Hiking Alamo Mountain

Photos by Stephen Capra

Alamo Mountain is on the southwest end of Otero Mesa. Pulling up to the mountain one finds only a simple pullout. From the pullout you cross a dirt road and enter into the Alamo Mountain Area of Critical Environmental Concern. From here head northeast. There are cow and game trails but no hiking trials per se. But many people enjoy hiking up the flank of the mountain which is tiered. As you climb moving northeast two things occur. One the view of Otero Mesa begins to open up to the west. Your view is gauged in the hundreds of miles on a good day with only a few ranches to dot the grassland. As you are climbing up the flank you will also notice the remains of the Butterfield Stagecoach station that in the 1800's was open at the base of Alamo Mountain . As you climb you will also come into areas of large boulders. Here one begins to see some of the 20,000 petroglyphs that ring the mountain. For many this hike continues as you ascend the mountain. Moving towards the north end of the mountain the views now shift to the east where the Guadalupe Mountains come into view, including Guadalupe National Park . You will reach a main ridge about half way up the mountain on the north side; this is a great spot to camp with views in all directions. It can at times be very windy, but here the views are worth it. Remember, there is no water to be found, unless there has been a recent rain and some pools collect on rock tops. Rainbow cactus can be found growing out of rock formations and in the spring wildflowers abound on this sky island. From here many turn and begin a steep accent of the mountain that can require a fair degree of bushwhacking. The vegetation becomes thick in places and the climb steep. Some people prefer to climb from the east side where the climb is more gradual. Either way you will wind up on the top of Alamo Mountain which is decrepitly large, with pinion and juniper, plenty of places to camp and even a rement population of Barbary sheep.