To reach the trailhead, go east on Highway 380 out of Capitan approximately 9 miles to the intersection with United States Forest Road (USFS) 57. Turn left (north) onto USFS Road 57 and follow it for about 6 miles to the junction with USFS Road 502. Road 57 veers to the left and is poorly marked. The most obvious sign is an "End of County Maintenance" sign although a small sign with a "57" is also present. Continue on Road 57 for approximately 1.5 miles to the Pierce Canyon Trailhead sign on the left. The first 6 miles on Road 57 are over an improved dirt road suitable for any vehicle. However, the "End of County Maintenance" sign is an omen of things to come. The last 1.5 miles on Road 57 requires a high-clearance vehicle, although 4-wheel drive is not required. Large rocks protruding out of the road are the primary obstacles.

Pierce Canyon Trail (61) begins at an elevation of approximately 6,600 feet at the base of the Capitan Mountains. The trail follows an old jeep road for about 1/4 mile and then it veers off to the left away from the jeep road. This intersection is marked with a sign. Notice the geologic contact at the base of the sign. The limestone along the jeep road changes over to sandstone at this point. Both the limestone and sandstone are beds within the Yeso Formation.

Pierce Canyon Trail (61) meanders but continues on a northerly course and is relatively easy to follow. The trail crosses a second jeep road after proceeding another 2/3 mile. Look for the continuation of the trail on the opposite side of the jeep road.

The Pierce Canyon Trail is generally well-marked with tree blazes and with rock cairns (rock piles), especially along the lower 1/2 of the trail.

The intersection of the Pierce Canyon Trail with Trail 57 (South Base Trail) occurs about 2 miles from the trailhead. This intersection is a good turnaround place to create a hike with an easy difficulty rating. The total hiking distance would be reduced to around 4 miles, a 500-feet elevation gain and an estimated hiking time of 2.5 hours.

The lower two miles of Trail 61 is available for all the mountain biking enthusiasts in the area as it rests outside the boundary of the Capitan Mountains Wilderness Area. Although the grade of the trail is gentle, there is no shortage of rocks which will prove to be the cyclists biggest challenge. This trail is probably not suitable for the novice but is ideal for the intermediate-level mountain biker.

Although Pierce Canyon Trail (61) continues in an easterly direction, route-finding difficulties will prove to be a thorn in your side should you decide to ascend the canyon via this trail. The best route into Pierce Canyon requires turning north onto South Base Trail (57).

The South Base Trail follows an old road for about 1/4 mile and then leaves the road and turns back to the west. A sign is present where the Base Trail leaves the road. Continue on the old road past the Base Trail turnoff. The old road is shown on the topo map as an unnamed and unnumbered trail that continues up and over a ridge into Pierce Canyon. The road crosses the dry streambed and abruptly ends. A good trail continues up the ridge from the end of the road. Follow the trail to the intersection with Pierce Canyon Trail (61) in the canyon bottom. Notice the increase in the number of ponderosa pines since the trailhead.

Continue up the canyon on Trail 61 for another mile until a side trail to Pierce Canyon Spring is reached. The side trail is marked and runs about 75 yards to the east to Pierce Canyon Spring. A small shallow pool is usually present at the spring. During wet seasons, the canyon bottom typically has running water for about a mile below the Spring. This 1-mile section of trail becomes progressively steeper as altitude is gained.

Large ponderosa pines, pinon pines and junipers dominate the lower reaches of Pierce Canyon and gradually give way to Douglas firs, white firs and limber pines in the vicinity of the Spring.

Above Pierce Canyon Spring, the trail has been rerouted since the printing of the USFS topo map and does not continue up the canyon on the east side of canyon bottom as shown on the map. In reality, the trail crosses the main canyon bottom immediately past the Spring and begins switchbacking up the slope on the west side of the canyon. Within 1/4 mile of the Spring, the trail reaches up onto the ridge that divides Pierce Canyon from the unnamed canyon immediately west. This location sits at about 8,200 feet and is easily recognizable as it is the first time a view into the unnamed canyon is possible from one of the switchbacks. Walk down (south) the ridge for about 40 yards to a small point where a postcard view of the Rio Bonito and Rio Ruidoso drainages presents itself. Sierra Blanca and the core of the Sacramento Mountains form a magnificent backdrop. We always hear how a view "Can't get any better than this". Well, on this hike it's true. The trail climbs approximately 1,000 more vertical feet over one mile to the summit from here. Not one panaramic view is present due to timber, even from the top. Not much reward for a tough 1,000 feet climb. As a result, my suggestion is to relax and enjoy the view from the ridge and then begin the hike back to the trailhead.

An option for the return hike is to follow Pierce Canyon Trail (61) back down the canyon rather than taking the unnumbered trail back over the ridge. The section of the Pierce Canyon Trail below the intersection with the unnumbered trail follows the path shown on the topo map. A portion of the trail becomes very faint but is well marked with rock cairns. Just past the faint part of the trail, it intersects with a jeep road. This intersection is easily missed during an ascent of the trail, thus the earlier recommendation to avoid it due to route-finding difficulties. During an ascent, the jeep road appears to be a continuation of the trail until it leads you to the canyon bottom and deadends.

Continue south and then west on Trail 61 as it follows the jeep road back to the intersection with South Base Trail (57). Retrace the remainder of Trail 61 back to the trailhead to conclude the hike.

Camping places are numerous along the lower 1/2 of the hike but become sparse in the upper 1/2 as the terrain becomes steeper. The turnaround point on the ridge has an excellent place to pitch a small tent and accomodate 1 or 2 backpackers. The area is free of litter and other signs of careless people. Please keep it that way. Water is usually present below Pierce Canyon Spring for about a mile but beware of seasonal variations, especially this year. Larger backpacking groups should consider camping either in lower Pierce Canyon, or on the summit. Several camping spots are present at the summit, although the lack of water and a very steep climb (especially with a full backpack) combine to make this spot a less desirable backpacking destination than the lower canyon.

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