Hike Burro Peak and Jacks Peak via Continental Divide Trail Gila National Forest, NM

Nov 05, 2022 — Burro Peak is the high point of the Big Burro Mountains. It's in a weird part of New Mexico, an area not quite to The Gila, but also not really in the Chihuahuan Desert either. From afar it doesn't look like much, but it's actually a nicely forested range with the well-maintained continental Divide Trail leading to nearly the summit. After a driving fiasco earlier in the day, I was thrilled for this marked trailhead just off the highway.

Starting out from the Jacks Peak Trailhead, I followed the CDT north as it headed through shrubs and scraggly trees, slowly gaining elevation as it ascended the slopes up into more forested scenery. With only a couple of small drops along the way, the trail is really just an uphill slope until the peak. After about 4 miles I reached a junction with Jacks Peak Road. This road is used to access Jacks Peak and the radio towers on its summit, but I noticed the CDT seemed to continue on the opposite side. Maps of the CDT and previous reports I'd read didn't say anything about this, instead leading along the road, so I wonder if the Continental Divide Trail was recently rerouted? I continued along the trail, which had really nice views to the west through the trees, and wrapped around Jacks Peak to the saddle separating it from Burro Peak. I continued along the slightly steeper CDT as it led to just below Burro Peak, the high point located about a hundred feet to the west in a clearing. The view from the summit was narrow and obscured by brush.

With the hope of getting a better overlook, I backtracked to the saddle with Jacks Peak and started up a trail that's far less maintained, though still easy to follow. It led to Jacks Peak Road just below the summit, and a quick hike along the road brought me to the towers. Happy to have gotten more of a lookout point, I headed down Jacks Peak Road and returned via the CDT.