Overview
Little Costilla Peak is located in the Valle Vidal unit of the Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico. It is one of the highest peaks in New Mexico, and is part of the southern end of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Little Costilla extends a long, sloping ridge toward the south and steeper yet still accessible faces toward the north, east and west sides. From the summit there are spectacular views all around, including the Spanish Peaks of southern Colorado, Wheeler Peak, Baldy Mountain and Ash Mountain. There is no trail to the summit, except for a short cut into the slope around one of its many false peaks.
Getting There
From either Denver or Albuquerque, it will be about a four hour drive to Taos, the closest town. Take the I-25 to exit 446 Taos/Cimarron and go east into Taos. There are several lodging options in both Taos and nearby in Cimarron. To get to the base of the mountain, you will need to go through the Carson National Forest (see directions in the "Routes" section).
Red Tape
This area can not be accessed during the elk mating season, which runs from late spring until the end of June. (Contact the Carson National Forest at 505-758-6200 for further enquiries.) However, on July 1 all trails are open to hikers. No permit is needed to camp in the area, but groups are restricted to a maximum of ten people.
When To Climb
This peak is physically accessible year-round, and can be done in a day. However, forest regulations prevent camping during the elk mating season, which runs from late spring to the end of June.
Camping
It is possible to camp on the summit, though rain is highly likely during the monsoon season, and temperatures drop considerably at night. However, Elk Meadows, which is at the base of the mountain's east face, offers an incredibly serene place to stay, and I highly recommend exploring the gigantic meadow as well as the surrounding peaks of the Ash mountain range. All of this can be accommodated into a full day's hike.
Mountain Conditions
There is a large snowfield on the east face which is present throughout most of the year, except for the months of July and August. The ascent is rocky and can be steep, but is not at all prohibitive to hiking. There are also several false peaks along the southern ascent.
External LinksImages
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Sangre de Cristo Mountains
