Black Range Crest Trail #79

Black Range Crest Trail #79 is a long-distance hike in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness on the Black Range crest in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest. It’s rugged, and the route threads along the boundary area in wilderness, with the high points of the Black Range as the big draw.

The trail breaks into two main options that both start at Emory Pass on NM 152. From Emory Pass, the north side runs toward Hillsboro Peak and continues to Reeds Peak, where it meets Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #74.

The north segment is about 27.7 miles and is described as almost all wilderness. Expect forested travel on the crest, and plan on using the Emory Pass trailhead as your base if you’re doing this portion as an out-and-back.

The north route is also where you’ll reach Hillsboro Peak (10,020 ft) and a fire lookout. From there, you continue along the ridge line to Reeds Peak (10,013 ft) for the junction with Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #74.

The south segment runs from Emory Pass toward Sawyers Peak (9,646 ft) and ends at Forest Road 886. It’s about 8.3 miles one-way and is commonly run as an out-and-back.

Access and logistics: parking is at Emory Pass, and directions from Hillsboro are via NM 152 to Emory Pass Vista (17.8 miles west of Hillsboro per the forest instructions). Closest town services are around Hillsboro, roughly 17.8 miles from the trailhead.

For preparation, treat water as the limiting factor on the crest: springs depend on winter snowpack and can be unreliable after mild winters. Where water is found by descending into canyons on connecting trails, quality isn’t tested, so plan to filter or treat all drinking water.

Use and rules matter here. The trail is designated for non-motorized uses; bicycles are prohibited on portions within the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, and the standard recreation pattern is for hikers (with horseback riding also allowed on the broader trail system). Standard recreation doesn’t require permits, but commercial or organized uses do. The trail has no fee for use.

More information: Visitor information, Visitor information, Aldo Leopold Wilderness | PeakVisor