Hiking
Santa Fe is a hiker's paradise. With its location in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, you have convenient access to the Foothill Trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. And just 4 miles minutes from the historic Plaza lie acres of National Forest in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Here you'll find miles of excellent trails to explore that range from easy to challenging. Remember that The City Different's elevation is 7,199 feet and the highest point is Santa Fe Baldy at 12,632, so make sure you feel acclimatized and bring plenty of sunscreen and water.
Expect forests of aspen, ponderosa, and piñon-juniper. Stop to admire meadows filled with Indian paintbrush, purple lupine, and other colorful wildflowers. Relax by a silvery mountain stream and maybe you'll see a Cooper's hawk, a deer, or a gray fox. Pause (and catch your breath) to enjoy the incredible views from ridgetops and mountain summits.
For some additional guidance, view the Santa Fe Conservation Trust's Trail Guide to Santa Fe, which includes an interactive Santa Fe County Trails Map. Consider the RTD Mountain Trail Route for public transportation to these higher elevation trailheads. Or check out a Google map of trails leading up to the summit of Santa Fe Baldy, the Sangre de Cristo's highest peak, about a 14-mile roundtrip hike.
