Santa Fe Running Trails Listing
The trail postings here are beginning to stack up into a decent collection. Seems like it would be worthwhile to begin listing the lot of them in a more user-friendly manner, a compilation of places to run in Santa Fe, and bike, ski, and hike. Linked posts include clickable trail maps. I've tried to arrange the trails by location, and then from most traffic-ed to less. I'd like to rate them from most-awesome to less-awesome, but for the time being we have the list.If you have an opinion on trails that I may have been excluded, please add it in the comments or send an email to [highdesertdirt_at_gmail.com].
For trail work and construction updates try the new Trail Improvements page (11.22.14)
1. Running & Mountain Biking Trails
2. City of Santa Fe Urban Trails System
3. Nordic Ski Trails
4. Road Biking Routes
5. Mountains & Summits
For alternate listings of area trails, these guys know what's up:
- The Travel Bug - Santa Fe, NM
- Santa Fe Conservation Trust
Running & Mountain Biking Trails
last updated 6/12/14
EAST FOOTHILLS & MOUNTAINS
SOUTH SANTA FE COUNTY - INCLUDING ELDORADO
WEST SANTA FE COUNTY
NORTH SANTA FE COUNTY / RIO ARRIBA / LOS ALAMOS
last updated 6/12/14
EAST FOOTHILLS & MOUNTAINS
| Trail | Distance | Coordinates | Trail Reports & Maps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dale Ball Trails | 14mi+ | Santa Fe | - Cycling Dale Ball by Starlight - Cycling Museum Hill and Dale Ball Trail - La Piedra Connector | Santa Fe's premier trail system. Intermediate and advanced singletrack.Countless routes and distances. Now connects to the Winsor System via the La Piedra Connector. |
| Sun Mountain Trail Loop | 5mi r/t | Santa Fe | - Sun Mtn Trail Loop | Nice up-and-over without the effort of an Atalaya-like climb. |
| *new Moon Mountain | 4mi r/t | Santa Fe | - Moon Mountain Trail | A bit of route-finding may be necessary, solitary views. Links up w/ surrounding foothill summits |
| Atalaya Mountain | 7mi loop | Santa Fe | - Atalaya Mountain & Spring Snowstorms | The sentinel of the Santa Fe Foothills. Most popular hike in town |
| Picacho Peak | 4mi-6mi variations | Santa Fe | - Climbing the Ladder on Picacho | Steep climbing, no crowds terrific views |
| St. John's - East Hills Arroyo | 6mi r/t | Santa Fe | - East Hills Arroyo | Secluded, shaded |
| Museum Hill Foot Trails | 3mi Loop | Santa Fe | - Museum Hill at Night | Windy footpaths, first rate views, few hills, sand |
| Santa Fe Canyon Preserve | 1.25mi Loop | Santa Fe | - Running the SF Canyon Preserve | Scenic. Makes a great hike. No dogs, no bikes. |
| Little Tesuque Trail | ~7mi loop | Santa Fe | - Little Tesuque Trail | Secluded and scenic, varied terrain, lots 'o climbing |
| Dorothy Stewart Trail | 5.5mi | Santa Fe | - Dorothy Stewart Ridgeline | Loop with lots of climbing. Awesome run. |
| Chamisa Trail/ Sidewinder Loop | 8-20mi Loop | Santa Fe | - Early Morning on the Mountain Bike | Lower spur of the Winsor Trail system. Some steep climbing but runnable and bikeable. |
| Dale Ball Buster | 12+mi 3,000+ vertical | Santa Fe | - DBBuster Route Map | The annual October trail run; covers most of the Dale Ball System, Picacho, and Atalaya. Challenging |
| Big Tesuque Trail / Aspen Vista | 11.6mi r/t | Santa Fe | - Big Tesuque Trail Race Report ('10) | Rises from 10,000' to 12,000', Unimproved access rd. Aspens in full colors Sep-Oct |
| Winsor Trail | 14mi | Santa Fe | - Trail Running on Winsor | From Tesuque to the SF Ski Basin - 14mi one way. Gateway to the high-country & the Pecos Wilderness |
| Santa Fe Baldy | 13mi r/t | Santa Fe | - SF Baldy & the Three Peaks Run | Santa Fe Ski Basin to the summit of Mt. Baldy and back. 2,000 of climbing. Pecos Wilderness, no bikes. |
