Goose Lake Trail Reviews

Took us over an hour each direction- slow and steady & we arrived at a beautiful lake ! Picnic lunch and drown some worms but no fish! Guess they weren’t hungry today.
Lots of reviews about the “road” - I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a road per say..... our RZR made it with some narrow scary parts but overall a great outing!

We have been 4-wheeling for many years and are used to rough trails. This one seems to be especially rough. We were wondering if it was going to be worth it and luckily it was. There is a beautiful and oh, so peaceful lake at the top. Don't forget to look for mountain sheep!

Great trail loved Gooselake beautiful and there was still snow up there in June which was great too see

Begins with a wet trip across the Red River to get to a rough jeep trail best suited for ATV/UTVs, but often attempted by jeeps and cars (the latter is definitely not recommended).

This is one of those trails that is not always open due to bad road conditions, too much snow, etc. If you have the opportunity to make the trip, you will not be disappointed. Must have 4 wheel drive or be on tour to make it up 7 miles. Goose Lake is a 6 acre crystal clear lake. If you are lucky, you can see bighorn sheep on the cirque above the lake. There is an old goldmine and general store along the way up. make a day of it....bring a picnic lunch and some beverages. You will not be disappointed unless you just cant get up there!

We hiked 1.7 miles up Goose Creek Trail.
The roses were beautiful & abundant.
Trail was in great condition. 2 spots you had to cross the creek on logs.
Did about 30min/ mile

We took our 2013 Jeep Wrangler up this trail and had the time of our life! It was white knuckles sometimes for me as the roads are very rocky at some points and very close to the edge of the mountain. It's one road up and down. So if you come up on another vehicle or ATV someone will have back up. Once at the top the lake and mountains in the backdrop were breathtaking!! It's a must see!

I had heard this was quite a scary trip but last week third week of September they took a bulldozer up and down this route the boulders are gone and the narrow place has been widened more speed bumps added that will Buck you right out of your 4 Wheeler if you're not strapped in and going too fast but huge improvements for drainage curious to see it again in a year not for the faint of heart if you have rib injuries or back problems don't go if you wanna tour guide use New Mexico adventure company they have the big safari jeeps and will get you up and down safely with lots of history along the way. It is 3 hours total but the destination is worth it goose Lake is very unique to the mountains backdrop good opportunity to see mule deer in bears

This was our day two of 3 days of trails. the trail was moderate, the lakes was beautiful at the top. Take your pole, although the day that we were there the number of people made it hazardous to fish. We saw mountain sheep that were so tame they were eating out of folks hands.

I have been to goose lake several times always by ATV. It is 8 miles one way and about 3000 feet of elevation gain. The trail was redone sometime before 2009 and is an easy trail now.

Goose lake is worth the trip just for the views. Climb the switchbacks behind the lake (if you are in good shape) and you will get quite a view. You can see the Taos Ski valley from up on top.

One of my favorite places.

I've been up Goose Lake Trail several time through the years. I don't remember it being so rocky and rough before. It is worth the view at the top, but expect quite a bit of traffic and some considerably bumpy areas getting there and back. If you ride at your experience level and don't try to go too fast you will be fine.

We call it OUR PLACE. ..we had a blast as 4wheeling in our rented Jeep. It took about 1 1/2 hours to get to the top and we took our time. We didn't expect to find such Beauty and we didn't want to leave. I took over 500 photos at this place and hand feed the animals. The squirrels got in our jeep...ate my huge Pancake and got into our nuts...amazing beauty from God...

We rented an ATV and rode up the trail from Red River, New Mexico. This is a great spot to take a picnic lunch and spend time exploring. We saw lots of wildlife and shared Peanuts with the birds and chipmunks. You are able to walk or hike around the Lake for breathtaking views. Such a quiet spot to enjoy.

It's a beautiful hike. A walking stick is recommended because you cross the river and small streams a bunch of times. The forest service needs to post signs every half mile so you know how far you have hiked and how far you have left to go. Unfortunately after all these years, I doubt the trail will ever be marked. That is why I didn't give it the highest rating.

Drove a jeep up to Goose Lake. The trail takes a little over an hour to get up but the views in person are absolutely beautiful!! There are trout in the lake right now so fishing is an option. My favorite part is probably seeing all of the clouds pass right over the top of the mountain!

Not an easy trail by any means... very rough but completely worth every bump! Beautiful vistas and scenic views from this spectacular place!

A thrill of a lifetime. Very rough and bumpy, but so much fun. Ask for Trey as your driver/guide. He was great.

Don't take this trail if you are claustrophobic! The trail can get a bit tight when you meet up with another traveler on a 4-wheeler, multiple person ATV, Jeep or Truck! Beautiful view once your reach the top!

The trail is not for the faint of heart. It is narrow, and can be slick in the rain and hail, during the summer. It is worth the travel. A beautiful area to visit.

We took our '02 lifted Avalanche up to the lake a few years ago before the trail was cleared of all the boulders-those were the days! We came back with our jeep in 2011 and disappointed the trail was cleared out and made more tourist friendly. Will visit Goose Lake again & again--you'll be glad you did! Red River is our favorite getaway-- Been coming for 25 years! Love the fishing & wildlife.

