Ruins, Roaming, and Rafting: A Guide to the Top Outdoor Activities in Santa Fe
Beyond the City Limits: Visiting Santa Fe's Enchanting Outdoor Adventures
By Kaelie Piscitello
New Mexico's striking kaleidoscope of varying landscapes encourages adventurers to explore the scenery beyond the modernized city of Santa Fe. Sites such as the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the city’s sprawling deserts draw visitors to the heart of the American southwest and implore them to explore its embedded culture and history. Santa Fe, a city dating back to 1610, offers a captivating blend of adventure and culture.
ItsSpanish Colony origins and vibrant Latin influence are beautifully preserved in its Pueblo-stylearchitecture. Meanwhile, its surrounding outdoor features beckon to the curious and adventurous and promise a unique experience.
Into the Mountains
For those seeking adventure, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are a compelling destination. Thesepeaks sit just 5-10 minutes away from Old Town Santa Fe and are the perfect destination for wilderness enthusiasts. Whether it's a leisurely walk, a challenging hike in the warm weather, or the thrill of skiing in the winter, these beautiful highlands have something for everyone.
The Dale Ball Trails, a set of hiking paths bordering the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, span 25 miles around Santa Fe, and invite both hikers and cyclists to navigate them. Their extensive coverage caters to people with lower levels of experience and challenges seasoned hikers to test their bounds.
The White Ridge Bike Trails in the mountains are not just for hikers. They are home to 150 – million-year-old fossils from the Jurassic period, and people driving through the area can expand their knowledge of paleontology by studying the remains of dinosaurs, trees, and other plants. These trails also have an equestrian route for those traveling with large furry friends.
Travelers can also visit the Pecos Nationals Historical Park and take in the Glorieta Pass, a structure that has provided people with a method of safe passage through these mountains for thousands of years. It has always shown many groups, such as Spanish settlers, armies, and modern-day tourists, a secure way through the hills, and you will glimpse into Santa Fe's history when you visit.
Exploring the Hills in the Winter
Winter transforms Santa Fe into a haven for winter sports lovers. The Aspen Vista Trail and Norski Trail, both teeming with picturesque views, are perfect for cross-country skiing. The Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains is another winter wonderland, ideal for skiing and snowshoeing.
Parajito is another mountain ski area in Santa Fe that captivates winter sport lovers. The resort is rarely crowded, so the ski lifts are significantly shorter than those of most ski resorts. In addition to its plethora of winter activity options, Parajito is also a great place to visit in the summer due to its well-maintained trails and facilities.
Water Activities
The Rio Grande runs through Santa Fe, making river rafting a classic sport in New Mexico. If you are familiar with the pasttime, you can take yourself out. However, several companies take travelers for half-day trips down the river, including Big River Rafts and New Mexico River Adventures.
Outside of water rafting, fly fishing is the next best way to enjoy the Rio Grande. Companies such as the Land of Enchantment Flyfishing Guides and Outpost at Bishop's Lodge provide travelers with all of the gear and support they need to try their hand at catching some local trout.
Land of Enchantment takes customers on full-day trips that include lunch, snacks, and drinks to ensure an enjoyable experience. Similarly, Outpost also provides half and full-day trips, and offers private water, and full-immersion classes, with professional guides to assist you.
Nature in the City
While Santa Fe's surrounding areas have many great outdoor activities, travelers can always find green spaces to enjoy inside the city. The Santa Fe Botanical Garden, for example, invites visitors to a picturesque picnic complete with the Rockies painting the background.
Many succulents decorate the park's landscape, and walking around on a nice day is a beautiful experience. In addition to enjoying a peaceful meal and stroll, people can also take a guided tour of the botanical gardens for $13. Besides the botanical gardens, many people enjoy golfing when they visit Santa Fe and stop at Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe and the Quail Run Club. Most clubs allow those stopping in to rent gear and it’s a great way to decompress away from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Coasting Along the Great Prairie Highway
The Great Prairie Highway is jam-packed with things to do. Sprawling through Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico, it offers hiking and outdoor historical sites near Santa Fe. About two hours by car away from Santa Fe, visitors can trek to the Kiowa National Grassland to take in the sights and enjoy a picnic.
For those looking to stay closer to the city, two forts, Fort Union National Monument and Fort Marcy, give travelers a chance to explore pieces of the National Park Service. Fort Union is accessible to the public and open year-round, and visitors can choose to either take guided tours with park rangers or explore the grounds themselves. Anyone looking to explore an outdoor piece of history will be delighted by the opportunities to walk and learn what these forts offer.
Santa Fe’s outdoors truly has something for everyone looking to explore the great outdoors and continues to enchant its tourists. Even though it is a city with so much history and connections to the old west, Santa Fe’s scenery cannot be beaten.
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