SOUTH SANTA FE COUNTY - INCLUDING ELDORADO
| Trail | Distance | Coordinates | Trail Reports & Maps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Rail Trail | 15mi one way | Santa Fe | - SF Rail Trail Re-imagined - Rail Trestle Loop - Zia to Nine Mile Rd. | Stretching from the Railyard to Lamy. Recent upgrades completed up to the Spur Trail |
| Arroyo Chamiso East | 5mi paved, 5mi sand | Santa Fe | - Running Arroyo Chamiso East | Run to the hills. Zero cars, lots of sand |
| Arroyo Hondo Open Space Trails | 4mi loop | Santa Fe County | - Arroyo Hondo Open Space | Jewel of a trail. Recently expanded |
| Santa Fe Spur Trail | 6mi r/t | Santa Fe County | - Spur Trail Out and Back | Scenic. Intersects with the Rail Trail |
| Barbaria Loop | 16mi | Santa Fe | - Cycling Barbaria Loop | Sweet long run/mtn bike |
| *new Apache Canyon Loop | 6mi | Santa Fe County | - Apache Canyon Loop | Quiet hiking w/ linkups to Atalaya and/or Glorieta Baldy |
| *new Eldorado Community Preserve Trails | 10+mi system | Eldorado | - Eldorado CP Trails | Varied terrain with climbing, arroyos and ridges. Limited access use. |
| Galisteo Basin Trails | 14mi | Eldorado/Lamy | - Google Map | Fantastic running and biking south of town. Ties in with the Rail Trail. |
| Glorieta Baldy | 20mi | Glorieta | - Cycling Glorieta Baldy | Climb to the fire tower. Singletrack decent |
| Glorieta Mesa | Glorieta | - Cycling Glorieta Mesa | ||
| La Luz Trail | 7.5mi | Albuquerque | - La Luz Trail Run | Beautiful, very challenging. 5,000 ft of climbing |
| White Mesa Trails | Albuquerque / San Ysidro | Albuquerque's mtn biking mecca |
WEST SANTA FE COUNTY
| Trail | Distance | Coordinates | Trail Reports & Maps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caja del Rio Nat'l Forest | Miles of forest rds | Santa Fe | - Caja del Rio from La Cienega | Lots of space and views, limited singletrack. Rio Grande overlook. |
| Medio Dia Canyon/Bland Canyon | Miles & miles | Cochiti | - Cycling Medio Dia Canyon | Fantastic single track up Medio Dia. closed due to fire damage |
| La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs | 4miles plus the endless Caja | Santa Fe / La Cienega | - Cycling the La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs | Best suited for running and hiking w/ the Caja beyond. |
NORTH SANTA FE COUNTY / RIO ARRIBA / LOS ALAMOS
| Trail | Distance | Coordinates | Trail Reports & Maps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Tierra Trails | 5mi-12mi | Santa Fe | - Running La Tierra Trails I - Running La Tierra II | Santa Fe's newest trail system. Singletrack. Less technical than Dale Ball. Generally clear of snow in winter. |
| Super Loop | 21mi | Santa Fe | - La Tierra - Trail 34 | A linkup of the new urban trail system with the new singletrack in La Tierra. Awesome for marathon long runs or mtn biking |
| Rio en Medio Trail | 15+ mi | Tesuque Hills | - Rio en Medio, Winter Bike Descent | Part of the Winsor Trail network (north). Great riding, waterfalls, very technical (advanced) |
| Nambe Badlands | Nambe | New mtn biking open space. An instant classic - currently closed to activity | ||
| Frijoles Canyon | 13mi+/16mi+ | Los Alamos / Bandelier NM | - Bandelier Natl Monument and Lummis Canyon | Bandelier Nat'l Monument - no dogs, no bikes. |
| Las Conchas | Los Alamos | |||
| Guaje Canyon | Los Alamos | |||
| Divisadero Loop | 6mi | Taos | - Google Maps | Trail run just east of town, climbs to the highpoint of Divisadero Peak, 8,304 ft. |
| Bull of the Woods/Wheeler Peak | 16mi+ | Taos | - Wheeler Peak | Highest point in the state, 13,161 ft. |
| South Boundary Trail | Taos | Mtn biking classic |
City of Santa Fe Urban Trails System
last updated 3/18/12
Peaks & Summits
last updated 6/12/14
