Outdoor

Adventures

Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and skies that have captivated artists for centuries, Santa Fe provides an adventure in all seasons. We encourage you to explore the unique spirit of Northern New Mexico. Easy day trips take you to ancient dwellings and still-inhabited Pueblos with opportunities to learn about the area’s rich culture and history. We have listed many outdoor acitivites and vendors that we work with often. If you would like disucss more options or other activities you do not see listed, please contact our Les Clefs d'Or Concierge or Guest Services.




biking


Santa Fe offers miles of both road and off-road riding. It is possible to be in a pristine forest within fifteen minutes of riding from downtown Santa Fe! The Santa Fe National Forest is home to one of the best mountain biking trails in the country, the Winsor Trail.


  • Zip eRides

    Santa Fe’s only 100% mobile eBike rentals. We deliver to you! If you’re eager to jump on your bike and get the wheels spinning in a hurry, Zip-eRides offers you the perfect solution. We deliver your eBike rental straight to your door so you can embark on your new adventure without wasting any time. 


    *Helmet, lock, basket, water bottle and phone holder included with every eBike Rental


  • PediCabs

    Don't want to walk or bike around town, but prefer open air transportatio, let guest services know and they will make the arrangments.

  • Santa Fe Mountain Bike Tours

    Tour Guide Services provided by the locals of Santa Fe, NM.  Follow a Guide through one of North America’s Top Mountain Bike Towns and a Top 10 Mountain Biking Destination.  With Rocky Mountain terrain for every skill level, these mountains, river trails,  and public lands hold an endless variety of trail options for you!  We can't wait to meet you!


    In 2019, Santa Fe was recognized by the IMBA as a Silver Level Ride Center.  We are lucky to have our abundance of nature, open space, views and trails to share with you!  Discounts and punchcards for Locals!  Here as a tourist?  Ride as we guide.  Amazing views, trails, terrain and variety of what you can ride.


    (505) 570-0616

    Visit Website


Day Trips outside of santa fe


Northern New Mexico offers some of the most diverse, beautiful terrain and varied landscapes to be found find anywhere in the world. Santa Fe and its environs offer visitors plenty of sights and experiences. You can make a variety of day trips to explore everything from ancient ruins and historic mountain towns to Georgia O'Keefe country and more.


  • Bandelier National Monument

    52 minutes from Santa Fe


    Bandelier's human history extends back for over 10,000 years when nomadic hunter-gatherers followed migrating wildlife across the mesas and canyons. By 1150 CE Ancestral Pueblo people began to build more permanent settlements. Reminders of these past times are still evident in the park as are the strong ties of the modern Pueblo people. By 1550 the Ancestral Pueblo people had moved from their homes here to pueblos along the Rio Grande (Cochiti, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo). 


    In the mid-1700's Spanish settlers with Spanish land grants made their homes in Frijoles Canyon. In 1880 Jose Montoya of Cochiti Pueblo brought Adolph F. A. Bandelier to Frijoles Canyon. Montoya offered to show Bandelier his people's ancestral homelands.


    In 1916 legislation to create Bandelier National Monument was signed by President Woodrow Wilson. In 1925 Evelyn Frey and her husband, George, arrived to take over the Ranch of the 10 Elders that had been built by Judge Abbott in 1907. Between 1934 and 1941 workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked from a camp constructed in Frijoles Canyon. Among their accomplishments is the road into Frijoles Canyon, the current visitor center, a new lodge, and miles of trails. For several years during World War II the park was closed to the public and the Bandelier lodge was used to house Manhattan Project scientists and military personnel. 


    Visit Website for current park status

  • Chaco Canyon

    3 hours from Santa Fe


    All roads lead to Chaco. By 1050, Chaco had become the ceremonial, administrative, and economic center of the San Juan Basin. Its sphere of influence was extensive. Dozens of great houses in Chaco Canyon were connected by roads to more than 150 great houses throughout the region.


    Today the massive buildings of the Ancestral Puebloan people still testify to the organizational and engineering abilities not seen anywhere else in the American Southwest. For a deeper contact with the canyon that was central to thousands of people between 850 and 1250 A.D., come and explore Chaco through guided tours, hiking & biking trails, evening campfire talks, and night sky programs.


