Heart Lake, New Mexico

At the close of the most recent Ice Age, glaciers melted from the highest peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Range and left behind a dozen small lakes in cirques at the heads of the valleys. Located in the Latir Wilderness, Heart Lake is only 5 miles from the trailhead. It is an easy climb from the lake to the alpine ridgeline above, where grand views reach from the Latir Lakes into Colorado. This trip is well worth an overnight stay, although camping is not permitted within 300 feet of Heart Lake or in the meadow surrounding Baldy Cabin. The shallow lake provides marginal habitat for trout, but Lake Fork holds a healthy population of pan-sized brook trout.

To get to the trailhead at Cabresto Lake from the intersection of NM 522 and NM 38 in Questa, turn onto NM 38 for 0.25 mile. Turn left onto NM 563 and travel 2.1 miles, then turn right onto gravel FR 134. Cross into Carson National Forest and drive 3.3 miles to FR 134A. Turn left and continue 2.1 miles to Cabresto Lake and campground. This road is rough in places, so a high-clearance vehicle is recommended, although carefully driven sedans can make the trip.

The Lake Fork Trail starts by skirting to the left (west) of Cabresto Lake, then makes a long, steady climb parallel to Lake Fork of Cabresto Creek. The first 2 miles traverse conifer forest with cork-bark fir dominating the slopes. After passing through several small meadows, meet the Bull Creek Trail No. 85 about 2.5 miles from the start. Bear right, cross Bull Creek, and continue along Lake Fork.

After climbing the only switchback on the trail, enter a blue spruce forest. At mile 3.5, find a long meadow with excellent campsites on both sides of Lake Fork. In 0.5 mile, the trail re-enters the forest and climbs a low ridge. At mile 4.5 bear left toward Heart Lake at the junction with Baldy Mountain Trail. In a few minutes, enter a small meadow and bear right to parallel small streams on both the left and right. As the trail peters out, again pick up the main trail to the left of the streams. From here it is a short distance to Heart Lake.

To reach the saddle above the lake, stay on the left side of the lake, passing the junction with Trail No. 85 on the left. Pick up the drainage to the north, following the drainage through a meadow. In the trees on the other side of the meadow, a trail switchbacks up to the saddle. Climb along the ridgeline to get excellent views of Heart and Latir lakes as well as the mountains to the north. Do not cross onto private land on the north side of the ridge.

Return to the meadow below the saddle, but stay left on a route that cuts across a low ridge at the base of a talus slope. After crossing a low saddle, pick up a trail heading across a meadow, with a full view of Baldy Mountain straight ahead. Continue about 0.5 mile to a major intersection. Bear left toward Baldy Mountain to reach Baldy Cabin and a superb high meadow; turn right to return to Cabresto Lake. In the meadow's short grass, the trail tread to the right is not visible for the first 300 feet, but it is well-worn after that. Continue downhill to a sharp right turn across a dry drainage; immediately on the opposite side is the signed trail intersection where this trip previously had turned west to Heart Lake. This time, go straight to backtrack downhill to Cabresto Lake.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Craig Martin fell in love with the mountains of New Mexico at the age of twelve when a fellow Boy Scout shared pictures of his trip to Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron. He has lived in New Mexico since 1987, exploring the state on foot, bike, cross-country skis, or with a fly rod in hand.
After working as a carpenter, a naturalist for the Delaware State Parks and the National Park Service, a geology instructor, and a junior high school science teacher, Martin took over primary care of his then-infant daughter and began a career as a freelance writer. He was editor of the award-winning Fly-Fishing in Northern New Mexico (The University of New Mexico Press, 1991) and its companion volume, Fly Patterns for Northern New Mexico (University of New Mexico Press, 1992). He has also written three mountain bike guides including Mountain Biking in Northern New Mexico which features twenty-five tours into New Mexico's historical and geologic past. His writings have appeared in such magazines as Sesame Street Parents, Delaware Conservationist, New Mexico Magazine, Fly Fisherman, and The Flyfisher.
Martin lives in Los Alamos, New Mexico, with his wife, June and children, Jessica and Alex, who all share his love of the outdoors.