last updated 3/18/12
| Trail | Distance | Coordinates | Trail Reports & Maps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Rail Trail | 15mi one-way. Paved to Rabbit Rd (4.5mi) | Santa Fe | - SF Rail Trail to Nine Mile Rd | Beginning at the Railyard Plaza, running 17mi south into Santa Fe county and Eldorado before arriving at the Lamy train depot |
| Arroyo Chamisos Trail | 5mi (east section) 2mi (west section) | Santa Fe | - Arroyo Chamisos Trail Map - The new St. Francis Dr. Underpass | Travels east-to-west through south Santa Fe. The eastern section runs from the Zia Rd trailhead to Governor Miles Rd. The western section runs from S. Meadows Rd. to W. Jaguar Rd |
| Santa Fe River Trail | 6mi, 4mi paved | Santa Fe | - The SF River Trail | Travels east-to-west through downtown Santa Fe from Patrick Smith Park to Frenchy's Field |
| Acequia Trail | 3mi paved | Santa Fe | - Acequia Trail Map | Travels east-to-west south of downtown. Beginning at Railyard Park and St Francis Dr, the trail runs west to Ashbaugh Park |
| Gail Ryba Trail | 1.5mi paved, links Arroyo Chamisos Trl east of St. Francis Dr and north to St Vincent Hospital via underpass | Santa Fe | - Gail Ryba Trail Map - The new St. Francis Dr. Underpass | The Arroyo Chamisos extension east of St Francis Dr, named after Santa Fe's first trail system advocate. Connects to Arroyo Chamisos and the Rail Trail via the St Francis underpass (under construction) |
Nordic Ski Trails
last updated 3/18/12
last updated 3/18/12
| Trail | Distance | Coordinates | Trail Reports & Maps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enchanted Forest Nordic Trails | 33km of groomed trail | Red River, NM | - Enchanted Forest Ski Trails | Groomed. Mapped. Day fee access. Best nordic sking in NM |
| Pajarito Nordic Trails (Canada Bonita) | 5km out/back | Los Alamos, NM | - Skiing Guaje Canyon (Canada Bonita) - Nordic Skiing Pajarito | Groomed. Mapped. Donations suggested. Best nordic skiing near Santa Fe |
| Valles Caldera National Preserve | 37mi of groomed trail | Jemez Mtns, NM | - Skiing the Valles Caldera | Groomed. Mapped. Day fee access. Gorgeous |
| Ski Santa Fe | Varies | Santa Fe | - Nordic Skiing Ski SFe - Totemoff Loops - Sunrise XC Laps at Ski Santa Fe - Ski Touring Deception Peak | Groomed for downhill. Early a.m. or late p.m. access only. Access is free |
| NORSKI Trails | 4km loop | Santa Fe | - Skiing Norski Trails - SF Snow Shoe Classic Race Report | Multi-use trails. Un-groomed, can be difficult. Access is free |
| Cumbres Pass Nordic Trails | 5km loop | Chama, NM | - Chama Chile Classic - Race Report - Neff Mtn Yurts and Cumbres Pass | Groomed |
| Reservoir Hill Nordic Trail Alberta Reservoir Trail West Fork Nordic Trails | Varies | Wolf Creek/Pagosa Springs, CO | - Reservoir Hill Nordic Trails - Alberta Lake and West Fork Trails | Groomed. Free access |
Road Biking Routes
last updated 7/12/11
last updated 7/12/11
| Route | Distance | Coordinates | Ride Reports & Maps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Campanas Loop | 32mi | Santa Fe | - Cycling Las Campanas Loop | Low traffic, mountain views on roads north of town |
| La Cienega Loop | 28mi | Santa Fe | - Cycling La Cienega | Scenic, travels frontage roads south of town |
| Santa Fe Century | 25/50/75/100mi | Santa Fe | - Santa Fe Century Event Report | Supported Mid-May Event (~4500 riders). |
Peaks & Summits
last updated 6/12/14
| Route | Distance | Coordinates | Trail Reports & Maps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Baldy | 13mi r/t | Santa Fe 12,631 ft | - Trail Running the Three Peaks | Most prominent peak in the Sangre de Cristo Range. Most popular summit hike in Santa Fe. |
