Length: 1 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

Seasons: Spring, summer and fall

Highest and Lowest Points: 10,500 feet to 11,800 feet

Trail Access: The Nambe Lake Trail 400 is reached from the Winsor Trail 254. Take NM 475 to the trailhead at the parking lot for Ski Santa Fe, and follow the Winsor Trail 254 to the junction with Nambe Lake Trail 400.

USGS Maps: Aspen Basin, Pecos Wilderness Map (2003 Edition)

Description: The Nambe Lake Trail leaves the Winsor Trail about two miles from the Pecos Wilderness boundary. The trail climbs steeply up the canyon, following a major fork of the Rio Nambe. There are numerous trails and paths in the area, and often there are parrallel trails on both sides of the stream. This can make it difficult for the hiker who wonders which is the correct trail. Since the stream flows from Nambe Lake, as long as you are hiking up river you are headed in the right direction. Continue up the steep and braided path and eventually, after a couple of boggy meadows you will reach the shallow lake sitting in a high alpine cirque below Lake Peak and Deception Peak. There is a large rock scree slope just above the lake, and if it has been a wet winter you may see the actual source of the Rio Nambe flowing out of the scree and into the lake.

Notes: This is the closest alpine lake to Santa Fe, and as such receives a lot of visitors.