Kitchen Mesa Trail at Ghost Ranch is a 3.7 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near El Rito, New Mexico that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
birding
hiking
nature trips
trail running
walking
views
wild flowers
wildlife
rocky
scramble
So much to see between dinosaur quarry, wild flowers,and stunning views at the top. Relatively difficult chimney to climb and rock wall to scramble to get to the Mesa.
What a view! The slot is not for the faint hearted, it’s about a hundred foot climb.
Completed this beautiful hike. It was challenging climb. The view are work every bit of it.
awesome hike! I don't recommend taking dogs if you plan on doing the entire hike.
beautiful trail, i do not recommend if there are going to be higher than 40mph gusts of wind. chimney climb acts as a wind tunnel, you may want hiking poles for it as well. it splits at times, i believe you go right at each fork it is marked by tin cans and orange neon tape at times.
It was a difficult but unbelievably wonderful hike. Don’t let that scramble at the near top deter you, it is worth the trouble!
Beautiful hike, scramble up the rocks was difficult however the view from the top looking over Abiquiu lake was worth it.
Excellent views! Keep your eyeballs on the trail, or it’ll slip away from you. Definitely don’t attempt to climb to the top if you have butter-feet.
You get to hike all the way up the canyon wall wich is pretty amazing. It's start easy but get really difficult at the end because you litteraly have to climb the canyon's wall. I couldn't finish it but I enjoy it anyway!
this is one of my favorite hikes of all time. the first mile or so is very easy and gradual but there is a steep part the requires hand over feet scurrying across steep rocks. Because of this 200 yard section it should be rates Difficult.
the view from the top is worth it and the best! don't get too close to the edge though the rocks at the top are not considered stable.
Fab hike! The end climb to the top of the mesa is tricky. Not good if you don't like heights, and a loose shale section you need to take care with. Would recommend taking hiking poles.
Well marked but the scramble up the boulders was tough. Fabulous views
This gorgeous hike goes through many kinds of interesting terrain and includes a scramble up a chimney full of boulders. The first leg is fairly strenuous and the way up is steep but the views from the top are absolutely worth your effort.
A beautiful hike that I would highly recommend, though perhaps not for anyone with a fear of heights or issues with vertigo. The hike starts out easy enough, though there is little to no shade so be prepared with plenty of water, as it's extremely hot in the summertime. You'll then climb and make your way up, which includes a tricky section of boulders. You wouldn't want to do this if there is rain, as I imagine it would be way too slippery. From there the trail is poorly marked so you have to watch closely for the markers. The view from the top is stunning, one of the most amazing views I experienced while hiking in Santa Fe.