HomeNew MexicoLas Cruces › Baylor Pass West Trailhead

Baylor Pass West Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 167 Google reviews · Running trail in Las Cruces, New Mexico · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Baylor Pass West Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Open 24hScenicDog-friendlyTrailhead parking

Hiking area with trails that are good for children, dogs, and camping.

What runners say about Baylor Pass West Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (167 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“This trail is very beautiful,yet somewhat difficult for a novice hiker.”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“It is moderate to easy hike, just saying moderate but it is relatively longer.”

This trail is very beautiful,yet somewhat difficult for a novice hiker. There is such a vast area that may be explored, and several dry lakes and springs. When you get to Baylor Pass on the trail, the view is breathtaking! Be sure to take water with you if you go, since it is 8 miles round trip!

★★★★★ — John , Sep 2022

Great new trail head with plenty of parking for all sizes of vehicles. I think people even spend the night. The trail is in excellent shape and easy to follow. We meet people running on it. Training for the Baylor pass run. It quickly decents up into the greener scrub forest with bigger trees like Alligator Junipers.

★★★★★ — Lars , Apr 2022

Another good hike in Organ mountains. This trail is nearly 13 km and fun with dogs. No matter the weather you can take your dogs here. Watch for cattle though. It is moderate to easy hike, just saying moderate but it is relatively longer.

★★★★★ — Juie , Jan 2024

Nice trail, not too strenuous. We went with a local friend of ours who had "never really seen" snakes there before, and we saw a rattlesnake about 2/3 of the way to the top, right around dusk. We also shared the trail with a small herd of cows, who were both lovely and polite.

★★★★★ — Joe , May 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 167 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 15 mentions

“This trail is very beautiful,yet somewhat difficult for a novice hiker.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“Great new trail head with plenty of parking for all sizes of vehicles.”

More trails like this →

🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“This trail is nearly 13 km and fun with dogs.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Baylor Pass West Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Phone+1 575-525-4300

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Baylor Pass West Trailhead

4842 Baylor Canyon Rd #4726, Las Cruces, NM 88011

Get directions

Running trails near Las Cruces

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Pine Tree Loop Trail Head

4.8 ★★★★★ 100 reviews

Las Cruces, NM

4 miLoopNatural surfaceShaded

Hiking area with scenic views, varying difficulty levels, and a primitive campsite.

3.5 miles away

Dripping Springs Natural Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,592 reviews

Las Cruces, NM

3 miLoopMixedShaded

Hiking trails through rock spires & scrub to 1800s resort buildings & a granite-wall spring.

4.5 miles away

Sierra Vista National Recreation Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 124 reviews

Las Cruces, NM

29 miNatural surfaceLitScenic

Hiking, mountain-biking and trail-running destination, with sweeping views and free camping.

5.1 miles away

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

4.8 ★★★★★ 161 reviews

Las Cruces, NM

MixedScenic

Scenic mountain range, canyon & woodlands with hiking, horseback riding, camping & mountain biking.

5.3 miles away

Soledad Canyon Loop Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 24 reviews

Las Cruces, NM

LoopNatural surfaceScenic

6.1 miles away

Soledad Canyon Day Use Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 434 reviews

Las Cruces, NM

3 miLoopScenicDog-friendly

Mountainous, pet-friendly destination offering various hiking trails, some with waterfall views.

6.1 miles away

All running trails in Las Cruces, NM →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.