Table Mountain

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers

Southern New Mexico summers can be hot, with temperatures in the nineties or higher. Avoid midday and early afternoon runs in the warmer months.

Splitting off from the Hydra Trail, Table Mountain is a quick climb to a mesa overlooking City of Rocks State Park and miles of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Given the many well-placed granite markers around Hydra, it's unusual that Table Mountain has no trailhead at all. The trail can be located by watching for a break in the fence that lines the east side of the Hydra Trail, just before Hydra East Shortcut. A dirt singletrack heads northeast, then circles the contour of Table Mountain clockwise.

After about 0.7 miles, the trail climbs directly up the mesa. It then circles again, counterclockwise, before beginning another, steeper climb. The trail ends near the southwestern corner of the top of the mesa. The entire area can be explored for a number of scenic views, but use caution around steep drop off areas.