Do it do it do it - first time driving a rented ATV; originally had doubts with folks on here saying it was dangerous and such. It’s not. Slim road and was afraid of having to deal with opposite traffic, but everyone is so polite.

There is a lot of 4-wheeler traffic along this trail, so it's best to be cautious. The fishing under the bridge near to the main road is really good!

Ok I totally Love the idea of ATV and I think for a sec its super fun. But there is some SERIOUS terrain on the way up. Also road is teeny tiny, which makes hard for two ATV to pass let alone a Jeep.

We visited Red River for the first time. Booked a trip to Goose Lake with New Mexico Adventure Company. They use Ford F-250 trucks with 4 wheel drive and fitted with 3 rows of bench seats and seat belts. Trey was our driver/guide. We had an absolute blast. It's a very rough trail and you definitely want to pull that seatbelt tight. Take a jacket, a sack lunch and a cap. It may rain, might start sleeting and can be really cool to cold at Goose Lake. Be sure to take a camera. Highly recommend this trip to anyone coming to Red River.

Beautiful mountain lake, one of the few in the area accessible by vehicle - we went up the trail in a Nissan Frontier 4wd - there are a number of interesting abandoned mining sites. We camped at a branch trail about half way up and were totally alone. Last year we camped at goose lake on a Tuesday night in June and were the only people there overnight. Wildlife includes deer which we saw fairly close. The scenery is really stunning. There are markers on the way up on brown signs (not east to see sometimes) which have numbers (1-13) in reference to the Placer Creek Mining History Trail - we got a copy at the jeep rental place at the 'Y' intersection as you arrive in Red River from the Angel Fire direction.
The trail is rough, bumpy, steep in places, close to big drops and only one lane - my wife won't go but the kids enjoy it.

It is so beautiful to see. I as a teenager saw it from a Honda 90 trail bike. With Red River Adventure Company it was so much more fun and learning . Thanks again Rick & Vicki Texas

Rented a UTV and drove the 6 mile trip to the lake. Extremely rough but the time we spent at the lake was well worth it. The trout were in a biting mood, so we caught and released a half dozen or so before eating our lunch we brought along. On the way down there was a small rockslide from the past that had our UTV about to tip over, so we backed off and did what we could to repair the trail, finally going on down.

We rented a jeep for the trip in October. The road was so bad that a lady with my husband and myself, had to get out and walk several different times. If you have a bad back or knees, do not try this. The trip took a long time, leaving around noon and returning about 7:00, after dark.

The ride was fun - but VERY narrow. We were in a Jeep and there was very little room on either side for anything else. I will say, that Goose Lake was amazing and we are glad we did it - but we would not do it again... the white truck that rolled off the edge and ended up in the ravine would probably agree (not sure when it happened). Goose Lake is worth the hike!!

Our family rented a Polaris from Mike's fun place and drove to Goose Lake. The trail is pretty bumpy but definitely worth the trip. Allow about 4 hours for the trip up and back. That allows sometime to enjoy the view. Very popular sight.

Beautiful ATV/4WD trail. A little bumpy in areas but totally worth it! Goose Lake and the surrounding mountains at the top is beautiful!

Its about a one hour bumpy ride in a 4x4 vehicle up a narrow road, but well worth the wait. Its an experience of its own just getting up there if your a city slicker like me, but it pays off when you get to the top. I have been up there about 5 times, each time renting a jeep. I would recommend taking a light jacket if your cold natured, and definitely pack a easy meal if your going up around lunch time. There is also an animal trail you can climb to get to the peak. Its a lot of work, but the view is unbelievable.

The trail up is narrow and rocky. When we were there in early July, there was a lot of dust. It is fun, but a long day on a bad trail is not the perfect day. On the other hand, the lake at the end of the trail is stunning. You won't see anything like this anywhere else. Overall, I'd rather be on a ski lift to the top of the mountain.

I have been up to goose lake multiple times over the years. Went up in a 2019 Can Am XMR Defender this last time. (08/19). The trail has some super narrow spots and a few places that are a bit rocky with larger than avg jump ups. I took my 4 year old and we had a blast. I was surprised to see not only one but two F150's at the top and a 4 door jeep. I personally would not take a full size vehicle to the top. There is a white Ford 6.4 with a flatbed about halfway up the trail at the bottom of the mountain. After many google searches I still haven't found any info on this wreck. If you are renting a utv/atv for the first time I would highly recommend not going on this trail.

Well worth the trip/hike! Absolutely breathtaking! So beautiful! You have to try and see it before you leave town! You can take little breaks on the was up if the altitude gets you a little. Still worth the trip!

Took a little trip to Goose Lake, near Red River NM. What a beautiful experience. You need an ATV to get there. Bring your own or rent locally. This is fun for the whole family! Fishing, hiking, or just sitting back and breathing cleaner (albeit thinner) air.

WE love to take our jeep and go to Goose Lake. Beautiful scenery.
Road is a little narrow so just take it slow and be careful.
We take a picnic lunch.

Everyone should enjoy this view and the surrounding scenery. You must take and ATV or Jeep to reach the lake. The path is narrow at times, but beautiful.

