You may visit this undeveloped “wild” cave by obtaining a permit from the BLM Roswell Field Office. You must provide your own caving equipment and observe the rules of conduct within the cave. Download a cave permit application, or it can be obtained from the Roswell Field Office.

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Camping

Fort Stanton is open to overnight camping with a 14-day maximum length of stay. There are two small formal camping areas: The equestrian trailhead on NM 220 and a small campground at the Fort Stanton Cave entrance.

• Equestrian trailhead.
  Groups and individuals can camp in the parking lot. A Vault toilet and facilities for equine stock are present.  Picketing your horses is preferable to using corrals or panels as it is less damaging to the site.
• Cave entrance.
  Several tables and fire rings are located here, as well as a vault toilet. The access road is rough and not suitable to many vehicles. This campground primarily serves those who have been issued a permit to enter the cave.

Roads

There are 20 miles of designated roads within the NCA. Vehicles are limited to designated routes which will be marked with signs stating open or closed.

Location / Access

From Capitan, NM, drive on US 380 east 4.25 miles to NM 220. From Lincoln, NM, drive west 7.7 miles to NM 220.  Drive south one mile to the equestrian trailhead. The historic Fort Stanton is approximately one mile further on NM 220. BLM is investigating the opportunity to provide visitor services information about the NCA at Lincoln, Capitan, Ruidoso, and at the historic Fort Stanton.

More Info: Check out the BLM web page for more detailed info.

The hike is about four miles each way, mostly uphill going in leaving a nice downhill return journey. After about four miles at about 10,000 feet you reach an open meadow with a small stream running through the middle of it. This is a good place to turn have a rest and turn around if you are only after a day hike. The trail does continue on much farther in the Pecos Wilderness.

Getting There & Starting the Hike

Start the hike from the parking lot for the Panchuela campground (see the marker on the map below). The trail begins on the north edge of the parking lot. Head up the trail and veer to the right to cross the Panchuela creek using a small, well maintained foot bridge. Shortly after this crossing you head uphill and will come to a fork in the trail, follow the sign pointing you toward the Dockweiler Trail #259 (the right fork).

Fees

There is a $2 day use fee at the parking lot or a $5 dollar overnight fee per car.

Horseback Rides

You can get a horseback tours of this trail and many others in the Pecos, learn more.

The trail heading north alongside Horsethief Creek is Trail 253. The trail turning west is Horsethief Meadows Trail 243. Within a quarter mile, Trail 243 crosses a small tributary of Horsethief Creek and begins the steep ascent out of the canyon. The trail follows this stream up a drainage for half a mile before crossing it once again and ascending rapidly up the ridge. The trail swings slightly north at this point and travels to a lower saddle before turning west to follow a small drainage down the valley to the Rio Frijoles.

If the visitor is coming up the trail from Panchuela West and reaches this lower saddle with a fence just the other side, he must be sure to turn southeast to continue up the trail and not try to descend at this point. Good opportunities for camping can be found along the last section of the trail to the Rio Frijoles. Cattle can normally be seen grazing in the open grassy meadows that characterize Panchuela West.

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Getting There

Drive north on I-25 from Santa Fe and take the exit for Glorieta (about 15 miles from Santa Fe). At the exit proceed across the highway and turn left heading toward the Gloieta Conference Center. Stop at the gate house is a gaurd is there and let them know you are day hikers (or backpackers) and then proceed straight along the road. If no gaurd is present proceed ahead. Follow the main road as it curves around the cofnerence center until you come to a small building with a parking lot to its left with a sign that reads “Hikers Parking”. Park here the trail begins just down the side road (past the RV campground). Be sure to sign the trail register on the way in.

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