The Alamos Vista hike is one of our favorite high elevation adventures in the southern Rockies. It takes trekkers through a magical grove of “quaking” or “trembling” aspen trees. Less traveled than the Aspen Vista trail, enjoy quiet time amongst the aspens, ethereal trees that reproduce through their root system.
The Alamos Vista hike leads you, after a short steep climb, to an open field called Carl’s Meadow. Take a brief respite before continuing to the summit for expansive views of the surrounding mountains and beyond. We do rate this excursion moderately challenging as you will ascend over 1,000 feet in a little over one mile. The aspens and the views, however, make this experience truly special.
In the fall, hike this mountain trail with the aspens in their glorious fall colors. Both the Alamos Vista Trail and Aspen Vista are popular destinations in early to mid-October for locals and visitors. Check out our photographs of New Mexico’s fall foliage.
Atalaya Mountain (Atalaya means Watchtower in Spanish) is located east of downtown Santa Fe. It is a moderately challenging hike that takes you from 7,340 feet to 9,121 feet. A popular trail with local hikers and mountain bikers, this trek offers expansive views of the city and the surrounding mountains.
We love this hike in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains because of its proximity to town. Yet, once you are on the trail, it offers an invigorating escape into nature. There are several options for making the ascent, many of which are steep. Join us on this trek, learn about the flora and fauna of the area, and enjoy the stunning vistas from the summit.
For a challenging day trek, contact us about hiking Picacho Peak and Atalaya Mountain. All of our guided hikes are private and can be customized to best suit our guests’ abilities and interests.
Santa Fe’s Dale Ball Trail system is a gem, a network of approximately 25 miles of trails set in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. While you can meander along these trails, starting at different trailheads, we enjoy offering the hike up to Picacho Peak to visitors who are looking for a moderately challenging trek close to town.
The Picacho Peak trail is rocky and steep in certain sections but the climb to the summit, at 8,577 feet, is worth it. Along the hike, you’ll have views of Santa Fe with the Jemez Mountains to the far west. From the peak, the vistas of the Sangres, the southernmost tip of the Rockies, is stupendous. It is a wonderful place to stop, enjoy nature and unwind, before heading back down to town.
Plaza Blanca, the White Place, is a perfect day hike for adults and children. Marvel at the limestone rock formations that seem to reveal faces of animals, church spires or medieval fortresses. Engage your imagination. Wander through the canyons and walk with care up along a trail to the ridge tops for spectacular views.
Plaza Blanca is a destination that Georgia O’Keeffe loved and captured in her paintings of the White Place. It has also served as a stunning location for many movies, including “Cowboys & Aliens” and “The Lone Ranger”.
Santa Fe Mountain Adventures has a permit to lead private guided hikes at this magical destination. Come explore and admire the landscapes that enthralled Georgia O’Keeffe.
A short distance from Santa Fe, La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs site offers visitors the opportunity to appreciate New Mexico’s rich history. Walk along basaltic rock formations and view 700-year old petroglyphs left by the ancestors of the present day Pueblo people. It is “home to one of the largest collections of Native rock art”. Our favorite panel shows a number of Kokopelli, the humped back flute player, in a row. View some of our photos on Pinterest.
The petroglyph site is along the Camino Real, or the Royal Road. Spanish conquistadores and settlers traveled this route from Mexico City to New Mexico starting in the late 1500s. Moreover, America’s Mother Road, Route 66, is just north of La Cieneguilla Petroglyph site and adds to the area’s cultural richness.
