This hike is close to Santa Fe toward the Santa Fe ski basin, and offers a good workout as well as great exposure to piñon and juniper and mixed-conifer vegetation belts. The reward for the uphill exertion is a welcome descent into the Big Tesuque Creek basin where you can rest amid cool water, wildflowers, and a green meadow. Mountain bikers, runners, and dogs frequent this trail, especially after work and on weekends.
Go to Artist Road/Hyde Park Road towards the ski basin.Go 5.5 miles, and look for the parking to your left.
Start from the left side of the loop, middle of the parking lot. Don't start from the right of the parking lot.
Driving distance round trip 12 miles/30 minutes
Hiking distance round trip 5 miles/3 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.
