Black Range Crest Trail #79

Black Range Crest Trail #79 is a long-distance hiking route along the crest of the Black Range through the Aldo Leopold Wilderness in Gila National Forest, with a north-and-south split from Emory Pass. The route is mapped as a non-motorized trail following foot travel along the ridgeline (surface listed as ground).

The Emory Pass access point is on New Mexico Highway 152, using the Emory Pass Vista parking area; the north segment begins just before the parking area for the hike toward Hillsboro Peak. The route heads to the high points of the range and reaches Reeds Peak, where it connects with Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #74.

For the north portion, expect an extended outing toward Hillsboro Peak (with the route reaching Reeds Peak around 27.7 miles from the trailhead) and staying in wilderness terrain for most of the line of travel. This section runs along the crest and is suitable for hiking and horseback.

For the south portion, the trail runs from Emory Pass toward Sawyers Peak and terminates at Forest Road 886. The south segment is 8.3 miles and is commonly done as an out-and-back from Emory Pass.

Water is a real planning constraint: springs on the mountain crest depend on winter snowpack and may be unreliable after mild winters, and water quality is not tested. The guidance is to filter or treat drinking water, and to look for water by descending into canyons on connecting trails; how far you have to drop depends on moisture.

Trail rules and use limits are specific: permits are required for commercial or organized uses, bicycling is prohibited on portions within the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, and the broader trail is designated for non-motorized uses. Stock feed brought onto the forest must be certified weed free.

Length in the mapped trail data is about 13.77 km total for the traced line of Black Range Crest Trail #79 (with the full route described as two segments totaling about 36 miles in common planning). There are no fee sites listed for use of the trail.

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