Apache Kid Wilderness - Indian Canyon Route - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Apache Kid Wilderness - Indian Canyon Route
Country:	United States
State:	New Mexico
Nearby Town:	Truth Or Consequences
Rating:
Directions:	Take I-25 North from Las Cruces. Exit at New Mexico Road 1 North of Elephant Butte Lake. Follow NM 1 North to Forest Road 225. Follow FR 225 West to Springtime Campground
Total Hike Distance:	19.20 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Difficult
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	Roundtrip, Loop Hike
Hike Starts/Ends:	Springtime Campground
Trails Used:	Cowboy Trail, Skeleton Ridge Trail
Backcountry Campsites:	No
Backcountry Water Sources:	Springs
Management:	U.S. Forest Service
Contact Information:	District Ranger: Dennis Aldridge daldridge@fs.fed.us Address: P.O. Box 45 Magdalena, New Mexico 87825-0001 Phone: (505) 854-2281 [voice]; (505) 854-2332 [fax]
Best Season:	Spring, Summer, Fall
Users:	Hikers, Dogs, Horses
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads
Hike Summary:	The Apache Kid Wilderness is over 46,000 acres of very rugged wilderness country. Most of the trail system is considered primitive by Forest Service standards. Water is in very short supply all over the area, and springs marked on the map may or may not have water in them during dry months. The Wilderness is named for an outlaw from the old west named the Apache Kid. He started out as an Army scout, and ended up being killed and buried in Cyclone Saddle in the wilderness. His grave site is marked, and sits just off the edge of the trail. The Apache Kid is a remote wilderness, and I have never seen another hiker in four trips to the area. Trail conditions are poor, and they are often difficult to follow. Snow in the valleys can be feet deep in the winter, and temperatures can reach over 90 degrees in the Summer. You will experience a 3,000 plus foot elevation change from the base of the mountains to the top. High winds are common on the ridgelines, and thunderstorms sweep in quickly, and can turn the normally dry area into a flash flood deathtrap in 30 minutes. That being said, the Apache Kid is a beautiful and remote trip. Trail presssure is zero, there are several historic mining areas to discover, and the view from the top is over 125 miles in clear weather. Bird watchers will be especially happy with the area, but larger animals such as deer and bear are often seen. Its is a challenging and difficult hike, but the rewards are worth it.