The Highest Summits in New Mexico

New Mexico is a US state located in the country's Southwestern Region. It is the fifth largest state in terms of area and occupies 315,200 square km. The landscape of the state features deserts, broken plateaus, and high, snow-capped mountain ranges. The mountains of New Mexico are home to large forests with unique flora and fauna. A list of the tallest peaks in New Mexico is provided below.

1. Wheeler Peak

The tallest summit in New Mexico is Wheeler Peak, which has a height of 13,167 ft. It is located near the town of Taos and south of the Red River. The mountain is part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains range. Wheeler Peak is the central feature of the Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area. The peak is popular among climbers who begin their journeys from the nearby Taos Ski Valley.

2. Mount Walter

The second tallest summit in New Mexico is the 13,141 ft tall Mount Walter. Due to a small prominence of only 53 ft, it is often not regarded as an independent mountain, and thus not mentioned on some lists of the tallest peaks in New Mexico. Mount Walter is only 0.6 km away from Wheeler Peak and is part of the same mountain range. Also like Wheeler Peak, Mount Walter is part of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area.

3. Old Mike Peak

Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Old Mike Peak is the third highest peak in New Mexico. It is 13,113 ft tall and has a prominence of only 253 ft. Thus, it is often not considered an independent mountain. The peak is located only about a mile from Wheeler Peak. The climb to the summit is relatively easy. Since many tourists and climbers prefer to visit Wheeler Peak, Old Mike Peak is less crowded and is thus ideal for those seeking seclusion.

4. Truchas Peak (South)

Truchas Peak stands 13,108 ft tall and is the fourth highest mountain in the US state of New Mexico. The mountain is located in the Pecos Wilderness Area and has four summits, the south peak being the highest. According to some lists, Truchas Peak is the second highest peak in New Mexico, since it has a prominence of 4,001 ft, making it an independent mountain, unlike Mount Walter and Old Mike Peak, both of which have very low prominence. The Rio Grande and the Pecos Rivers flow on either side of the divide on which the massif is located. The peak is not easy to access and is surrounded by vast areas of pristine wilderness. Several trails lead to the mountain, the most notable of which is the Skyline Trail.

Other Truchas Peaks

There is controversy regarding the classification of the fifth, sixth, and seventh highest peaks in New Mexico. According to some lists, the three other peaks of the Truchas mountain should be ranked the fifth, sixth and seventh highest. Thus, the 13,066 ft tall Middle Truchas Peak, the 13,040 ft tall Medio Truchas Peak, and the 13,024 ft tall North Truchas Peak are the fifth, sixth, and seventh tallest peaks in New Mexico. However, these peaks have a prominence of only 226 ft, 120 ft, and 624 ft, respectively.