All I can say is WOW. If you can get there via 4 heel vehicle or ATV, it is a must. It is a slice of heaven seeing the lake surrounded by the mountains and forest. We saw 2 elk and a wild turkey on the trail on the way up at 6:30am last Friday and a 4 mountain goats once at Goose Lake. The trail ride offers old mining sites and a small cut out in the mountain you can go.
There are more magnificent views on the trail that will keep you saying WOW, look how beautiful that is.

This trail can easily be taken by begginers who are able to handle their machines. All too often people rent machines and are very unfamiliar with how to drive them. Everyones out to have fun but you must obide by any rules. We saw way tooo many kids with NO helmets. Way too many kids AND adults with NO seatbelts on! Its all about having a good time but it wont take much to slide down a ravine. ( Just like the truck did people mention in their reviews)
Definitley go to the Lake if you can make it. Very beautiful and the animals are super firendly. Clearly thjey have become dependent on people feeding them. Its a great ride, enjoy and be safe!

The road is a little rocky, but not dangerous. Perfect ride for us. Take your fishing pole and your lunch.

Don't attempt unless you have a skilled driver. We went up 4 miles, removing boulders and tree limbs in order to pass-then couldn't get through a waist deep snow drift. Could see more drifts up the trail, so backed down and turned around (no small feat) We were in a Ford Raptor a little big and wide for the trail, but we thoroughly enjoyed our adventure.

The trail was rough to me, but that's because I'm not as familiar with ATVs. I also didn't realize how long of a trip up it would be - it probably took us about 45 minutes to get to the top. We went up with 3 ATVs and 2 Jeeps. It was pretty narrow at some points, and the Jeeps had to do some maneuvering to pass other vehicles coming from the other direction. You go by some old collapsed cabins and even a bear cave on the way up. We fished for a while at the lake; didn't catch anything, but the real purpose of going was to take in the view. There's a trail off to the side of the lake that will lead you straight up to the highest point, and it looked like fun, but we didn't try it. There were also mountain goats at the top! One reminder - take rain gear. We knew better, but still failed to pack enough gear for everyone, and ended up getting caught in a thunderstorm, including hail. We were pelted all the way down the mountain, and it was COLD! We had to stop a few times on the way down just to warm up, and seek shelter under some trees. Not exactly fun at the time, but it made for some good stories. "Remember that time we were pelted with hail and you had to do squats and lunges under the trees just to keep warm??" ha!

Today is July 13, 2009 and we went up today on 4 wheelers. My wife, 17 and 13 year old sons, and I made the trip. We never had a minutes problem and enjoyed to whole trip. The lake is beautiful and we all hiked half way up the mountain behind the lake and threw snow balls. I would HIGHLY recommend this trip. We rode four Polaris 500 H.O. Scramblers and used about a half tank of gas. We stopped and explored a couple of old houses and mines but overall the trip up will take around 50 minutes up and down. It is fun to take lunch and just relax around the lake. Hope everyone enjoys this as much as we did. On a difficulty scale of 1-10, I would rate this a 3-4. My wife never rides 4 wheelers and she had no problems at all.

We made the very bumpy journey to goose lake yesterday afternoon and it was worth every bump along the way. Trey from the New Mexico Adventure Company did great educating everyone about what went on in those mountains 100 years ago. When you finally get to the to you get to see one of the most beautiful landscapes you will ever see. If you are willing to hike for a few minutes you will come up to some snow patches that are still there and it's mid-July! Go for it!

We started at the trail head with our group of 10 in ages from 2 years to 63 years and a pregnant gal. We all enjoyed the magnificent scenery. There was little climbing involved because we followed the gravel road in. There was a little bit of traffic and we probably should have driven in and then started our hike. If we do this again, we will drive in, park, and try to climb to the lake.

We travelled here in a 4WD Jeep, Leave the 2WD luxury sedan at home. Roads are rough and well travelled by lots of visitors. Bumpy but worth the drive with the right equipment. Fed chipmunk off my knee while having lunch on a log.

Beautiful lake, if you have the stamina, Hike up to the top, (trails are visible off to the left side of the lake above treeline) views are incredible

I suggest renting a Jeep at one of the places in town. They are all pricey but heck you only may do this once so splurge. You can also get a 4 passenger ATV which is good for the younger folks but the bumpy road can be hard on the booty for us experienced types. The trail has some nice scenery with a stream, old mining sites, old cabins and if you are lucky some wildlife. The lake is nice but its mainly a place to sit and enjoy the solitude while you eat a bite or drink some good wine. Its cold up there even in the middle of summer so take a jacket.

Goose lake is an awesome. Amazing views. Some of Gods best work. Rent a jeep, or 4 wheeler. Make the 45 min. trek up the mountain and experience it. Some abandoned mines and old homestead cabins to explore on the way up. See how many mountain goats you can spot on cliffs.

Enjoyed our ride up but more markers would be greatly helpful. Started out at 1 p.m. and back by 5:00, perfect amount of time to enjoy the views!