    Visit Website


  • El Rancho de las Golondrinas

    El Rancho de las Golondrinas (The Ranch of the Swallows) is a living history museum located on 200 acres in a rural farming valley just south of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Museum, dedicated to the history, heritage and culture of 18th and 19th century New Mexico, opened in 1972. Original colonial buildings on the site date from the early 1700s. In addition, historic buildings from other parts of northern New Mexico have been reconstructed at Las Golondrinas. Villagers clothed in the styles of the times show how life was lived on the frontier in early New Mexico. Special festivals and weekend events offer visitors an in-depth look into the celebrations, music, dance and many other aspects of life in the Spanish, Mexican and Territorial periods of the Southwest.


    Food and Drink:

    Lunch and snacks can be purchased in our food service area on weekends. Visitors may also bring picnics to enjoy on the grounds. Alcohol is not allowed on the grounds.


    Visit Website


  • Georgia O'Keefe Country

    If you are interested in going the Georgia O'Keefe Country, you will need to book in advance. Please contact Guest Services to make arrangements.


    THE GEORGIA O’KEEFFE HOUSE AND STUDIO AT GHOST RANCH


    O’Keeffe lived and worked at the Ghost Ranch house for a part of each year beginning in the mid-1930s, and then purchased the house in 1940. Approximately 60 miles northwest of Santa Fe, the Ghost Ranch house is surrounded by the stunning landscape that inspired her art for more than 40 years.


    THE GEORGIA O’KEEFFE HOUSE AND STUDIO IN ABIQUIU

    In December 1945, O’Keeffe purchased a 5,000-square-foot Spanish Colonial–era compound in Abiquiu, then in ruins, from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. With her friend Maria Chabot, O’Keeffe spent the next three years restoring the 18th-century structure. By 1949, the property was habitable and O’Keeffe moved from New York and became a full-time resident of New Mexico.


    O’KEEFFE TRAIL RIDE

    Horseback riding at Ghost Ranch is one of our guests’ most memorable adventures. Ghost Ranch offers a range of trail riding experiences for riders of all skill levels. The O’Keeffe Landscape Trail Rides are a magnificent way to tour through the land that captured Georgia’s heart; they are available during the day or at sunset during warmer months.


    Please note that all trail rides are by also by reservation only.


    Visit Website

  • Ghost Towns

    They are ghost towns now. But in the late 1800s, each had a moment of glory that blazed and died like a sudden flame. Most were mining towns, where men search after the earth’s riches – gold, sliver, turquoise, copper, lead and coal. A few were farming communities that flourished for a time and mysteriously fell silent. By some estimates, New Mexico is home to more than 400 ghost towns. 


    CERRILLOS

    28 miles south of Santa Fe on State Road 14


    The lore of the Cerrillos hills is rich with legends of mines, being worked there for a thousand year. Turquoise has religious significance to many Indian people, nearby Mount Chalchihuitl is known to have contained a great lode of the precious gemstone and stone tools found there seem to testify to the truth of the legends. Blackbird Saloon makes a killer burger and fries.


    MADRID

    30 miles southwest of Santa Fe on State Road 14


    Although Madrid still likes to consider itself a ghost town, it represents a unique example of resurrection. In the 1920s and 30s, Madrid was as famous for its Christmas lights as for its coal, and airlines used to reroute traffic during the holidays to show passengers the sight.  Dine at The Hollar! Many stores and galleries to enjoy too.


    Visit Website

    View the Ghost Town Map

  • Pueblos

    * The Taos Pueblo is now open. Please see below for more information. Please note all  Pueblos are currently closed to visitors due to COVID-19. They are doing their best to protect the elders and their oral history. Please ask our conceirge or guest services for an update if you are interested in touring a Pueblo. They will have the most recent information.


    American Indians inhabited New Mexico long before Spanish contact in the 1500s, and their timeless cultures, traditions, arts and beliefs continue to enrich the state today. There are 19 pueblos located around the state, including the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos north of Santa Fe. Each one is unique, and their contemporary residents continue to observe the time-honored traditions, beliefs, and practices of their ancestors.


