Boiler Peak - Aldo Leopold Wilderness - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Boiler Peak - Aldo Leopold Wilderness
Country:	United States
State:	New Mexico
Nearby Town:	Winston
Rating:
Directions:	Take I-25 North from Las Cruces. Exit at NM 59. Drive approx 35 miles to Winston. Go North on NM 59 to 59.52 intersection. Stay on 59 and go West. Approx. 14 miles is Forest Service sign stating Boiler Peak and Fire Lookout. Take left there and go South approx. 6 miles to Boiler.
Total Hike Distance:	16.90 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Moderate to Difficult
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	Roundtrip, Loop Hike
Hike Starts/Ends:	Boiler Peak
Trails Used:	Continental Divide Trail, FS Trail 46
Backcountry Campsites:	Yes
Backcountry Water Sources:	Streams, Springs
Management:	U.S. Forest Service
Contact Information:	Gila National Forest 3005 E. Camino del Bosque Silver City, NM 88061 (505) 388-8201 Aldo Leopold is managed by the Gila Wilderness
Best Season:	Spring, Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers, Dogs, Horses
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads, Unmaintained Gravel or Dirt Roads
Hike Summary:	This is a great hike with lots of water and plenty to see. The Aldo Leopold Wilderness is 202,000 acres of great country. This part of New Mexico was heavily populated with miners and ranchers around the turn of the century, and their artifacts remain in almost every canyon of the Aldo, as well as caves which have housed Native American tribes for centuries. Trail pressure is normally very light because of the sheer size of the Aldo. Most backpackers you encounter in this area will be Continental Divide Trail Hikers, since the CDT run along the East edge of the Aldo. It seems as though every canyon has a stream or a spring, and wild animals of every variety can be seen. The Aldo is on much higher ground than the surrounding areas to the South, North, and East, which gives you a great scenic view from any high point. The Boiler Peak hike is especially rich in historical remains, starting with the gigantic boiler that gives the peak its name. Many old logging and mining roads lead to wide trails with reasonable grades. The CDT runs mostly along the crest of the Aldo, and the trail system is well marked and easy to follow. Aldo Leopold was directly responsible for the establishment of our nations first wilderness area, the Gila Widlerness, and the Aldo was named in his honor and dedicated in 1980. Come see the Black Range and the most spectacular wild area in New Mexico.