Great Outdoors

Ready to challenge the body and revitalize the senses? Santa Fe County has plenty of outdoor opportunities for adventure. From the national monuments like Bandelier to the Santa Fe National Forest and Turquoise Trail, Santa Fe County offers visitors a look at beauty, adventure and history.

Santa Fe National Forest/Pecos Wilderness

Whether you're here in the summer, fall or winter the Pecos Wilderness offers you an outdoor adventure. The wilderness spans from Glorieta to Truchas Peak.

The Windsor Trail located near Ski Santa Fe is a popular trail and provides hours of adventure for hikers, bikers, snowshoers or cross-country skiers. Drive up Hyde Park Road to the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Hike to the 12,600-foot Santa Fe Baldy, which offers stunning 360-degree views of the Santa Fe National Forest. The trail leads to the beautiful Lake Katherine and provides views of alpine meadows packed with Indian paintbrush, iris, lily, monkshood, gilia, lupine, penstemon and columbine.

The Windsor Trail is also known as a fabulous singletrack for mountain biking. You can either ascend from the base of the trail or shuttle a car to the Santa Fe Ski Basin parking lot and drop in from there. There are occasional technical sections that pass through tall pines, spruce and aspens.

A scenic chair lift is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from late September to mid-October to provide the most stunning view of the aspens.

If visiting during the winter, experience the excitement of world-class skiing in breathtaking beauty of Ski Santa Fe. Located minutes from the historic city, Ski Santa Fe welcomes skiers, snowboarders, families, and locals to the 12,000-foot mountain. The ski area is located within the Santa Fe National Forest surrounded by 1.6 million acres of national forest.

Ski Santa Fe is located just 16 miles northeast of the city of Santa Fe on highway 475 (Artist Road/Hyde Park Road).

Ride the Turquoise Trail

Start with a morning hike or mountain bike ride through the hills of Ortiz Mountains near Cerrillos. These guided tours will provide you a history of the area in the scenic land on the Turquoise Trail. Call New Mexico Mountain Bike and History Hikes at (505) 474-0074 or visit www.bikefun.com for reservations.


Experience the Wildlife West Nature Park

From Cerrillos drive south on Highway 14 to I-40, Drive I-40 East to Edgewood exit 187. Going north on Hwy 344, turn west on N. Frontage road to the Wildlife West Nature Park. You can spend approximately 2 hours here visiting the museum and walking on approximately 2 miles of trail through this 122-acre wildlife refuge and enhanced zoo.

Eat lunch at one of the many restaurants in Edgewood and then take I-40 to Highway 41 to Galisteo. Once you get to Galisteo there are several artist studios to visit. The Galisteo Inn and Vista Clara Ranch Resort and Spa offer visitors guided hiking or horseback rides to nearby petroglyphs. Although you do not need to be a guest to participate, you might just want to stay in one of these quaint lodges for the night. Both offer a gourmet dinner.