    The pueblos are all open to visitors seeking a meaningful experience of their culture and traditions. However, some areas could be off-limits because of their religious significance. Pueblos are also sometimes closed when seasonal rituals occur. Traditional dances take place on specific dates and seasons, and some are open to the public. 


    Taos Pueblo 

    NOW OPEN

    1 hour and 32 minutes from Santa Fe

    Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied communal adobe building has been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. Taos Pueblo is unique and well worth a visit. 


    The Taos Pueblo Is now OPEN to Visitors five (5) days a week, Thursday – Monday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. They are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays (and they also may close if having an event, or a funeral etc. It is best to call before going to the Pueblo. 


    Guided tours:  (depending on staff and number of people in tour) occur every 20 mins to half-hour starting at 9:00 am, and last tour is at 4:00 pm.


    Entry costs: 

    $16 per adult

    $14 per student/senior

    $10 for military

    These rates include photography ability with your cameras, but remember they do have some rules and restrictions regarding photos and usage.


    The Taos Pueblo Visitor Center is located at 1201 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur. The phone number is (575)758-3873. This office is open Mon – Fri, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Please call for more information and to make sure the Pueblo is open.


    San Ildefonso Pueblo 

    28 minutes from Santa Fe

    The Pueblo was founded when people migrated from the Mesa Verde complex in Southern Colorado by way of Bandelier (elevation about 7000 feet), just south of present-day Los Alamos, New Mexico.

    People thrived at Bandelier due to the rainfall and the ease of constructing dwellings from the surrounding soft volcanic rock. But after a prolonged drought, the people moved down into the valleys of the Rio Grande around 1300 C.E. (Pueblo IV Era). The Rio Grande and other arroyos provided the water for irrigation. The people of San Ildefonso continued to lead an agriculture- based economy until the early 20th century when Maria Martinez and her husband Julian Martinez rediscovered how to make the Black-on-Black pottery for which San Ildefonso Pueblo would soon become famous. From that time the Pueblo has become more tourist-oriented, with numerous tourist shops. 


    Nambe Pueblo

    26 minutes from Santa Fe

    The Pueblo of Nambé, or Nanbé Owingeh, is one of the six Tewa-speaking pueblos of the northern Rio Grande region. It is located about 15 miles north of Santa Fe, at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The name is a Spanish interpretation of the Tewa word “nanbe’”, which roughly translates as “rounded earth”, and “owingeh”, which translates to “pueblo” or “village”. Prior to the arrival of Spanish explorers in the early 1600’s, Nanbé Owingeh served as a primary cultural and religious center for the northern New Mexican pueblo communities and has existed at its current site since the 14th century. Nambé Pueblo is a registered National Historic Landmark, and is a major tourist attraction.


  • Pecos National Monument

    Pecos is a cultural crossroads through which hunters and gatherers, traders, conquerors and explorers, immigrants, soldiers, ranchers and tourists passed. Walk the trails and imagine Pecos through the centuries. Explore sites where cultural demonstrations and traditional practices continue today - a living legacy of the people who passed this way.


    Visit  Website

  • Puye Cliff Dwellings

    Experience one of northern New Mexico’s most awe-inspiring cultural attractions featuring cliff & cave dwellings, early Pueblo architecture, an original Harvey House and a stunning panorama of the valley. Spend time with us, and be touched by the spirit of a special place between the earth and sky.


    Visit Website

  • Taos and Northern New Mexico

    There are two ways to experience the drive to Taos, the High Road and the Low Road. Both begin on a similar path but separate for different trips. The High Road is more scenic, following a climbing, curvy road, with more to stop and see along the way. The Low Road is spectacular, and a more direct route following the highways connecting Northern New Mexico, partly alongside the Rio Grande River. We generally recommend taking the High Road to Taos and the Low Road back home to The Five Graces. 

    Please inquire for our customized itinerary, including stops along the way in Chimayo sanctuary, Rancho de Taos church, Taos Pueblo, Rio Grande Gorge and other points worth your visit. 


