Journey to Trampas Lakes

On Memorial Day, we journeyed to the Trampas Lakes nestled between the Truchas Peaks of northern New Mexico. We rose early in the morning to begin the hike before the afternoon heat, hitting the trailhead just after 7am. The dawn rays were filtering down through the aspen trees and our morning climb was rather chilly as we hiked up 2,500 feet of elevation over 6 miles to reach the lakes.

Along the trail, we saw numerous wildflowers including purple asters, pink nodding onion, and fireweed. The trail closely followed a mountain stream, Rio de las Trampas (river of traps), cascading over mossy rocks creating small waterfalls into crystal-clear pools. The sound of the trickling water was meditative and the girls loved dipping their paws and lapping a fresh drink along the way. The scenery was magical. 

As we climbed higher, the aspen groves thinned and Ponderosa pine and conifer trees dominated the landscape. Just when we were beginning to tire from the relentless climb, the lakes revealed themselves. The two lakes are separated by a small hill with both lakes surrounded by towering mountain peaks including Sheepshead Peak and Truchas Peak. The lakes were calm and tranquil and we were alone at our destination. We quickly set up our backpacking hammock to enjoy the views and soak in our mountain time with our girls before heading back down the mountain. It was a gorgeous day!

 

-Lindsay