Many of you know that Santa Fe’s high elevation keeps even the hottest months comfortable and dry when the rest of the state is roasting. Since we’re also situated right between mountains and mesa, Santa Fe makes the perfect base for exploring New Mexico’s varied outdoor landscapes up close and on foot, from the cool pine forests to our red-rock river canyons.

That’s why we townies tend to head for the hills as soon as weekend dawns. Just a few miles from the Plaza, well-marked trails from easy to challenging can be found at Hyde Memorial State Park, the Dale Ball Trails, the Santa Fe Ski Basin, Atalaya Mountain Trail, and Dorothy Stewart Trail — all local hiking and dog-walking favorites. In winter, the same trails become cross-country and snowshoe destinations.

Most of these areas also have mountain biking trails, which is a high-adrenaline way of loving nature. Rent a bike in town and park the car in the garage. The views will leave you simply breathless — if not our 7,000-foot elevation! 

See you on the trail!

Jennifer Lea Kimball

Chairman of the Board, La Fonda on the Plaza

Read more from Jenny on her blog View from the Plaza