    Visit Website

  • Tent Rocks "Kasha-Katuwe" National Monument

    41 minutes from Santa Fe


    Please note that Ten Rocks is still closed. 


    Welcome to Mars! This hike is like being on another planet. It is located 45 minutes from Santa Fe, in the direction of Albuquerque. A volcanic eruption formed enormous rocks that look like 15 story high tipis. There is very little flora in this area, which is in sharp contrast to Bandelier’s lush forestry. The Cochiti Pueblo who live near Tent Rocks are the modern day descendants of the first Loop Trail, Tsankawi, Falls Trail, and all backcountry trails are open. Juniper Family Campground  all outdoor facilities including the Pueblo and park restrooms also remain open. 


    Visit Website

  • Turquoise Trail

    6 minutes from Santa Fe


    The Turquoise Trail is named for the historic mines that line this route, a scenic day trip or a peaceful route linking Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Venture off the freeway and onto the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, and you’ll get picture perfect views of the high desert in the heart of central New Mexico, between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The drive is approximately 50 miles (one way) along Highway 14. Drive back into history through the mining towns of Golden, Madrid, and Cerrillos. Each of these towns, abandoned when the mines closed, became ghost towns and are now being revived with art, crafts, theater, music, museums, and restaurants. 


    If you have some extra time to drive to the top of Sandia Crest, you will get spectacular views, wildlife, and cool mountain air. We recommend filling your gas tank before you go, as there are limited service stations along the route. 


    Visit Website

Fishing


With nearly 1000 miles of streams and nearly 20 fish- bearing lakes, the Santa Fe National Forest offers a variety of fishing experiences. You can try fly fishing in the wilderness or a family experience at established fishing areas.


  • Private Fly Fishing Trips

    If you are interesting in Fly Fishig opporunnities while stay at The Five Graces, please reach out to our conceirge to learn about the options and to make arrangements.

Golf


You might not believe it, but Santa Fe is a year-round golf destination. In the winter, it's one of the few places where you can ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon.


  • Black Mesa Golf Club

    Designed by Baxter Spann, this 18-hole course is ranked among America’s top 50 by Golf Magazine. Enjoy a majestic desert golf experience on rolling fairways extending through mountainous valleys and dramatic sandstone ridges.


    In addition to individual tee times and foursomes, the club can accommodate any size or type of tournament or outing. Amenities include a full pro shop, driving range, short game practice area, and two putting greens.


    15 NM-399, Española

     505-747-8946

    Visit Website


Hiking/Altitude Running


Hiking opportunities in and around the Santa Fe National Forest are plentiful and diverse as the life zones of the forest. Due to the forest covering so many elevations and habitat types, there is year round access to hiking trails.


  • Aspen Vista

    Length: 10 miles [round trip, actually 12 miles]


    Degree of Difficulty: easy to moderate


    Seasonal: Open Year-Round (snowy in winter: snowshoes recommended) 


    The Aspen Vista trail is the most popular trail in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The gradual uphill climb and the width of the road make it ideal for hikers and snow-showers of all abilities and ages. The road is closed to motorized vehicles including snowmobiles. 


    Visit Website

  • Atalaya Mountain Hiking Trail

    Length: 7 miles round-trip, Trail 170 is 4.6 miles round-trip


    Degree of Difficulty: Easy to difficult, steep


    Seasonal: Open Year-Round, might be snowy in winter; best spring to fall 


    The Atalaya Mountain Trail, accessible from the parking lot at St. Johns College, is one of the most popular and easily accessible hiking trails in Santa Fe. Hikers have the option of taking the longer route (Trail 174), which is approximately 7 miles round-trip, or parking farther up near the Ponderosa Ridge development and doing a 4.6-mile loop (Trail 170) instead. Both trails eventually join and take you toward the top of Atalaya Mountain, a 9,121-foot peak. The first few miles of  Chamisa Trail is a 4.5 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Santa Fe, New Mexico that features beautiful wildflowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on the trail are relatively easy, but it becomes increasingly steep and strenuous as you near the summit of Atalaya Mountain. Hikers who make it to the top are afforded great views of the Rio Grande valley and the city below. 