We rented a six seat atv from weezies and loved it. What you need to look out for is stupid punks who think they can cut off other atv's and fly around a corner and almost hit you head on. This idiot had not helmet and the passenger looked like a young kid. Be careful out there and take it easy to prevent death by driving slow enough to stop in good time. This trail is not for the beginner.

I'm not sure how to describe goose lake! Breathtaking doesn't seem to do it justice. We had a blast traveling up in an utv!

We rode an ATV up the trail to Goose Lake. The lake and surroundings are breathtaking. The trail is narrow. Experienced drivers only because if you meet another vehicle, you may have to back up.

I've been up this trail in Jeeps, a full sized Chevy short bed several times, and of course on motorcycles. The trail is a challenge; you should be somewhat experienced before you just head up this trail. What ends up happening is that you meet someone coming the other way. Someone is going to have to back up until the trail is wide enough to pull off on the side enough for the other guy to ease off on his side to get by. If you're in a full sized vehicle, plan on folding up those side mirrors to make more room. AND, remember to smile if there is a little contact. To me, not everyone gets to break a mirror or wrinke a little sheet metal in such a beautiful place. Sure beats parking lot rash....

From the Copper King Lodge we could walk for miles along beautiful trails. The scenery is beautiful with abundant wildlife wooded area.

Very beautiful. Great four wheeler trail, not too difficult.

We took a Geo Tracker up to Goose Lake in early July. Along the way you will find great view and several old mine sites. We got out with out 5 and 6 year old and explored the mining camps and the river. The kids watched as a local panned for gold. The lake view is stunning and worth the bumpy ride to the top. This is not an easy drive and takes a couple of hours at least. Single lane dirt road most of the way. If you like, hike Gold Hill and look at the view of the lake and surrounding area. Beautiful, take a camera!

We took New Mexico adventure company. The driver explained several stops on the way up that most people would never know! Trail was rough but fun! Once you get to the end goose lake is a wonderful sight!

Took family old and young up the trail first in two four wheel drive Chevy trucks. Two tough spots but think we could’ve made it. We turned around after first one though. Next day took a razor and mule up the trail! Much more fun for the big and young kids! We had a blast, covered in mud and all! Highly recommended!! Would like to hike to the peak next time!!

This trail is the toughest trail in the area but it's worth the trip up (approximately 1 hour each way in a razor). The lake and views are stunning. We will always ride this trail when in the area.

Goose Lake is beautiful. The road to get there is rough, but the destination is worth the ride. Take fishing gear and a picnic lunch. Also, bring peanuts to feed the chipmunks.

We took a jeep ride to Goose Lake. Beautiful views, interesting historic old cabins, wildlife etc.. The lake is so clear and lots of wild flowers to gaze upon!! You can fish, picnic, feed the chipmunks etc at the lake!! Nice afternoon and so relaxing!!

What a gorgeous lake in the mountains! Definitely blew away my expectations. We took the New Mexico Adventure tour and enjoyed every minute. A must do in Red River!

The road to goose lake is very rough. Definitely takes a 4wheel drive. Not for the weak stomach or those with serious injuries. I have back problems and made it but it was tough. Once you reach goose lake you will forget the aches and pains and the rough road as you gaze upon some of the most beautiful of all God;s creation.

For a trail that is only 7.1 miles long it takes about 1.5 hours in a 4x4. We took our FJ Cruiser and it handles the trail fine. If you're able hike the trail up to the top of the ridge for some fantastic vistas! Take your time and enjoy! We had a small campfire and lunch by the lake so our trip, including the hike lasted 5+ hours but worth every minute.

We rented a jeep and rode! Be sure to take water. Not for faint of heart or this with weak joints. It's rough

Loved the trip, sorry we weren't able to make it all the way to the lake. About a mile backed up in snow in late May. Still worth it!

This is a nice trail that takes you up to a lake nestled in the mountain above Red River NM. It's not too rough to where a stock 4x4 can't make it, but it's rough enough to get the 4x4 experience. I think it took about 2 hrs or so to get it.

Great place to have lunch after 4 wheeling ! Take red Salmon eggs if fishing the lake..
We took 3 UTVs up to the lake in a little over an hour, passing a few jeep tours along the way.
Stop & see the Buffalo mine shaft @ marker 8 You will need a flashlight!! You will get a little wet & dirty too. There are a couple of really nice areas to stop for beer as well. Wide enough for jeeps/trucks but not a novice. Enjoy it!! We did!

This is a must do every time we go to Red River to ride our 4-wheelers. My sister rented a jeep and went up there in it too. The trail is very narrow in places so if you are going in a jeep it's a good idea to go in the morning before a lot of the other people get there. The lake is the crowning beauty of the trail and is a nice place to try to catch a trout, hike, or have a picnic lunch. Be sure to take your camera because you might see elk, big horned sheep, deer, or chipmunks up there too.

A long, steep bumpy trail led us to a beautiful view of goose lake hidden in the mountains above Red River. WORTH IT!

It is absolutely beautiful when the leaves are changing. Take a jacket, it gets cold up at the top by the lake.

Kind of at the limit for a novice rider, but a good trip. Try not to ride double if you can help it as the ride up (and down) has a ton of rise and falls. Top is beautiful and totally worth the ride. Go early so you can come down early and avoid the rush to the bar apres-ATV. A long and relatively low-skill ride with great vistas.

