1. Home
  2. Mountain Peaks
  3. New Mexico

Mountain Peaks in New Mexico

13 mountain peaks in New Mexico with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Taos County has the most (3). The darkest skies are at Sierra Grande (Bortle 1).

Top mountain peaks

Wheeler PeakMountain Peak
Wheeler PeakTaos County · 4,012 m
Truchas PeakMountain Peak
Truchas PeakRio Arriba County · 3,976 m
Baldy MountainMountain Peak
Baldy MountainColfax County · 3,765 m
Mount PhillipsMountain Peak
Mount PhillipsColfax County · 3,553 m
Tucumcari MountainMountain Peak
Tucumcari MountainQuay County · 1,509 m
Chicoma MountainMountain Peak
Chicoma MountainRio Arriba County · 3,517 m
Big Hatchet PeakMountain Peak
Big Hatchet PeakHidalgo County · 2,541 m
Sierra GrandeMountain Peak
Sierra GrandeUnion County · 2,655 m
Mount WalterMountain Peak
Mount WalterTaos County · 3,996 m
Santa Fe BaldyMountain Peak
Santa Fe BaldySanta Fe County · 3,847 m
Ocate PeakMountain Peak
Ocate PeakMora County · 2,377 m
Cerro PedernalMountain Peak
Cerro PedernalRio Arriba County · 3,003 m

Mountain Peaks by county

All mountain peaks (13)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Wheeler PeakTaos County4,012 mArroyo Seco2
Truchas PeakRio Arriba County3,976 mChimayo2
Baldy MountainColfax County3,765 mAngel Fire1
Mount PhillipsColfax County3,553 mAngel Fire1
Tucumcari MountainQuay County1,509 mTucumcari4
Chicoma MountainRio Arriba County3,517 mLos Alamos3
Big Hatchet PeakHidalgo County2,541 mDeming1
Sierra GrandeUnion County2,655 mRaton1
Mount WalterTaos County3,996 mArroyo Seco2
Santa Fe BaldySanta Fe County3,847 mNambe3
Ocate PeakMora County2,377 mAngel Fire1
Cerro PedernalRio Arriba County3,003 mSanta Teresa2
Venado PeakTaos County3,880 mQuesta1

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph mountain peaks

Summits catch first and last light — alpenglow can turn rock pink or orange minutes before sunrise and after sunset while valleys stay in shadow.

  • Photograph the peak from a lake, meadow or ridge at sunrise when the face that looks east lights up first.
  • Long lenses compress ridgelines; shoot the peak from several miles away to make it look massive.
  • Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer at high elevations — plan summit hikes for early morning.
  • Snow on the summit holds detail best when you expose for the highlights and lift shadows later.
  • Alpenglow lasts only a few minutes; set up and focus beforehand.

Season: Early summer keeps snow on the peaks with green valleys below; autumn adds aspen or larch color in many ranges.