Trip report July, 2005 by Richard L. Carey.
Timber Mountain is in the center of the state southeast of Truth or Consequences and is the highest point of the Caballo Mountains. It is ranked 21st in prominence in the state.
Getting to the peak: Most of the effort in doing this peak is the long drive up the mountain. From Truth or Consequences take highway 51 east which is 3rd St. in the heart of the town. At about 10 miles east of town, at 0.4 miles east of milepost 10, turn right on an unmarked dirt road. Reset odometer here and note the following turns and junctions:
0.9 go straight over a cattle guard
4.8 stay left at a junction
5.5 another cattle guard
10.1 go right at junction
11.7 go right on a better road at junction
12.4 go left at fork in Putnam Draw
13.0 cattle guard
17.3 a gate up on the mountain (usually open)
19.1 reach the top, park.
Most of the drive is OK for a standard car, but the top slopes are steep and rocky and a high-clearance vehicle is advised.
Hike details: Hike southwest past equipment shelters to an old road that leads down to a dip before heading up across limestone benches. There are some use trails here. Go over a top and the slightly down before a final ascent up to the highest point at a promontory on the rim. Views are spectacular. The hike is only one-half mile each way.
Maps: Apache Gap, 1:24,000 scale topo map, 1985. Note three more maps are needed to show the full drive-in route from the north: Engle, Cutter and Upham, all 1:24,000 scale maps, 1985.