We rented a UTV from Weezie’s Wild Rides, and the siblings took a day away from the kids and grandkids to head up to Goose Lake. What an incredible time we had. The views are amazing and scenery breathtaking.

We take our ranger from Texas. This is the best trail. Scenic of course, deer, chipmunks, cottontails. Also historic sites from mining days with logs cut by axes and chinking long gone. We have had no luck fishing Goose lake but had fun trying. Our dogs enjoyed the trail, swimming and hiking. Go early, picnic at the lake, hike up even further to the rim. Pack rain gear and take lots of pictures.

We took my 2000 Tracker up and went pretty slow as the road is very, very rocky in some places, but we got there with no major issues. Diesel pickup in front of us that wouldn't get over and let us pass as they were having lots of problems was the only frustration. Absolutely gorgeous view of Goose Lake. Bighorns were all around and not afraid of us at all. The lambs were baaing in the distance. One came right up to the car as if looking for something to eat. Make sure you take your camera.

One of my favorite trails to drive. Jeep, 4 wheelers or bikes. Again, take a picnic, enjoy the views.

Rented a side by side in Red River for 4 hours. If you want to spend anytime at all at Goose Lake, you will use up the 4 hour rental very easily. It is a doable rough road with lots of rocks, you just can’t be in a hurry, 2-3 mph most of the time, but the payoff is huge. Pristine, clear mountain lake. We went there on 10-01-24, and met maybe two dozen off readers there and back, but we had the entire lake to ourselves for at least an hour.

The trail was steep, rough, and narrow but the lake was peaceful, relaxing, and beautiful! We took a picnic lunch with us and our cameras. Throughly enjoyed it! You need an atv to make this trip.

It is such a beautiful place, we took the jeep up the mountain, long rough road. It was worth it :)

I remember visiting Goose lake as a kid 35 years ago in a station wagon. It was a bumpy road but we made it along with many other cars. Times have changed and so has the road up to Goose lake. The scenery is still very beautiful but the road has deteriorated very badly. As other reviewers have mentioned, there are people who have lost their lives here. The road is very narrow is numerous places and there is one area near the top where the road has washed out and left 2 big rock boulders in the road path. We fortunately rented a Kawasaki mule to get to the top this time around and we BARELY made it over the road boulders. We saw a couple of ROVs turn around on our way back down at this section as well. Do your homework and know your 4x4 capabilities before trying it. It’s that tough. 95% of the road is passable with a decent 4x4. The remaining 5% is very tough and dangerous. It’s a beautiful place if you can make it up.

We rented a side by side and traveled up to Goose Lake. It was an amazing view. The road can be a little sketchy because only one vehicle can pass at a time, so sometimes you have to pull over to back up to let someone pass and it's on the edge of the mountain. As long as you are careful and attentive it's fine and it is worth it once you make it to the top!

Four wheel drive trail...no joke...serious..rocks and not for the inexperienced four wheeler. Narrow but worth the ride 2 hours of SLOW moving but a ultimate reward at the top. Big horn sheep and Otters, Truly Unbelieveable!

Great view, wild goats, Unique scene. Not a bone left unshaken by the time you arrive. Driver was very good and like hey say, Please keep your seat belt fastened. You don't want to try to drive unless you have a mountain vehicle and know how to dive on mucho rocky routes. take the tour! There was a young kid on the trip and I am 80. Great photos.

Take water and protein bars or snacks. Beautiful trail with lots of views and nature. Take your camera too!!! Don't get in a hurry, just enjoy the journey :))))

Pretty rough trail so you need a jeep or off road vehicle. The trail is not too steep and not scary at all so all the family should be OK. It is about 8.8 miles through beautiful forest and once you get to lost lake the view is spectacular! Big horn sheep were grazing near the lake and the colors were beautiful. Fishing was slow.

My husband and I along with my daughter and her family rented 2 jeeps to ride up the trail, with a warning to take it very slow because the mechanic didn't want to drive up the road to fix a jeep. We soon found out why he said that. As a teenager and young adult I have been almost every trail around Red River in a 4WD, but I do not remember them being like this road. I was worried about running over a jagged rock and cutting tires, or bottoming out over the boulders in the road. BUT after being on the road quite a while, we made it. It is a gorgeous lake, so peaceful and was glad to say I had made it to Goose Lake.

Goose Lake was an amazing experience. I do not recomend taking a full sized vehicle of any kind up the trail. We started the trail in a 99' Dodge Ram, by the time we were back to town we were exhausted. We encountered another crazy man just like ourselves who tried the same thing and ended up having his vehicle air lifted off the mountain because his entire left side of the vehicle was hanging over the mountain ledge. Aside from the drama, the lake was beautiful. There are mountain goats that you can just walk up and pat, there are mines and abandoned cabins on the way up. There was never a dull moment. I do not recomend the hike or climb for the fishing only. We caught only one trout in over eight hours, but needless to say we had a blast.

Goose Lake is worth the effort. Take a tour, rent a jeep or bring you own - but go you will be glad you did.

