Albuquerque: Nambe Lake

This 6-mile out-and-back adventure serves up mountain forests, a peaceful creek, and an unbeatable lunch spot on the banks of a small alpine lake.

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 4.9

Waypoints

NLT001

Location: 35.7958984375, -105.804649353027

Trailhead: Hang R near privy into a majestic spruce forest

NLT007

Location: 35.8091316223144, -105.785148620605

Keep R, hugging the creekbed

NLT004

Location: 35.807731628418, -105.799629211426

Straight @ 3-way

NLT010

Location: 35.8009185791016, -105.776901245117

Knockout view: Lake Peak’s rocky base shines in the sparkling blue (but fishless) waters of Nambe Lake. Retrace your steps back to trailhead

NLT008

Location: 35.8050384521484, -105.785926818848

Roughly follow the drainage on a faint trail, crossing creek several times

NLT003

Location: 35.8010063171387, -105.801422119141

Hike over wooded col between Aspen Peak and a nameless 11,212-foot summit

NLT006

Location: 35.8100128173828, -105.791778564453

Short descent; listen for the swift flow of the Rio Nambe

NLT009

Location: 35.8021545410156, -105.780143737793

Pass through a quiet alpine meadow before the final push

NLT005

Location: 35.808910369873, -105.795265197754

Cross into Pecos Wilderness; head E under aspen and spruce

NLT002

Location: 35.7961158752441, -105.804565429688

Veer R; climb switchbacks
Advisory: Forest Service asks hikers not to bushwhack or cut switchbacks through fragile vegetation ahead