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A long trail through mixed conifer and aspen forest to an alpine summit.


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Map Key

2.8

Miles

4.5

KM

Ascent

12,262' 3,738 m

High

10,094' 3,077 m

Low

2,168' 661 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

15%

Avg Slope (8°)

50%

Max Slope (26°)
Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry
Wilderness area, no mechanized equipment, drones etc. Please respect wildlife—there have been mountain lion sightings in this area.

Description

Just past 0.8 miles on the Bull of the Woods Trail, the Long Canyon Trail branches to the left. Follow this trail for 2 miles, then continue north as the route gradually climbs into a large alpine basin. As the trees become more sparse, trend to the right and follow the treeline where it borders the first of a series of open avalanche paths. The first path here usually has less snow than the more open chutes further up above the basin. Near the top of this chute, the terrain rolls onto the wide open tundra leading to Gold Hill. Cross this tundra to link up with the Gold Hill Trail, which is often windscoured and exposed on the west side of the ridge.

Much of this route travels beneath and within Class 3 avalanche terrain, and there are a lot of paths that can hit the trail that are not visible from below. It is recommended to avoid this route during or immediately after a storm cycle when avalanche potential exists. This area, despite its proximity to Twining, is remote wilderness—there is no cellphone service and rescue may not be possible for several hours should an avalanche occur. Undocumented reports from longtime Taos Ski Valley locals claim a skier was killed in an avalanche in Long Canyon during the 1984 Winter, the burial site was located by helicopter search the following day as the skier's dog was sitting on the debris above where he was buried.

Contacts

Shared By:

J. Bella

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 1 vote

#3

in Taos

#245

Overall
  4.0 from 1 vote
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Ascent Rankings

#3

in Taos

#6

in New Mexico

#245

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1 Views Last Month
432 Since Feb 14, 2018
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Photos

Long Canyon just before sunrise on a cold December morning.
Feb 15, 2018 near Taos Sk…, NM
Ray Rose surfing the frozen waves in Long Canyon
Feb 15, 2018 near Taos Sk…, NM
Lion's Kill from across the basin
Feb 4, 2019 near Taos Sk…, NM
Waves and debris.
Feb 4, 2019 near Taos Sk…, NM
Remnants of times past - an old miner's cabin hidden in the valley is one of the last remaining structures that tell the story of this canyon's undocumented history
Feb 4, 2019 near Taos Sk…, NM

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