Beautiful 4 mile hike, 2 miles in and 2 miles out. The first 2 miles are steep but not treacherous. You'll know you went hiking. And the lake is gorgeous. Went with a 9 year old and he had no trouble keeping up.

Fun as always!! Nice atv ride , still snow on the lake mountain.. About 30 degrees colder than town so (for me) jacked ts required!! 😁😁

Considered dangerous, unimproved road, extremely rough, and views not worth it. Large boulders with no other way around.

A bumpy ride, but the destination is definitely worth it! The lake is beautiful and we saw several big horn sheep.

The ride up the trail is a wild one! Rough and tumble. The views once you get there is amazing. Beautiful. We saw mountain goats up on the ridge!! This should be one of your excursions while staying in RR

We read reviews of this trail before we went to Red River and thought it sounded challenging and fun. After talking to the locals, who none will go up this trail in any type of ROV we decided better not try it. One local told us that there is a death on this trail every year. Many of the rental places will not let you take their equipment up the trail.

Trail is rough and narrow in places but has been upgraded. Go early in the day to avoid crowds and possible afternoon showers. The lake is beautiful and worth the trip.

The "road" is filled with lots of history, old gold mines, glory holes, and remains of the cabins the miners called home. There is also a chance to see local wildlife. There are some great things to see on the way up, but then you arrive and see the beautiful landscape surrounding Goose Lake with more opportunities to see wildlife. Fishing, hiking, or simply kicking back are all options, we even found some snow to play in, yes, in July! I highly recommend this adventure!

Excellent trip to take on ATV/UTV or by Jeep. Dont miss out on all the side trails that go to the additional mining locations and cabins. The Polaris RiderX app provides excellent trail details and allows you to track and map your trail rides. Take a lunch and have a pick nick. Dont forget rain jackets as it can rain at anytime up there.

Must jeep up to Goose Lake. There is an amazing view. You have to climb the mountain and feed the mt goats!!

Fairly easy hike but at an incline the whole way. You are required to cross the creek twice so waterproof foot ware is best.

We road up with several others in tour. Beautiful lake several were fishing. We hiked an some trails went rock hunting in the stream.

We did a Jeep Tour through Red River Jeep Trailways. Trey & his absolutely adorable Corgi Elvis were our drivers. It is a very rough & rugged ride to the top but 1000% worth the ride. The ride was 1 1/2 hours up & 1 1/2 hours down. No words can describe how amazingly beautiful it is. July 4th and there was still snow on the mountain tops. We did see a good bit of wildlife along the ride. Deer, Cows, Mountain goats, chipmunks. The view is one we will never forget. Such serenity and peace once you get to the lake. Breathtaking.

Beautiful scenery if you make it. Road was scary as hell in my lifted 4runner. The river crossing at the beginning was deep..not recommended in a stock SUV. I made it through with no issues on the way up but on the way back I must have hit a deep spot and the runner died in the middle of the river..wouldn't start. Eventually started..had water in the truck is was that deep. Spent the next week cleaning and drying everything out, sucked. A few parts on the way up were pretty sketchy along the cliff edge. I was holding my breath the whole way. I'll be back but won't go up there in my truck again..I'm buying a RZR! I was looking for the truck that fell off but never saw it.

Great Off Road Trail - Took our "98 Jeep Wrangler up the trail with no issues. The road was very rocky but very passable with a jeep or an ATV. I would not attempt it with anything bigger. The lake is a very beautiful and peaceful place. Plan to pack a lunch the whole trip will take a minimum of 3 hours.

The trail was alittle more than a medium trail.In several spots the trail was ruff and uneven.( we even encountered lots of water).Much to our surprise, we reached Goose Lake, it was so totally worth the trip.Beautiful and very scenic.

Use caution if you plan on keeping this trail until they fix the road. September 2, 2018 I lost my dad to this trail due to road conditions.

My father was a veteran jeeper, this was one of his favorite trails, had he known the forestry department had failed to service ALL of the passes in Taos County this year AND last year he never would have gone up the trail with my nephew.

Please do not jeep this right now, for your families sake, my dad went every single year with no problems. The road literally crumbled under his back passenger tire and there was nothing that could be done. You may be able to Jeep the toughest trails but if those trails are crumbling no amount of expertise can save you.

We decided to walk. Very hard to get your footing. Hiked up pass a cave. I think we only went about 3 miles. Saw a flatbed pickup at the bottom that slipped off the terrible road. I hear it is a beautiful sight when you get to the lake. Guess I'm a chicken in my older years but I don't recommend this.

We LOVE goose lake!! With that being said...the journey to the top is not easy. The trail is rough, narrow and unsettled in areas...4 wheel drive or motorcycle is the best way to get there. Been going to Red River for 50 years, and enjoy taking "newbies" to see the beauty of goose lake...it never disappoints!

To put it in my wife's words, "this is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to - in my life!"

Once up top, take the trail to the right and go up to the point over looking the lake. It's breath taking. Also, look across the lake and you'll see switch back trails used for thousands of years by Pueblo Indians. If you have the time and energy, use those trails to get up to the ridge and you are on top of the world!.