    Visit Website

  • The Borrego, Bear Wallow and Winsor Trail Loop

    Length: 4 miles


    Degree of Difficulty: moderate to difficult, quite steep


    Seasonal: Open Year-Round; best spring to fall; (snowy in winter: snowshoes recommended) 

    The Borrego Trail is located just a few miles up the road from the Chamisa Trail head and is another excellent choice for hikers and trail runners alike. The Borrego is a loop hike that follows three trail systems for approximately four miles. A well-defined trail winds through lush pines with rolling elevation dropping down to Big Tesuque Creek and a lovely meadow perfect for a picnic. The trail follows the Winsor Trail for a short distance west to the Bear Wallow Trail. Follow the Bear Wallow Trail uphill until it reconnects with the Borrego Trail. 


    Visit Website

  • Dale Ball Trail

    The Dale Ball Trail system is a 24-mile network of trails in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Located a short distance from downtown Santa Fe, it is the quickest way to get from the city into the mountains. 


    The network offers great opportunities for beginners and advanced hikers alike, along with amazing views of both the surrounding wilderness and back towards the city. The trails feature a unique numbered sign system at each junction to provide easy navigation, as well as connections to other local trails, including the Nature Conservancy, Dorothy Stewart, Atalaya, La Piedra, Pichaco Peak, and Little Tesuque Trails. 


    Visit Website

  • Chamisa Trail Loop

    Length: 4.5 miles Degree of Difficulty: moderate to difficult, quite steep


    Seasonal: Open Year-Round; best spring to fall; (snowy in winter: snowshoes recommended) 

    leash. 


    Visit Website


  • Tesuque Creek Trail

    Length: 3 miles


    Degree of Difficulty: Easy


    Seasonal: Open Year-Round; best spring to fall 

    It is a quick drive from Santa Fe to picturesque Tesuque. Bishop’s Lodge road stands on the corner of 1,500 contiguous square miles of national forest, linking its marked trails over hilly terrain with gentler designated trails in the Santa Fe National Forest. This easy hike offers exposure to lower- elevation vegetation, including pinon, juniper, and oak-pine belts. The creek is easily accessed; its water provides welcome relief on hot summer days. The upper part of the trail is accessed from the road to the Santa Fe Ski Basin, shortly after the 10,000 Waves resort, and is easy and well groomed. The center part of the trail is currently closed for river restoration. 


    Visit Website

Hot Air Balloon Rides


Early mornings provide the perfect weather for Hot Air Balloon flights when Santa Fe wakes up to light winds and cool temperatures.


  • Santa Fe Balloons

    Johnny Lewis owns and operates Santa Fe Balloons in Santa Fe, NM. Johnny has piloted balloons all over the world and he is one of the worlds most experienced balloon pilots with over 6000 hours of balloon flights, He  has maintained a Spotless Safety Record.


    Johnny searched long and hard to find a location near Santa Fe that was both spectacular and safe for his Hot Air Balloon Flights. He found it in the incredibly beautiful and serene area known as Las Barrancas (The Ravines)


    (505)-699-7555

    Visit Website


Jeep Riding


Explore “hard to find” and off the beaten path roads around Santa Fe any time of the day on a Jeep tour. Sunsets rides are particularly stunning.


  • Santa Fe Jeep Tours

    An important fact about us is Santa Fe Jeep Tours was born out of a love of the terrain of Northern New Mexico, and the exploration of “hard to find” and off the beaten path roads. Santa Fe Jeep Tours started as an opportunity for its founder, Andrew, to share his love of the outdoors with friends and family, and is now a passion that he shares with each of his clients!


    (505) 428-9126

    Visit Website


Petroglyphs


Petroglyphs are rock carvings (rock paintings are called pictographs) made by pecking directly on the rock surface using a stone chisel and a hammerstone. When the desert varnish (or patina) on the surface of the rock was chipped off, the lighter rock underneath was exposed, creating the petroglyph.


