Join the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club for a leisurely exploration of Fort Stanton Historic Site and the surrounding BLM Fort Stanton–Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area.
The outing begins with a self-guided tour of the Fort Stanton Historic Site grounds before continuing with a short carpool to the Fort Stanton North Trail. Participants will hike to the World War II internment site associated with the crew of the German luxury liner SS Columbus, while learning about the history of the area and the 2025 Camp Fire.
The outing includes no more than three miles of hiking with minimal elevation gain. An optional side trip to the Fort Stanton Cave area, which is currently closed, may be available for interested participants following the hike.
Please wear good hiking footwear and dress appropriately for the weather. No dogs. Participants must be 18 or older.
Registration is limited to 10 participants. Please RSVP by October 29, 2026.
Admission
November 1 is the first Sunday of the month. Admission to Fort Stanton Historic Site is free for New Mexico residents with ID. Non-residents will need to pay the $7 admission fee.
Difficulty
Easy
Meeting Location
Fort Stanton Museum and Visitor Center
104 Kit Carson Road, Fort Stanton
Off Highway 220 (Airport Road)
GPS Coordinates
33.4959, -105.5230
Trip Leader
John Pijawka
575-937-7422
jastro@windstream.net
Participants interested in carpooling from Albuquerque or Santa Fe may contact the trip leader, who can assist with connecting participants.
Registration
Advance registration is required through the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club calendar: