La Ventana Arch

A short, easy hike to New Mexico's second-largest natural arch. If you are in the area, make the short stop needed to see the arch.
La Ventana natural arch

Hike data:

Controlling agency: El Malpais National Conservation Area
Location in the state: West-central; Cebolla Wilderness
Trailhead waypoint(s): LAVNTH
Elevation:
start: 6998ft; 2133m end: 6998ft; 2133m
min: 6998ft; 2133m max: 6998ft; 2133m
Elevation gain/loss: 19 ft; 6 m
Length: 1312 ft; 400 m.
How long it took us (HH:MM): 00:20.
Cleanliness: 9/10
Trail usage: 0.00 people/hour. The arch is popular. However it takes so little time to hike that you will likely not see anybody else except on busy weekends.
Trail Condition: Wide, gentle, and easy.
Fee: $0.00.
When we hiked it: 2000-09-17.
Trailhead facilities: Trash cans.
Special features of the hike: Scenery, geology.
When to hike: All year. I would expect snow to be a problem only right after a snowstorm; if you can drive the road, the trail is probably OK.

Maps:

Map showing the location of the trailhead

Getting to the trailhead:

From I-40, take exit 89 at NM 117. Head south to mile marker 39 (about 17.4 miles), where the turnoff to the parking area for the trailhead is.

The hike:

No short text
Starting from the trailhead, follow the paved trail out to a sign talking about the formation of the arch. From here, the trail turns to dirt, but remains easy to follow. A few more minutes of walking and you are as close as you can get to the arch (GPS: LAVTAR N 34.869833 W 107.889540). The view from this closest point is what you see pictured here.

Plants we saw along the trail:

Reader comments about this hike:

On Tue Jan 27 09:51:44 2009 Richard R. Barron from Ada, OK said:
You can continue to follow a trail that takes you to an area directly under the arch. The first time I visited, that trail was closed, but in 2003 it was open and I made some very nice images from beneath the arch. Contact me for a link to my page of photos from our 2003 visit. -Richard

From the webmaster: His page of photos is here. Note that the trail he describes to get under the arch is closed (again?).

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