Greenie Peak is a truly outstanding 4x4 adventure in New Mexico

Greenie Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,432m (11,259ft) above sea level, located in Taos County, in the US state of New Mexico. It’s one of the highest roads of New Mexico.

Greenie Peak

Is the road to Greenie Peak difficult?

Tucked away in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Northern New Mexico, the road to the summit is totally unpaved and not well maintained. The trail is rocky and extremely rough, so ride with caution. It is narrow with few places for passing, so meeting someone can be a challenge. During the summer, the road is very rough and has loose rock in some places. In the winter, the road is not plowed. The switchbacks are very tight. Keep an eye on the weather for thunderstorms and lightning. The road goes all the way to the summit. To drive this road, you need a 4x4 vehicle. It’s pretty narrow in parts.

How long is the road to Greenie Peak?

Starting from Lagunita Saddle, the road to the summit is 3.7 km (2.29 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 218 m, and the average gradient is 5.89%. It's pretty busy on weekends and holiday seasons. The road is totally impassable in winters, often until July 4th or later. The trail is very steep. There can be some small mud holes on the trail that are usually just deep enough to reach the wheel rim. The road provides some spectacular views of snow-capped mountains.
Pic: Rosy Morris