Overview
Middle Fork Lake offers the alpine lake experience of the Taos Mountains without the crowds of the Williams Lake approach. The trailhead is in the Rio Hondo Canyon below Taos Ski Valley, and the route climbs through the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness on a less-traveled trail to a lake at approximately 11,200 feet below the main crest of the Taos Mountains in Carson National Forest.
The 8-mile round trip gains 2,000 feet, most of it distributed over the first 3 miles of consistent climbing through spruce-fir and aspen forest in the Hondo Canyon drainage. The upper trail crosses a shoulder above treeline before descending slightly to the lake basin. The wilderness surrounding the lake has the kind of quiet that becomes genuinely rare on summer weekends in popular destinations: on most days, hikers to Middle Fork Lake encounter only a handful of others.
Bears use this drainage actively; food storage best practices are important on overnight trips. See the bear canister requirements guide for current recommendations.
The Route
Miles 0 to 2: Hondo Canyon Approach. The trail begins in the Rio Hondo Canyon, an aspen-and-spruce corridor that is one of the most scenic in northern New Mexico. The grade is steady but moderate. The creek runs alongside or crosses the trail several times. Elk and mule deer sign is present throughout the lower canyon; morning visitors may encounter animals at water crossings.
Miles 2 to 4: Upper Canyon to Lake Basin. The trail steepens above mile 2 as it gains the upper canyon and enters the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness. The forest transitions to denser spruce-fir as elevation increases. The trail crosses a shoulder above treeline at approximately mile 3.5 with views of the Taos crest. A short descent leads to the Middle Fork Lake basin at mile 4.
When to Visit
June through October. The canyon floor trail is accessible in late May in most years; the upper basin and lake approach clear later, typically mid-June. Fall color in the Hondo Canyon aspen is exceptional in late September and early October. Afternoon thunderstorms require careful timing in July and August.
What to Bring
Many hikers carry the following:
- Water filter (the creek drainage has abundant water)
- Bear canister or food hang system for overnight trips
- Trekking poles (useful on the upper steep sections and creek crossings)
- Rain shell and layers (the upper basin is exposed)
- Downloaded topo map
Review Leave No Trace principles for backcountry camping practices in the wilderness.
Practical Details
No permit required (as of 2026). No trailhead facilities. Dispersed camping permitted in the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness. The trail is managed by the Camino Real Ranger District of Carson National Forest.
Getting There
From Taos, take NM Highway 150 northeast toward Taos Ski Valley. The Middle Fork Trailhead pullout is on the right side of Highway 150 in the Rio Hondo Canyon, approximately 8 miles from Taos before reaching the ski valley. Look for a small sign and gravel pullout. The drive from Taos takes about 20 minutes.