It is estimated 90% of the petroglyphs around Santa Fe were created by the ancestors of today's Pueblo people. Puebloans have lived in the Rio Grande Valley since before 500 A.D., but a population increase around 1300 A.D. resulted in numerous new settlements. It is believed that the majority of the petroglyphs were carved from about 1300 through the late 1680s. A small percentage of the petroglyphs pre-date the Puebloan time period, perhaps reaching as far back as 2000 B.C.

  • La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site

    The La Cieneguilla site is also of interest to those tracing the route of El Camino de Tierra Adentro, as the ancient road passed along here as well. (Photo courtesy of Santa Fe County)


    Just beyond the edge of Santa Fe and a short hike through the deep silence of the terrain lies a rocky ledge that seems to whisper to passersby, the dark stone speaking a cryptic language.


    Carved into the boulders of the ledge at the La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site and  throughout the Southwest are thousands of petroglyphs thought to originate from the pre-contact time of the Spanish colonial era. Despite a great deal of scholarly study throughout modern history, no one can say for certain what these depictions meant to the people who created them. Not only does their meaning remain shrouded in mystery, but many of the etchings’ depictions are indecipherable, leaving curious visitors to speculate.


    Visit Website


  • Tsankawi Trail at Bandelier National Monument

    The Tsankawi site, offers a glimpse into the lives of the Ancestral Tewa Pueblo people and is an excellent day trip for anyone looking for solitude, scenery and a little bit of history. Built from volcanic rock and adobe in the 1400’s, the homes of the Ancestral Tewa Pueblo people remain fairly intact. Today their descendants live in nearby San Ildefonso Pueblo.


    Centered on a narrow mesa, Tsankawi offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains. The nice, easy trail follows in the footsteps of those who inhabited the pueblo. Scattered among the cliffs around the Tsankawi site and in many of the cliff dwellings are several large petroglyph panels with figures of people, birds, animals and stars.


    The Tsankawi Trail is easy to moderate with a few ladders that guide visitors up the steepest areas.


    Visit Website


skiing


You'll find some of the best places to ski in the Southwest right here in the Santa Fe area. The season typically lasts from late fall through early spring, bringing up to 300 inches of snow a year to some ski resorts and plenty of races, winter festivals and other events.

With an average of 300 sunny days a year and plenty of snow during the winter season, Santa Fe is a skier's paradise. Whether you're a novice or an expert, a downhill skier or a snowboarder, you'll enjoy miles of challenging trails, beautiful panoramic mountain vistas and endless fun beneath the winter sun.

  • Ski Santa Fe

    Ski Santa Fe is nestled high in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains, just 16 miles from the heart of historic Santa Fe. With a base area elevation of 10,350 feet, Ski Santa Fe is among the highest ski areas in the continental United States. The Millennium Triple Chairlift will take snow sport enthusiasts to a new height of 12,075 feet and some of the Southwest’s finest skiing. The vistas atop Ski Santa Fe are spectacular and act as the gateway for thrills, including steep bump runs, powder filled chutes, gladed tree-skiing, and plenty of groomers.


    Local patrons and visitors from around the world can find something for each taste. Whether a first time skier/boarder or seasoned veteran, Ski Santa Fe offers complete services for all level of participants. Ski Santa Fe is family oriented, but those seeking a challenge can find their place here too. 


    (505) 982-4429

    Visit Website

Whitewater Rafting


New Mexico might not be the first state that comes to mind when you think of world-class rapids, but the Land of Enchantment might surprise you when it comes to great white water rafting opportunities. You can go white water rafting at several spots along the Rio Grande as well as on the Rio Chama. There are trips for all skill-levels, whether you’re looking for fast and furious rapids or smooth, family-friendly rafting.


  • Santa Fe Rafting Company

    Santa Fe Rafting is a small locally owned rafting company right in the middle of Santa Fe, New Mexico. We have been leading in high-quality white water rafting trips since 1984. 


    We are a group of guides that truly find meaning in working on the river and sharing in the wonders of the natural world with others.

    At SFR our objective is simple, have some fun. Life can sometimes get a little stuffy and our job is to hold the space for the inner explorer. 


    505-988-4914

    Visit Website