Fall & Winter in
  Santa Fe County

 

Santa Fe County is fabulous in Fall and wonderful in Winter. Cool days are followed by crisp evenings, the golden aspen trees in Hyde Park and the ski basin call out for exploration, teasing snow already tips the mountains, and days of crisp blue skies and sunsets like nowhere else abound. Fall hiking trails reveal breathtaking sights of color at every turn. Enjoy visiting modern art galleries, skiing, exploring ancient ruins,
a leisurely afternoon cocktail or a pint of local micro-brew. Take in one of the lively contemporary music venues or simply stroll under star-strewn skies. End the day with a hot-tub in the cool mountain air, then venture out for a green chile-seasoned meal at the surprisingly large number of 4 and 5-star restaurants throughout the area to warm your way to sleep. Santa Fe County truly is “No Place Like Home!” However you decide to spend your days and nights, you’ll always remember Fall & Winter in Santa Fe County.

 

La Bajada Hill
La Bajada Hill is the formidable landmark where the Spanish divided their colonies into the Rio Arriba (Upper River) and Rio Abajo (Lower River). The dramatic 1300-foot ascent to Santa Fe features a well-equipped Visitor Center at its summit.

Traversing La Bajada Hill Road was once an arduous trip; however, in the 1930s the Highway Department moved the road three miles to the east to the same route currently used by I-25. Remnants of the long history of travel up the hill are still visible; petroglyphs, wagon ruts, and the initials of drivers who climbed the hill in the early 1910s and 1920s mark the trail.

The old road is still accessible for mountain bike rides or hiking. The shadeless hill is best explored in the cool spring and fall weather.


Driving Directions
Take I-25 to the Cochiti Pueblo exit/NM-16. Travel west on NM-16 for 3.5 miles. Turn right on the Tetilla Peak Recreation Area road. After one mile, turn right onto an unmarked dirt road, continue 1.5 miles, and park past the bridge over the Santa Fe River. The old road turns right from the bridge.

Lodging near La Bajada includes:
The Bobcat Inn (southeast of Santa Fe)
Santa Fe Lodge (south of Santa Fe)
Sleep Inn (south of Santa Fe)
Inn and Spa at Sunrise Springs (south of Santa Fe)