Mica Mine Peak

New Mexico Outdoor

Roughing It In Luxury-Abiquiu, New Mexico 505.901.7321

Mica Mine Peak

Sometimes known as the Ojo Caliente Hike ..but since the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs & Spa..has many good hikes, we thought we'd be a lot more specific.

Gabriela and I get enough sun, so we were grateful that it was a bit overcast on this hike! Also..this was a moderate hike..or easy, if you can hike 7 miles. The trail is what made it easy.

The trail-head is at the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs & Spa. In fact, if you enter Ojo over the bridge and make a right, parking in the lots to the right..the trail-head is just to the left after you get out of your car. Beginning at approximately 6,200ft and ascending to only about 6,800+ makes it comfortable as well. This trail seems to be an easement thru BLM Lands: We saw BLM signs right and left. It winds up and along the NE side of Cerro Colorado, behind Gabriela:

<Beautiful High Desert-Scapes along the trail. The going easy:

And only about 2 miles in:

<Mica All Over The Place!
And St Josephs Mine:

This one..you can go in.

Plenty of Mica yet to mine (it shut down in the early 60’s) ..but Mica and the sluff cause by foot traffic has made it slippery. So be careful. The views to the East spectacular:

Trail still great:

..and around the other side of the hill..more St Josephs Mine..but these shafts…no entry!! They are braced with wood:

Not long beyond..is the split to Texas Mica Mine OR to Mica Mine Peak (we named it) ..and we headed for the peak with the last few hundred yards being a moderately difficult uphill:

From here..awesome views of the Sangre de Criso Mtns in Colorado:

Taos Sangre de Cristo:

Truchas Sangre:

Santa Fe Sangre:

..And the Jemez Mtns to the South:

And after a picnic and portraits:

We head back to Ojo, taking time to snap a pic of this rock formation and it’s surrounding Indian Arrow plants:

This blooming Pinon:

And the Bosque (River Valley) of Ojo Caliente on the way down:

We saw no other humans on this hike..which is the norm here. Although it’s only a few miles thru the BLM from NMO, it’s in Taos County. We saw a Hawk circling and evidence of Coyote (heard them howling too) and Elk..and tons of Sage…Juniper, Pinon, Desert Paintbrush & Prickly Pair Cactus

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