T63

T63
Copeland Canyon Trail

Smokey Bear Ranger District

Download
T63
GPS Track
(as .GPX)

Capitan Mountains Trails

T58 (partial),T61 (partial), T62 (partial), T63, T64, T65, and T66 are shown as black dashed lines on the map. As part of the Capitan Mountains Wilderness Area trail system, these trails allow only hiking and pack animal activities.

LENGTH:
1.0 miles

ELEVATION:
6820 - 7240 ft
420 ft
difference

DIFFICULTY:
Easiest

SCENIC
RATING:
2

Contour Interval: 40 feet
Capitan Mountains Area (37 MB)

Arroyo Serrano West Topo Map Capitan Peak Topo Map Kyle Harrison Topo Map

Route Color Codes	paved roads (red)		FS roads, open (blue)		FS roads, closed or impassable (magenta)
	main trail(s) (black dashes)	---	connector trail(s) (green dashes)	---	damaged or intermittent trail(s) (orange over black dashes)	---	closed trails(s) (red over black dashes)	---
Symbols	trailhead (blue triangle)		trail junction (blue dot)		trail end (blue square)

Note: The 2004 Peppin Fire Burned parts of T63, T65, and T66. The descriptions given below are based on John Stockert’s 2001 observations. Click on this link for a 2013 picture of the area near the junction of T65 and T66.

DESCRIPTION:

T63, an old mining road, branches off T65 and heads up canyon into the Capitan Mountains Wilderness. Along the trail are several small open areas and excavation piles from the mining era being reclaimed by nature. Gradients vary up to 15%. The obvious trail ends where tree branches block the way. A short path leads from there 0.1 mile up canyon to an old campsite near the edge of a small inner canyon. Here, a creek passes through three small, interesting pools, all within 250 feet of the first pond. An easy access, with no trail, into the wilderness can be gained by hiking up this somewhat steep-walled valley.

ACCESS:

To reach the T63 trailhead, a high clearance vehicle is mandatory, and a 4-wheel drive is preferable. These are dry weather roads, and are often highly rutted and rough. For accessing T63, in Capitan take NM246 north and east 29 miles to milepost 29. Drive another 0.8 mile, and just beyond a Copeland Canyon sign, turn right (south) on signed FR163, a dirt road. After 5.2 miles of very poor driving conditions, the road joins T65 and ends in another 0.2 mile, where T63 begins.

LOCATION(S) OF ACCESS POINT(S)

Table

	Lat/Lon hddd mm ss.s	UTM/NAD83
Trail End	N33 36 38.8 W105 16 55.8	13 S 473825 3719036
Trailhead (lower)	N33 37 28.2 W105 16 50.5	13 S 473966 3720558

Last Hiked: 2001	Web Page Updated:February 21, 2014
Copyright Lynn Melton 2014	Contact: LNFTG14@gmail.com