Location- Meet to carpool from the parking lot of the Santa Fe Botanical Garden, 715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM, 87505
Cost: $15 Member/$20 Not-yet-Member
Hamilton Mesa, in the Pecos Wilderness of Santa Fe National Forest, is renown for its magnificent displays of wild irises (“blue flag”) and golden banner (golden pea) in June of each year, shortly after the snows have melted. This hike will begin from Iron Gate Campground. We will ascend to the mesa for approximately 90 minutes, and once on the mesa, it is open, relatively flat, and with any luck, we should see not only spectacular displays of iris and golden banner, but gorgeous uninterrupted views of the lower Sangre de Cristo Range, including the Truchas Peaks.
Bring lunch, water, proper hiking footwear, trekking poles (optional) sunblock, and raingear. Your payment for this hike will be used to reimburse any drivers for gas used for this trip. You will also be provided a light snack after the hike.
RATING OF HIKE: Moderate Hike of 3 – 5 miles
About your Hike Guide: Ken Collins is a long time and active member of the Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Ken has gardened in the Santa Fe area for many decades and is familiar with native plants and drought-tolerant shrubs and perennials. His particular interest is in wildflowers, especially those of the Rocky Mountains, the desert Southwest and the Intermountain region. In recent years he has been an event leader for the Crested Butte (CO) Wildflower Festival.