Zinker Canyon Loop

The Zinker Canyon Loop is a peaceful trail located in the forest outside the town of Cloudcroft.

This loop path is a nice alternative to the Cloudcroft area trails which can see large crowds during the peak tourism season, as Zinker Canyon is located down a forest road with no amenities and doesn't see many visitors. Additionally, the canyon area is a spot where many of the area's wild horses gather, offering hikers pretty good chances of seeing a few.

At 3.1 miles, the trail begins following the longer Zinker Canyon Trail along a meadow enclosed by tree covered slopes on either side, steadily gaining in elevation before veering off on a rarely-traveled forest road heading up a side canyon. Just as that canyon meadow seems as if it is narrowing at the base of the mountain, the trail heads over a saddle with a guzzler spring and water tank before reaching the top of another canyon and meadow and descending back toward the main trail.

You'll likely see the horses, you'll definitely see the signs of them. The trail tends to be a soft dirt path and signs of the horses' presence is everywhere as the mounds of manure are unavoidable. The horses themselves tend to gather in the quieter side canyons. 

This lollipop loop path is easy, and wanders through a quiet section of the Lincoln National Forest. It makes a nice escape from the busier trails more central to Cloudcroft.

There are no amenities of any kind located at the trailhead or anywhere along the trail. This hike is through national forest land.