This trip to Goose Lake would not be suitable for everyone. It is perfect for the more daring , adventurous person. The ride is rough all the way up. The road is very narrow in places requiring people to back up, pull over to the edges etc...If you are wanting an adrenaline rush, this is the adventure for you. Pack a lunch and enjoy the beautiful lake. You can fish and hike, or just kick back and take in the beauty.

I hiked the first part of this trail with my son daughter in law and two grandsons. They were geocaching and we walked for about a mile or so. It was pretty level and had a couple of creek crossings which were easy (with a little help for grandma in a couple of spots). It's a pretty spot. We took a picnic lunch and ate under some trees by the creek.

We took a guided jeep tour up to Goose Lake. Just about had our insides jarred out, but the view when we made it to the top was worth it! Had a great time meeting new people during the drive. I do not recommend this if you are nervous of other people driving in tricky situations - steep/rough roads.

Took a jeep ride up to Goose lake.The trail is really bumpy and rocky but it's jeep trail so what do you expect.Took it nice and easy on the way up.Saw several old gold mining sites and ruins of old cabins on the way up.Once we arrived at the lake I was blown away by it's beauty.There was still a patch of snow on the peaks and the water was crystal clear.The little squirrels will eat right out of your hand and are fun to watch.The rough ride is well worth it when you see this wonderful place.

Most beautiful lake I've been to in New Mexico. Only downside is access. However that's what keeps this hidden gem exactly that, a hidden gem.

Spent a morning riding to Goose Lake. The lake is absolutely gorgeous!! Next time we will stay longer and go exploring in the area. Several old cabins on trail that are neat to look at.

We loved our ride up to Goose Lake! At the last minute some friends also staying in Red River ended up with an extra 4-wheeler, and we jumped at the chance to get up there. It was gorgeous all the way up, with plenty of old abandoned log cabins, deer, wildflowers, and gorgeous views to entertain us on the bumpy ride up. At the top, it was amazing of course. We grilled out for lunch and just walked around and sat for a while and took in the amazing views. We even saw a little snow. I wouldn't dare take one of our every-day vehicles up there (even though they're 4X4), but if you can snag an ATV, go for it. I was a little scared because of all the mentions about super-rough terrain, but it wasn't bad. Definitely rough, but not scary at all--and as I said, so very worth it. This trail turned out to be the highlight of our trip!

This is a beautiful place to trek to in Summer, the lake is absolutely gorgeous and sometimes you can get lucky enough to spot long horn sheep in the cliff behind the lake. There's fishing and last time i went we were able to camp there. It;'s a great place for everyone to check out and amazingly enough many northern NM natives aren't even familiar with it.. it's that much of a hidden gem!

Great ATV ride and jeep or even hiking. When you get to the top it is a beautiful lake full of trout. You can often see the Big Horn Sheep on top of the mountain. This trail you should be an experienced rider.

Wonderful trail!! Was a very beautiful, scenic trail with a great ending. We rode Polaris rangers up the trail without any problems at all and had lunch at Goose lake. Great place to see Gods beauty!!

Great road to Goose Lake! Would highly recommend making the drive up to Goose Lake, the views are awesome.

Awesome! Must See! While it is a little tough getting up there, it is definitely worth the trek. Don't be surprised if you have wildlife get up close and personal!

A wild jeep ride up to a beautiful lake. Wildlife and old cabins. A very informative guide we had a blast.

Fun trail, beautiful scenery, historic mining camps...even the occasional mule deer and mountain goat. Young children were not so much enthused. But none the less, a great outing. Will do it again in the future.

We started out at 7:40 a.m. and made it to Goose Lake and back at 3:40 p.m. The trail is okay but would be better if it was marked. The young man behind us took the wrong trail several times and had to backtrack. It would be nice to see mile markers and arrows where it's a little confusing.

When you get up to Goose Lake, pay attention to which trail you came from because there are several that lead in and you may get confused which one to take out.

Be sure and take trekking poles or sticks. There are several streams to cross and some inclines where the poles help. It's also a good idea to take a backpack with necessities. For me that would be food. ; )

All in all it was a good hike. We've done it before and will probably do it again.

Once you get to Goose Lake you can go another mile up to Gold Hill. We did that last time. It's a good hike and view once you get there. It's steep.

Absolutely gorgeous! Take the time to get there whatever way you can and pack a lunch! Breathtaking! From 4 to 68..we all enjoyed it!

trail was a little rough - but well worth taking the trip - we had a 4 seat RZR - so it made the ride easier - beautiful country - along the way we saw some old log cabins, a bear hole in the side of the mountain and a Mule deer.

A most beautiful place to go to but VERY bumpy narrow dirt road, not good to try in a regular car. The lake is so clear you can see the bottom and some times you can see the Big Horned Sheep if they come down from the mountain. There are some hiking trails to walk up the side of the mountain, so be in good health.

This place is so beautiful it is hard to take it all in! We rented a RZR and drove right to the lake. This was my very first trail ride and I am hooked. Just sad I waited till I was 63 to try this adventure!

