Pecos Wilderness in the Fall

Been out a couple times. The burn is north of Jacks ck. / Panchuelta TH obliterating south facing slopes, but the trail crews did a great job just north of Jacks Ck. I also saw headlamps going uphill from Panchuelta, but check which areas are officially closed. Driving a car to the TH's I have seen, now the gates do not open until about 6 AM (guess Santa Fe wants that hotel $)

Thanks, I did not know there would be gates on the road to the TH's.

Looking at the map, I was thinking of taking trail 257 to Pecos Baldy Lake. Then go along Trailriders Wall to the Truchas Lakes. And make my way back via a partial loop near the Pecos River. The map shows a trail leaving an un-named trailhead just East of the Panchuela Ranger Station. Does this route sound feasible?

The Katherine Lake, Stewart Lake, and Lake Johnson area also looks interesting. Any recommendation on which area might be a better introduction to the Pecos?

I will have to call the Forest Service as recommended to check closed trails/trailheads.

John, your plan about Truchas and the Pecos is a classic small loop, though there's others out there (Windsor,etc.. are all good destinations too). The area north of Panchuelta got hit really bad, though they mat have cleared it. Not as scenic as other choices IMHO.

The gates have always been present but this was the first time I've seen them closed with a sign showing posted hours since I started hiking there 19 years ago. I imagine the horse and RV campers may not have like headlights at 1 AM from campers trying to find a spot but who knows?