From Angel Fire, the Enchanted Circle runs north through Eagle Nest and up NM-38 to Red River, and just beyond that town the road gives way to one of northern New Mexico's great motorized climbs. Greenie Peak rises to 11,221 feet and is known locally as the highest peak in New Mexico that can be reached by a motorized vehicle. Late October is the tail end of its season, which is exactly why it rewards a careful, well-timed visit.
Click to see more photos of Greenie Peak
Two designated approaches climb the peak in the Carson National Forest. From Red River, drivers head up Mallette Canyon Road to a staging area, continue on Forest Road 597, and connect to Trail 54 for the climb of roughly five miles to the summit. From the Cabresto Canyon side, Forest Road 54 and its spurs make a gradual but rocky ascent, steep and narrow in places. Trail guides describe this country, which climbs from about 8,750 feet, as moderate to difficult, and high-clearance four-wheel drive is the sensible choice.
This is a designated route, and that word matters. The Questa Ranger District Motor Vehicle Use Map is the Forest Service document that shows which roads and motorized trails are open, to what vehicle classes, and in what seasons. Forest Road 54 and its Greenie Peak spurs carry a seasonal vehicle restriction each spring, from May 1 through June 15, to protect elk during calving season. That window is long past: the Forest Service seasonal restrictions page, checked this week, currently lists no seasonal designations in effect, and the forest's current alerts list shows no closure for Greenie Peak or Forest Road 54.
Designated and open, though, is not the same as easy right now. Red River's forecast for today, Friday, October 30, calls for a high in the mid-50s in town, showers arriving late, wintry precipitation overnight, and snow showers on Saturday morning. The summit stands roughly 2,400 feet above town, so expect it colder and windier up top, with mud or early snow a real possibility on the upper road. Go early, carry warm layers, and be genuinely willing to turn around where the road turns slick.
Make the summit on a clear late-season day and the payoff is outsized: a broad, bare mountaintop and views that take in Wheeler Peak country, the Red River valley, and the high Sangre de Cristos in every direction. It is a fitting last big climb before winter snow settles the question for the year.
Know before you go
Stay on designated routes only: Greenie Peak is reached on routes designated on the Carson National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map for the Questa Ranger District, including Forest Roads 597 and 54 and Trail 54. Check current Forest Service alerts and closures before going, because restrictions can change unexpectedly, and remember the Greenie Peak routes are seasonally restricted from May 1 through June 15 for elk calving. Tread Lightly: stay on the road or trail, do not cut switchbacks or drive around mud and snow, and pack out what you pack in. Respect gates and private land along the way. Off-highway vehicles need the proper New Mexico registration or OHV permit and a spark arrestor. If conditions turn, turn back.