Ski Santa Fe Area
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video
I was nearing the end of my day, looping around New Mexico north of Albuquerque, when I arrived in Santa Fe. As usual, the city was crowded and difficult to drive around, and since I had seen it all before, I decided to try something different. I thought I'd drive up to the Ski Santa Fe area, in the mountains above the city, just to see what I could see.
The truth is, it wasn't worth the drive. Most of the road is heavily forested, and even though it's only about 16 miles from the city, it's a steep climb, around a lot of curves (which you'll see in the Drivelapse video, down the page). I only found a couple of overlook spots.
This is the limited view from the Aspen Vista Picnic area. A bit further...
... and there's a slightly better view at the side of the road, just before you arrive at the ski area.
Click on the image for a larger version.
The panoramic view is nice, and through the haze you can see Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Sandia Peak, along with some other mountains. A scratched-up interpretive sign helps you sort out what you're seeing:
Click on the image for a larger version.
From this viewpoint, I drove on to the ski area. The road dead-ends here, looping around and sending you back the way you came.
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I could have made more of my visit to the Ski Santa Fe area, if I had more time. From the ski parking area, you can hike up to the top of 12,622-foot (3,847-meter) Santa Fe Baldy. The views would, no doubt, be much better from there, but it requires a 14 mile round-trip hike. Shorter hikes, including a 6-mile trek to Deception Peak, will also pay off with great views. As you're researching your options, search for "Winsor Trail" -- it's the main foot trail out of the parking area. |
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Expect great colors during autumn in this area. Check with the ski area to find out if it's running the chair lifts for leaf peepers. A round-trip ticket will cost around $10. |
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Since I have been to Santa Fe on previous occasions, I did not spend much time in the city during this trip. It is, however, well worth your time to explore -- there's no other city in America quite like it. Read about my visit to Old Town Santa Fe in 2006, and a nighttime visit to Santa Fe in 2008. |
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Here's the time-lapse, dash-cam video of the drive from downtown Santa Fe to the Ski Santa Fe area:
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