Hike El Cerro de Los Lunas Loop El Cerro de Los Lunas Preserve, NM

Jun 08, 2022 — The El Cerro de Los Lunas Preserve has an official map that outlines the trails that weave around the Cerro. I chose to make a loop to get the high points and also see the badlands at the base of the desert landscape. You can make this hike a bit short or longer by adding/removing trail sections. I marked a significant bypass on my attached map, but there are others as well.

After taking more time than anticipated to get my new camera ready (after my car was broken into a couple of days ago and lots of stuff stolen), I started out from the official trailhead in the already sweltering morning heat. The first mile or so of the Bowl Trail follows a wide dirt road, then meets a junction. I followed my map I'd downloaded, making a right to follow the Overlook Trail, which led up to the rim. Sandy enough to be lightly annoying, I dismissed my initial intention of running and just hiked to enjoy the scenery. The trail ascends to the southern side of the high point of El Cerro de Los Lunas (marked on their map as "Western Summit", switchbacking a couple of times before reaching the summit.

I continued along the Summit Trail, passed by the "Central Summit", and then descended to the north. I took a short spur along the Summit Trail again to reach the "Northern Summit" before backtracking and continuing down the Bowl Trail again. This trail wraps around lots of small hills within the badlands, and normally I might have shortened the hike to avoid the excessive weaving, but I was enjoying myself. The scenery isn't exactly inspiring, but it's a nice local park close to Los Lunas, New Mexico.