A high-alpine ride up to the summit of Tesuque Peak (12,045 feet). This ride holds a special place in my heart. Back in the early 1970s my wife, Laurel, and I would spend numerous hours taking trips up Aspen Vista Road to hike, ski tour, and snowshoe. Aspen Vista Road (Forest Road 150) starts at an elevation of 10,000 feet and climbs up through a large stand of beautiful aspen and pine trees to the summit of Tesuque Peak at an elevation of 12,045 feet. This is not a ride for the faint of heart, legs, or lungs. Summer is a wonderful time to ride Aspen Vista Road, as various wildflowers grow profusely along the several small streams and open meadows.
Driving distance round trip 27 miles/1 hour
Hiking distance round trip 11.5 miles/6 hours
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There are hundreds of wonderful easy, moderate and strenuous hikes in and around Santa Fe.There is an award winning book by the Northern New Mexico Group of the Sierra Club titled “Day Hikes in the Santa Fe Area”.You can check this book out before you visit, or borrow it from Casa Cuma library while you are here in Santa Fe. Here are some example hikes.
