Pecos National Historical Park · New Mexico

South Pasture Loop Trail

2.9 mi of trail, end to end · about 100 ft of climbing · 200 ft of descent · 6,733 ft–6,846 ft · hiking

6,846 ft 6,759 ft · 1.5 mi high 6,846 ft

Trailhead South Pasture Loop Trailhead 6,847 ft Drive there

Walking the South Pasture Loop the Park Service's write-up

90-150 Minutes · no dogs

Dirt Road, Blue Sky, Mountains, Grass, Fence Posts
The South Pasture Loop, an old ranch road, can be a beautiful walk. Photo: NPS

Are you looking for a nice walk through a beautiful field? Follow an old ranch road through the South Pasture of the Forked Lightning Ranch. This 3.8-mile hike showcases some of the natural beauty of the Pecos Valley, presenting visitors with sweeping views of the surrounding mesas and mountains. Pets are not allowed on the South Pasture Loop.

Note that this trail closes at 3pm; therefore, hikers are encouraged to begin their walk no later than 1pm. There are no amenities at the trailhead; hikers should bring water. Please inquire at the E.E. Fogelson Visitor Center for information and directions.

Accessibility As an old ranch road, the South Pasture Loop was not designed as a hiking trail. The trail is dirt, there is almost no shade, and occassional patches of river stones may present tripping hazards. There is one hill with a steeper grade which may cause hazards. As with all hikes in the park, the trail is at an elevation of nearly 7000 feet. Although pets are not allowed on the trail, service animals that are trained to perform a specific task are welcome.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 3 trails in Pecos National Historical ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.