State: New Mexico
Location:Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Length, One-Way: 5.3 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Elevation Change: 1850 feet
Best Season: Year-Round
Difficulty: Moderate
Lake Valley New Mexico Ghost Town
Trail Information
Slaughter Canyon is very large with several branches including West Slaughter, Middle Slaughter and North Slaughter. The trail goes up Middle Slaughter which forks into North Slaughter and finally ends on the Guadalupe Ridge trail.
The Slaughter Canyon Trail is primarily marked with rock cairns. Beginning on the left side of the wash the cairns will lead you along an old roadbed. The trail returns to the wash after a short distance. While in Middle Slaughter Canyon the route continues to crisscross through the wash. Pay close attention to the cairns when crossing the canyon. Once the trail turns into North Slaughter Canyon it is well defined. There are several alternate routes also marked with rock cairns. These routes fade out and do not lead to the Guadalupe Ridge Trail.
Directions
The trailhead is located at the Slaughter Canyon parking lot.
