Coronado Trail - US 191
Rose Peak Trail
You've roughly reached the
Coronado Trail's halfway point when you crest a hill, and see the small
parking area for Rose Peak. If you've grown tired after hours of curvy
driving, and you're ready to set out on foot, pull off the road and put
on your hiking boots.
The Rose Peak Trail is
officially 1/2 mile, one way, although it feels more like a mile. Other
trails also depart from the parking area, so watch for signs that point
out the fire tower route.
A sign tells you to please
close the gate, even though "gate" is a relative term. It's really just
a section of fence stretched between two posts. Most likely the wires will pop
off those posts as you try to open it, then you can struggle to get all
four corners secure again.
For most of the trail, the
path is obvious. This isn't a well-traveled trail, though, so you should
expect it to be quite rough in some places. During my visit in
mid-April, there were still a few patches of snow. The melting slush
softened the ground and left me ankle-deep in mud at times.
You'd be well advised to bring a walking stick with you.
More than once, mine kept me from toppling down the steep hill.
After several switchbacks,
the Rose Peak Outlook fire tower finally comes into clear view.
No
matter which way you look, you'll see a mountainous wilderness, almost
completely untouched by man. The nearest highway (except for US 191) is
about 30 miles away, as the crow flies.
As you
look to the east, you're looking into New Mexico, since the Coronado
Trail isn't far from the state line.
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