About the Santa Fe to Taos Thru-Hike

Info sheet / “one-pager”

Click the image to get a printable PDF of the info sheet.

Summary map

Get a printable version of this map that fits on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper here.

Key facts about the thru-hike

  • The Santa Fe to Taos Thru-Hike goes from the Santa Fe Plaza over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains all the way to Taos Plaza… or vice versa.
  • It is 132 miles long and spans four counties – Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Mora, and Taos.
  • There are six sections to the thru-hike, each roughly 20 miles long. 
  • Almost all of the route is on existing trails or forest roads, plus about 2,100 feet along state highways. The highway sections are about 1,500 feet along Route 518 near Sipapu, and about 600 feet along Route 585 and Route 64 in Taos. The Route 518 and Route 585 stretches have ample shoulder to walk on and no tight curves where a driver could be surprised by a pedestrian. The Route 64 section is about 0.3 miles, and while it is tight in a few spots, there is a shoulder. There is also an alternate route that I’ve documented in the text directions that avoids Route 64.
  • No new trails need to be established.
  • Trails conditions along the route are reasonably good. More than 80% of the thru-hike is on frequently-traveled trails. What is not frequently-traveled trail is still passable, but you should expect some blowdown. Dockweiler Trail in the Pecos Wilderness, for example, is overgrown and has a few fallen trees.
  • The thru-hike doesn’t have to be done all at once. It can be done in day hikes and one to two-night overnights. You could also do it in one summer over a series of weekends.
  • The route does not go through any tribal lands, private property, or protected areas that don’t already have an easement for hikers. The only section of the thru-hike that goes through an easement is the “Santa Fe River Corridor” section (0.75-miles) between Camino Pequeno to Cerro Gordo Park.
  • Should there be a need to change the route, there are enough alternate routes available on existing trails that the thru-hike could still connect the Santa Fe and Taos Plazas. The question to ask isn’t if there’s a way from Santa Fe Plaza to Taos Plaza. The question to ask is what’s the most beautiful, “best” route to take?
  • The route has 13 points that are possible exits or access points. This facilitates accessing the trail for day hikes and delivering supplies to thru-hikers. It also allows for access from emergency services.
  • There is ample water along the route. 28% of the thru-hike goes along rills (tiny streams 1-2 feet wide), creeks, and rivers. It passes right by 13 lakes and ponds. The longest distance on the thru-hike without access to water is 8.8 miles from FR 442 / Ojitos Maes Trail (#182) to FR 439 in Carson National Forest. Even in this stretch, there are a few seeps.
  • Resupply is available at Sipapu Ski Resort on Route 518.
  • The route is not designed or intended for mountain bikes. There is an alt route for mountain bikers in development. It should be available for public review by February 1, 2025.
  • The route was first established in 2018 when Pam Neely went from the Santa Fe Ski Basin through to Taos Plaza. Section 1 of the thru-hike, from the Santa Fe Plaza to the Santa Fe Ski Basin, was added in the spring of 2023.
  • The Santa Fe to Taos Thru-Hike is a 501(c)3, founded in October, 2023.

Simple text description of the route

See the route page for more details, including links to GPX files and detailed, turn-by-turn directions for doing the thru-hike.

Section 1: Santa Fe Plaza to Santa Fe Ski Basin (19.5 miles)

  • S1-1: Santa Fe Plaza to Patrick Smith Park. 1.4 miles.
  • S1-2: Patrick Smith Park to Arroyo Polay Trailhead via Cerro Gordo Park. 1.2 miles.
  • S1-3: Arroyo Polay Trailhead to Sierra del Norte Trailhead. 1.8 miles.
  • S1-4: Sierra del Norte Trailhead to Little Tesuque Creek / Juan Trail (Trail 399). 3.4 miles.
  • S1-5: Little Tesuque Creek / Juan Trail (399) to Winsor Trail (254). 1.8 miles.
  • S1-6: Winsor Trail (254) / Juan Trail (399) intersection to Winsor Trail (254) / Chamisa Trail (183) intersection. 3.25 miles. Gaia map.
  • S1-7: Winsor Trail (254) / Chamisa Trail (183) intersection to Winsor Trail (254) / Borrego Bear Wallow Trail (150) intersection. 1.84 miles.
  • S1-8: Northeast corner of the Borrego Bear Wallow Triangle to Forest Road 102. 1.9 miles
  • S1-9: Forest Road 102 to Winsor Trailhead at The Ski Basin. 2.9 miles

Section 2: Santa Fe Ski Basin to Pecos Baldy Lake (26.2 miles)

