falls. Skis with skins are a great idea in all but the leanest of snow conditions.

The Classics

Featured Route For Rio Quemado Falls

Unnamed WI3  NM : Santa Fe Area : ... : Rio Quemado Falls

This is the line right up the center of the Rio Quemado Falls taking the path of least resistance up stair-stepped ice. It appears other separate lines on these falls exist, with some interesting looking mixed potential on the right side. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in NM

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The falls on December 20, 2009. Compare this phot...