About this place

Each season on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District provides different opportunities for the forest visitor. In late spring, summer and early fall, hikers and backpackers can enjoy the beautiful vistas along Gooseberry Spring Trail as they approach the summit of Mt. Taylor or Strawberry Canyon Trail on the way to McGaffey Lookout Tower in the Zuni Mountains. Fall offers warm, clear days and crisp, cool nights and brings with it abundant hunting opportunities in the Zuni Mountains and on Mt. Taylor. Stands of aspen across the district provide beautiful gold and red foliage. Winter sports include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The well-known Mt. Taylor Winter Quadrathlon offers the adventuresome a challenging endurance race every February. In summer, skies often display single and double rainbows after seasonal monsoons. Developed recreation sites include Quaking Aspen, McGaffey, and Ojo Redondo in the Zuni Mountains and Coal Mine and Lobo Canyon on Mt. Taylor. Photographers and history buffs alike can find many sites and areas to explore and capture in memory or on film. The sunsets are truly beautiful to watch as dusk approaches.