| Lake Peak | 12-14mi r/t | Santa Fe 12,409 ft | - Trail Running the Three Peaks | Sits atop Raven's Ridge. Craggy north ridge drops to Nambe Lake below. |
| Wheeler Peak | 19mi r/t | Taos 13,159 ft | - New Years on Wheeler Peak | Highest peak in New Mexico. Ultra scenic. |
| Atalaya Mountain | 7mi loop | Santa Fe 9,121ft | - Atalaya Mountain & Spring Snowstorms | The sentinel of the Santa Fe Foothills. Most popular hike in town. |
| Picacho Peak | 4mi-6mi variations | Santa Fe 8,577 ft | - Climbing the Ladder on Picacho | Steep climbing, no crowds terrific views |
| Sun Mountain Trail | 5mi r/t | Santa Fe 7,920 ft | - Sun Mtn Trail Loop | Nice up-and-over without the effort of an Atalaya-like climb. |
| Moon Mountain | 4mi r/t | Santa Fe | - Moon Mountain Trail | A bit of route-finding may be necessary, solitary views. Links up w/ surrounding foothill summits |
hi, love the site its exactly what I've been looking for, moved from Philly to Santa Fe to get out of the big city and get out in the wilderness, I've been looking for a site with these exact trail, but the other sites charge. i will most defiantly be using this site ALOT. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the fine trails-related comment Bill. We're in full agreement about the awesomeness of the growing trail catalog here. We plan to have a fair amount of trail content going up in the next month, so it can only get better. Very nice to hear that we could help with your transition from east Pennsylvania to the hills of northern New Mexico. -HDD
ReplyDeleteExcellent compilation of trails! Quick question. I am recovering from a knee injury and can't run on concrete or asphalt right now. Doc's orders are to run on dirt only. I can do flat dirt or uphill dirt but downhill hurts. Any suggestions on dirt trails near downtown that I can run on at lunchtime? Also, do the schools generally let people run on their tracks?
ReplyDeleteThank you sir, and we commend you on the fine handle there. Umm, I'm a bit reticent to encourage running on an injury. Loads of personal empirical experimentation and observation has shown me that it is generally a poor recovery strategy. I'd also advise staying off the trails. You will kick or stub a rock inadvertently and mess yourself up, guaranteed. Having said that, your best bets would be laps on the grass at Fort Marcy Park or Majors Field, laps at Patrick Smith Park at Alameda and Camino Cabra, or an out-and-back route on Cerro Gordo Rd off of Gonzales. The road is dirt out to the reservoirs where it connects with Upper Canyon. Maybe a 1.5mi in each direction.
ReplyDeleteAs for area tracks, most public schools will allow use of their tracks before/after school hours, or during the summer/winter breaks. Bringing a dog is generally frowned upon, and coaches will ask that you not run in the first two lanes. Best of luck and we hope to see you out on the trails one of these days!
Oh. my. GOD. This website is incredible...it must have taken real dedication and hard work to organize it all but it is exactly what I have been looking for! Thank you so very much for putting this together. We just got here for the opera, and will be here all summer. And we love running so we've been looking for this info for days!! Thank you so much
ReplyDeleteLisette - Great to hear that the content here adds some value to our rockin' trails network. Thank you for the comment.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have the same problem (and we're from here). Where are the trails? Where do they go? Hopefully we've filled in some of those gray areas and organized the information in a somewhat more helpful manner. Cheers, and enjoy the heck out of our fantastic trails during your stay. -HDD
Excellent guide for biking in Santa Fe!
ReplyDeleteAppreciated, Fon.
ReplyDelete