Williams Lake creek campsite / Wheeler Peak Wilderness

Campsite south of Williams Lake beyond marsh in trees next to creek

Taos Ski Village • NM • USA • 87525

US Forest Service, Carson National Forest

Backpack to alpine lake at the base of the tallest mountain in New Mexico, Wheeler Peak.

accessibility for wheelchairs, etc — No

availability of flush toilets — no

backcountry site — yes

biking — no

boat-ramp — no

community or group sites (how many) — none

gcs for backcountry location — 36.553839, -105.430045

gcs for parking — 36.579428, -105.439939

costs — free

Date of last update — 20180305

drive-up camping — no

driving directions — East on NM State Highway 150 to Taos Ski Valley. Continue through the ski area parking lot and turn right onto Twining Road. Switchback twice onto Kachina Rd. Parking lot is near the Kachina chairlift and the Bavarian lodge.

elevation — 11040

elevation change (for hiking) — +950

free — y

hiking — 2 miles

hiking directions (for backcountry) — Park at the hiker's parking lot near the Kachina chairlift and the Bavarian lodge. Follow the Wheelers Peak trail. Descend to the lake and hike around to back side, beyond the marsh into the trees at a steep creek.

hiking time if applicable — 1 hour

important notes (or warning) — Camping is not permitted within 300 feet of the lake.

notes — This is not the campsite at the trailhead.

other outdoor opportunities there, like scrambling, climbing, rafting, etc — Hike/Scramble to top of Wheeler Peak, the tallest mountain in the state.

parking for site, if applicable — Parking is near Kachina chairlift in Taos Ski Valley.

portable outhouse / non-flush toilets — no

submitter — reed

time to access campsite — 2 hours

urls / links to other resources — https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/carson/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5350403 https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/carson/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=44350&actid=50

walk-in sites — yes

water accessibility — lake and creek

weather — 11000 foot elevation, plan for extreme weather changes.