Snowshoeing in Santa Fe
Many first time visitors to our city are surprised to discover just how much of a Rocky Mountain town Santa Fe is - with mountain weather to match. Santa Fe sits at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the southernmost range of the Rockies. From our downtown’s 7000’ altitude the ridges and peaks of these splendid mountains rise up well over 12,000’ in elevation, forming an evergreen backdrop to the warm adobe buildings in the foothills. And they can catch a lot of snow in winter.
Hyde Park Road winds 15 miles from downtown Santa Fe, climbing steadily into Santa Fe National Forest to end at the slopes of Ski Santa Fe. Hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts enjoy access to miles of mountain paths from trailheads along this road. Summer and Fall hiking is delightful. But starting in late December, many of these trails are covered in snow, ushering in some of the best hiking of all: snowshoeing,
There is no better way to enjoy the winter forest than on a pair of snowshoes. If you can walk you can snowshoe. You can hire a local guide to outfit you with snowshoes and poles, who will then select a good first (or second) guided outing for you, on a less traveled trail in the mountains. But there is no reason you shouldn’t try this easy activity on your own.
You can rent inexpensive snowshoes at Cottam’s in Hyde Memorial State Park on the drive up to Ski Santa Fe. The REI in the Railyard also rents snowshoes. Staff there will show you how to put them on. A thirteen mile drive from downtown, or about a six mile drive up from Cottam’s, will bring you to a well-marked pullout called Aspen Vista, at a breathy altitude of 10,000’. From there, a snow-covered forest road leads up into the spruce-aspen forest, where there are wonderful views into Big Tesuque Basin. If you stay on the road you won’t get lost. There always seem to be some friendly people around on Aspen Vista Trail, enjoying the air. It’s a great place for a first snowshoe adventure.
A couple of observations: children under eight years old don’t fit into snowshoes. There are snowshoes made for younger ones, but in my experience, kids don’t like them. You’re better off buying an inexpensive plastic sled and stopping in one of the campgrounds along Hyde Park Road to go sledding.
Snowshoe season in Santa Fe extends from latest December to about mid-March. February is the best month. By late March, warming days and strong sunshine thin the snowpack in the forest to the point where snowshoes are unnecessary.
