9 Best Hiking Trails Near Santa Fe

When looking for a vacation destination, Santa Fe, New Mexico might not be the first place that comes to mind. However, it is a beautiful, unique city with thousands of years of history all around it. There are many national parks not far away, like the Santa Fe National Forest, with its rolling, rocky tree-lined mountains. There is also Pecos National Historical Park, which boasts a large pueblo, where up to 2,000 Native Americans live and is nearly a thousand years old. With all of these parks, New Mexico is a hikers dream, and Santa Fe is the perfect place from which to base your trip. You might be wondering if there are so many trails, which ones should we do? Let’s take a look at 9 of the top trails surrounding Santa Fe, New Mexico.

1. Boca Negra Canyon Trail

The Boca Negra Canyon Trail comes in at only 0.6 miles. It is one of the most heavily trafficked trails in New Mexico. Located near Albuquerque, it is a series of small trails that are perfect for the beginner and the advanced alike. An out and back trail, it is an all-year-long trail used for walking and hiking.

2. Tsankawi Ruins Trail

The Tsankawi Ruins Trail is among the shorter trails on this list. It is just shy of two miles and is a loop located very close to Santa Fe. It is one of the better year-round trails and is considered very easy. It is a perfect way to start your hiking trip in the Santa Fe area. A fun hike for all skill levels, it is great for bird watching and the flower lovers of the group. It is mainly a rocky trail, with some sandstone. You will have to climb two ladders, but the incredible views are well worth it.

3. La Piedra Trail

The La Piedra Trail is a beginner to an intermediate trail that is roughly three miles long and a bit steep. It is a connecting trail, which brings together the Dale Ball system with the Santa Fe National Forest. It has a wonderful view of the forest, with beautiful wildflowers and lots of shade provided by pine trees.

4. Borrego-Bear Wallow-Winsor Triangle Trail

The Borrego-Bear Wallow-Winsor Triangle Trail is a four-mile-long loop trail that is ranked at a moderate difficulty. This one is also very close to Santa Fe, so it should be high up on your list. The trail is kind of popular, so you should expect some traffic, but not too much. It is a favorite of locals, as it runs in and out of a fir forest with many creeks throughout. There are many different terrains, with lots of flowers and wild berries. This trail is one of the best for a fall trip, as the leaves changing on all of the trees is a sight to behold.

5. Kitchen Mesa Trail

The Kitchen Mesa Trail is a moderately difficult trail, which is a part of Ghost Ranch, just outside El Rito. There is a fee to enter the ranch, so just be aware of that. It does allow you to use all trails within its limits, though. The trail takes you five miles and nearly 700 feet up the Entrada Cliffs. Here, you can see a large, 15-foot chimney that is sticking out from a cleft. The trail is known for its abundance of wildflowers and numerous activities, such as bird watching and nature trips.

6. Atalaya Mountain Trail

The Atalaya Trail is almost six miles long and is one of the most popular trails in the area. That makes this trail one of the most densely populated, but that is no reason to steer clear of it. It is another great year-round accessible trail. Depending on the time of year, you can even experience snowy peaks. The beautiful forest view is available all year long, though, so definitely try and make it to this one. It is appropriate for all skill levels, but a little more for the intermediate range.

7. Winsor Trail

The Winsor Trail is a ten-mile, point-to-point trail. The trail winds its way through pine and aspen tree forests, eventually leading to an open, dry meadow. Dotted with many downhill cliffs when starting from the top, it makes the trail especially popular with bikers, as well as walkers and hikers. The climb upwards will test even the most practiced of athletes.

8. La Tierra Trails

The La Tierra Trails are a collection of trails that lie just northwest of Santa Fe. The entire trail system makes up around 25 miles of relatively easy trails that have multiple uses and are suitable for everyone. From hiking and walking to mountain biking and even horse backing, this network of trails will surely provide you with anything you are looking for. It is made up of mostly high desert, with lots of different flora and fauna to see.

9. Randall Davey Audubon Center Trails

The Randall Davey Audubon Center Trails is perhaps the best set of trails one can find when staying in Santa Fe. Almost nowhere else will you find the amount of wildlife and vegetation that you can see here. The area is surrounded by 135 acres of national forest and watershed. For the bird watching lovers, you can find nearly 190 different species of birds! The vast array of ecosystems also provides shelter to many species of wildlife. The trail system itself has many different trails for all skill levels. This trail system is a must for your trip to Santa Fe.




No matter where you stay in Santa Fe, there will be plenty of hiking opportunities close by. This list outlines some of the most popular hiking trails that are a must for your visit to the area. You most likely will not be able to get all of these trails under your belt, but any of the choices on this list will surely please!