NEWS: 500mi self-supported Northern New Mexico Loop FKT attempt

Christof Teuscher

Why the rush? Because I have other things to do!

UPDATE: I completed the route in 12 days and 16 hours. You can find the trip report here.

On Monday, August 25, 2025 (pending final logistics & wildfires), I plan to attempt a self-supported and solo speed record of the Northern New Mexico Loop (NNML). This should keep me busy for a while. Having lived and worked in New Mexico for several years, this will feel like a homecoming for me.

The Northern New Mexico Loop (NNML)

The Northern New Mexico Loop (NNML) is a 500-mile hidden gem in the Land of Enchantment. The well-established route is the brainchild of Brett Tucker & Melissa Spencer (creators of the Grand Enchantment Trail and the 1,1000mi Oregon’s Sea-Snake Route) and offers one of the Southwest’s most diverse and challenging long-distance hiking experiences. The loop format is particularly appealing, allowing hikers to start and end in the same accessible location while experiencing the full diversity of northern New Mexico’s landscapes.

Starting and ending at the Santa Fe Plaza, the loop winds through many of the most beloved hiking trails in northern New Mexico. Hikers are taken through high desert pine forests and mountains over 10,000 feet in elevation, through deep canyons and arid farmland, and over stunning mesas. The route passes through iconic locations including the Jemez, Ghost Ranch, near Chama, Questa, Taos Ski Valley, Red River, Eagle Nest, Angel Fire, Sipapu, and the Pecos Wilderness, plus Bandelier National Monument with its ancestral pueblo dwellings and rock images. The cultural richness is unmatched, with arguably the best food available for any long hike available in Santa Fe, along with the city’s rich history and vibrant art scene. The Rio Grande features prominently in the grand scheme of the hike, and the route offers a very respectable number of trail miles rather than being primarily road walking like some alternative routes.
  • Trails: 345 mi (66%)
  • Dirt roads: 128 mi (24%)
  • Cross-country: 25 mi (5%)
  • Paved roads: 25 mi (5%)

As you can see in the interactive map below, the route has several alternatives. I will follow the main route (marked in blue).

Interactive map

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Source: https://blisterfree.wordpress.com/2023/03/24/northern-new-mexico-loop-2023-edition

The gear

The mandatory gear picture.

Dot watching

If you enjoy watching adventures unfold in real-time (even at a glacial pace), you can follow my progress on the embedded map below or at https://maps.findmespot.com/s/Y6V1.

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Resources