Great scenery and a welcome chance to get a little exercise outdoors await you when you visit the Arroyo de los Chamisos Trail. This trail winds through the southwestern part of Santa Fe. The 2.5 mile paved path follows a chamisa-lined arroyo and offers spectacular mountain views. So whether you want to walk or ride your bike, this is the trail to take. Also, dogs are allowed but must be on their leashes at all times.
Nature lovers love to get up close and personal with their natural surroundings, and sometimes, the best way to do that is to simply hit the trail! In Santa Fe, one of the most popular ones is the Atalaya Mountain Trail. One of the reasons that this trail is so popular is because of its easy accessibility, as visitors can take the "M" city bus to the trailhead on the campus of St. John's College. This trail is one of the area's more challenging excursions, as it heads up a 9,121-foot peak and has areas that are a challenge, even for the most seasoned outdoorsman.
Santa Fe's highly appealing outdoor amenities are celebrated year-round at Hyde Memorial State Park. You'll find several excellent spots to enjoy a picnic or just relax as you toss the frisbee around with the kids and enjoy the scenery. There's also more fun to be had on the hiking trails that offer still another chance to get closer to the amazing natural beauty of the park. Camping is another attraction, as the park offers 350 acres of woods and meadows. Plus, the park is located just three miles south of the Santa Fe Ski area which makes it a great stop during ski season.
Nature lovers and history buffs will have much to enjoy outdoors when visiting Nambe Falls. There is plenty to captivate the eye, as this area features such natural amenities as waterfalls, fishing, camping, and inviting hiking trails. The excellent lookout points are numerous, but make sure to check out the area above Nambe Pueblo, which is one of the most breathtaking. The spot is also where the annual Fourth of July dance ceremony is held.
The Santa Fe National Forest is situated on a staggering 1.6 million acres at an altitude of 13,000 feet. Nature lovers find that there is plenty to admire about this outdoor oasis, not the least of which are the diverse ecosystems that give life to a large variety of fish, animals, and various species of birds. This particular site is one of five national forests in New Mexico and features some of the finest mountain scenery in the country, if not the world!