  • S2-1: Ski Basin / Winsor (254) trailhead to “the Y”. 2.4 miles.
  • S2-2: “The Y” to Puerto Nambe. 2.2 miles.
  • S2-3: Puerto Nambe to Lake Katherine. 2.8 miles.
  • S2-4: Lake Katherine to Winsor Ridge (271) / Skyline Trail (251) intersection. 3.6 miles.
  • S2-5 Winsor Ridge (271) / Skyline Trail (251) intersection to Skyline Trail (251) / Cave Creek (288) intersection. 2.9 miles.
  • S2-6: Cave Creek (288) / Skyline Trail (251) intersection to Cave Creek (288) Dockweiler Trail (259) intersection. 3.3 miles.
  • S2-7 Dockweiler Trail (259) / Cave Creek Trail (288) intersection to Dockweiler field and rill. 4.1 miles.
  • S2-8: Dockweiler field and rill to intersection of Dockweiler (259) and Jack’s Creek Trail (257). 2.5 miles.
  • S2-9: Intersection of Dockweiler Trail (259) / Jack’s Creek Trail (257) to Pecos Baldy Lake. 2.6 miles.
  • Alt route: Puerto Nambe to Spirit Lake to Winsor Creek / Winsor Trail

Section 3: Pecos Baldy Lake to Santa Barbara Campground (19.6 miles)

  • S3-1: Pecos Baldy Lake to Intersection of Skyline (251) and Jose Vigil Trail (351). 2.8 miles.
  • S3-2: Intersection of Skyline (251) and Jose Vigil Trail (351) to Truchas Lakes. 2.5 miles.
  • S3-3: Truchas Lakes to Santa Barbara Divide. 2.4 miles.
  • S3-4: Santa Barbara Divide to West Fork of Rio Santa Barbara. 5.4 miles.
  • S3-5: West Fork Rio Santa Barbara to intersection of Middle Fork Trail (24) and West Fork Trail (25). 3.6 miles.
  • S3-6: Intersection of Middle Fork Trail (24) and West Fork Trail (25) to Santa Barbara Campground free parking lot. 3.1 miles.
  • Alternative route: Middle Fork Trail
  • Alternative route: Jicarita Peak

Section 4: Santa Barbara Campground to FR 442 (18.7 miles)

  • S4-1 Santa Barbara Campground free parking lot to intersection Indian Creek Trail (27) and Bear Mountain Trail (28). 2.1 miles.
  • S4-2: Intersection of Indian Creek Trail (27) and Bear Mountain Trail (28) to intersection Indian Creek Trail (27) and Divide Trail (36). 2.6 miles.
  • S4-3: Intersection Indian Creek Trail (27) and Divide Trail (36) to Los Esteros. 1.5 miles.
  • S4-4: Los Esteros to intersection of Agua Piedra Creek, Trail 19A and Trail 22. 3.8 miles.
  • S4-5: Trail 19a/22/Agua Piedra Creek to Agua Piedra Campground entrance. 1.9 miles.
  • S4-6: Agua Piedra Campground bridge/entrance to La Cueva Canyon / Trail 492. 0.9 miles.
  • S4-7: La Cueva Canyon / La Cueva Trail (492) to intersection of La Cueva Trail (492) and Ojitos Maes Trail (182). 1.7 miles.
  • S4-8: Intersection of La Cueva Trail (492) and Ojitos Maes Trail (182) to intersection of Ojitos Maes Trail (182) and La Cueva 8. 1.4 miles.
  • S4-9: Intersection of La Cueva 8 and Ojitos Maes Trail (182) to Forest Road 442. 2.7 miles.

Section 5: FR 442 to Rio Chiquito / FR 437 (26 miles)

  • S5-1: FR 442 to the beginning of the burn. 4.73 miles.
  • S5-2: Beginning of the burn on FR 442 to fr 439 / Rio Grande del Rancho. 4.2 miles.
  • S5-3: FR 439 / Rio Grande del Rancho to the beginning of the Connector. 4.0 miles.
  • S5-4: The beginning of the Connector to FR 438. 4.0 miles.
  • S5-5: FR 438 / end of the Connector to Bernardin Lake. 2.4 miles.
  • S5-6: Bernardin Lake to Puertocito (intersection of FR 438 and FR 478). 2.3 miles.
  • S5-7: Puertocito to Rio Chiquito / Forest Road 437. 4.5 miles.

Section 6: Rio Chiquito / FR 437 to Taos Plaza (20 miles)

  • S6-1: Rio Chiquito / FR 437 to Buena Suerte Canyon / FR 437. 2.3 miles.
  • S6-2: Buena Suerte Canyon to Manzanita Canyon on FR 437. 3.0 miles.
  • S6-3: S6-3 Manzanita Canyon to Drake Canyon Loop Trail (165) on FR 437. 2.2 miles.
  • S6-4: Intersection of FR 437 and Drake Canyon Loop Trail (165) to intersection of Drake Canyon Loop Trail (165) and unnamed trail. 3.4 miles.
  • S6-5 Intersection of Drake Canyon Loop Trail and unnamed trail to intersection of Ojitos Trail (166) and unnamed trail. 1.5 miles.
  • S6-6 – Ojitos Trail (166) from intersection with unnamed trail to Ojitos Trail (166) and a different intersection with another unnamed trail. 4.1 miles
  • S6-7 Ojitos Trail (166) / unnamed trail to El Nogal. 1.1 miles
  • S6-8 El Nogal to The Taos Cow. 1.7 miles
  • S6-9: The Taos Cow to Taos Plaza. 1.4 miles.

Contact

If you have any feedback, ideas, comments, etc about the thru-hike I would love to hear from you. Send me an email: contact@santafetotaos.org