Knew we wanted to do this trail before we got to Red River. I read the reviews on this site and figured it would be no problem in our Jeep which is lifted and equipped with larger tires and a winch. Went by the visitors center to get an ATV map and some information about the trails in the area. The handout they give list this trail as moderate. In my opinion this is a tough and in places dangerous trail. There are areas where you are hanging on the side of the mountain with a drop off on one side and a rock wall on the other with no room to step outside your vehicle. If you meet another Jeep at many points on this trail one of you are going to have to back up and sometimes it could be for a very long ways (in places if we met another Jeep I don't really know what we would have done). If you meet an ATV on the part of the trail that runs along the side of the mountain the ATV is the one that would have to retreat as it would be very dangerous to back up your Jeep. It is very rough terrain with lots of jagged rocks in the road. The trail is 8.2 miles one way and takes you at least an hour. The lake is beautiful and we took a chairs and a picnic lunch and sat by the lake and just chilled. Most of the vehicles that were on the trail were ATV's of some sort which seemed like the safer choice. If we knew in advance how treacherous this trail was we would not rented an ATV instead of taking our Jeep!

Hiked Goose lake trail.
Beautiful hike. Great hiking trail. Trail is well groomed.
Beautiful scenery. Picked lots of raspberries.
Made a wonderful raspberry pie.

This was a beautiful four wheeling road only. It was really wet and rough in places. We got within half a mile of goose lake and had to stop because of the snow. You could see where someone ahead of us got stuck probably the day before. Snow was over knew deep.

8 rough miles in a 4x4 will get you to Goose Lake. So worth it. On the backside of the lake is a steep, short trail that takes you to the peak. From there you have incredible 360 degree views including Taos Ski Mountain. Goose Lake is a gorgeous area! Highly recommended.

This trail is several miles outside of town and has a good parking area and porta-potty. We walked up the trail for about an hour, stopping to take a lot of photos and enjoy the scenery. The trail is said to take you all the way up to Goose Lake, but we didn't hike that far. We have though, taken a jeep tour up to Goose Lake and would recommend that as well.

The trail is wonderful and scenic, but for our first day of hiking where we were not acclimated to the altitude, it is a constant uphill climb and has some steep sections. It does open to some small meadows. The creek crossings are easy. I will do this hike again, but not on my first day unless acclimated better. There is a neat old campground, now closed, at the beginning of the trail.

It is a great place to see and to spend time at. The road getting there is very rough and in places could damage your vehicles. It takes so long to get there on the jeep tours, you don't get to spend the time there like the tour people tell you that you will. It is still worth seeing.

The trail was rough in places but well worth it to see the lake... A must do for sure. We rented a Mule type of vehicle to go up the trail. We saw old mining cabins, a Elk running away from us in the woods, and the mountain views were great. OH! Take a jacket when you get to the top the temperature drops and it was a bit chilly for us. Also, take lots of water or drinks, because of the altitude you will dehydrate fast and the air was very thin.

We rented an ATV and did several trails around Red River with my family of 5. Goose Lake was by far the most difficult to accomplish, but also the most beautiful payoff at the end with a gorgeous view. Round trip was 2.5 hours with very little time at the top to enjoy the scenery.

The trail up on an ATV is not for the faint of heart. One of our kids (13 yrs old) was convinced we were going to fall off the mountain, and he had been totally comfortable on the other trails we did earlier that day (Cabresto Lake, Greenie Peak, Old Red River Pass). It is narrow and rocky. I think we met traffic at the worst possible spot and on our way up, had to back up on the narrow trail to let 5 other ATV's pass us who were going down.

This is worth it, but be forewarned of the difficulty!

Take a camera, a jacket, and a flashlight for exploring the mining caves along the way. There are water crossings depending on the time of year and weather. Sheep dot the mountainside at the lake and the chipmunks and marmets love peanuts! Take firewood and build a fire to gather round and meet other outdoor adventurers!

Rented a UTV from Mike's Fun Place in Red River (they were great). Pretty rough road all the way up. Georgeous lake, make sure you hike up the switchbacks on the South end of the lake for a great view of Taos ski area.

Great trail for experienced riders, not for the faint at heart. Don't even think of taking less than a four wheel drive or OHV. Full size pickups will have trouble due to narrow passages.

This trail was amazing and the view of the lake was spectacular. We had chipmunks all around and very friendly!

We rode our side by sides to goose lake from Red River. The trail was pretty bumpy in places but overall a good trail. It’s a narrow trail so passing others going the opposite direction can get tricky at times. The lake itself was beautiful & there were a lot of people there.

If nature is your thing then you will love the Goose Lake trail. On the way up you can catch old miner cabins, blasting holes, relics from the past and of course beautiful scenery, I went in September, the temperature at the bottom of the trail was 81 and it was sleeting at the top. Just be prepared for a change of weather. Love it!

The concierge at Best Western Rivers Edge, lined us out with Mike's Fun Place. we rented an XUV six seater, drove to the lake and then the hike to the top of Mt above lake to see the town and Taos Mt in the distance.. Breath taking..

We were on a 4 - wheeler and came face to face w/ two jeeps which we just barely cleared each other. It is considered an extreme trail. Mallette canyon was a better more fun trail more to see.

The trail is rough. I would not recommend taking a regular 4x4 pickup. It takes approximately on hour each way in a Razor. We will always ride this trail when in the area.