Date Hiked: December 29, 2012

Distance: 2.4 mi (RT)

Elevation Gain: Minimal

Elevation Min/Max: 7,517 to 7,526 ft

Trailhead Lat/Long: 37.55975, -105.70488

Managing Agency: Bureau of Land Management

Fee: None

Directions: (From BLM Website)

From Alamosa, travel east on US-160, then turn left onto Road S116, which becomes Tyler Avenue. Turn right onto Twomile Road/Road 2S/9th Street and follow the signs for Blanca Wetlands.

Hike Description:

Honker Pond is one of, if not the, largest pond in the Blanca Wetlands Habitat Conservation Area.  The trails are marked on maps as the Watchable Wildlife Trails and the trail starts from the Blanca Wetlands Watchable Wildlife Trailhead. In fact, many of the trails in the Blanca Wetlands are called Watchable Wildlife Trails.  

The loop around the pond and through some adjacent dry/seasonal ponds is about 2 ½ miles of easy hiking.  The main draw of this hike, if you are not birding, are the views of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains across the pond and across the San Luis Valley.  The views are spectacular.  The hike follows a nicely constructed interpretive nature trail for part of the hike, and a double track trail across sandy scrub filled dunes and dry pond areas for most of the hike.  It’s pretty easy to follow the trail and just keep circling the large Honker Pond.  

That’s all there is to it.  Honker Pond provides a wonderful hike to take in the majesty of the San Luis Valley.  From the mountain views to the wide open plains and the big sky to the abundant wildlife, this is a great place to explore all year round.