Santa Fe National Forest

Santa Fe National Forest surrounds Santa Fe and extends across much of north-central New Mexico. It contains two mountain ranges, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east and the Jemez Mountains to the west. At 1.6 million acres, it’s one of the most visited national forests in the Southwest, and the variety is hard to beat.

Why Go

Within an hour of downtown Santa Fe, you can be hiking above treeline in the Pecos Wilderness, soaking in geothermal hot springs in the Jemez, or driving through aspen groves that turn gold every October. This forest sits at the intersection of pueblo culture, mountain ecology, and some of the most striking volcanic geology in the state.

Top Spots

• Pecos Wilderness — 223,000 acres of high peaks, alpine lakes, and backcountry trails; Truchas Peak (13,102 ft) is the second-highest summit in New Mexico
• Jemez Mountains — volcanic landscapes, hot springs, scenic drives, and popular destinations including Jemez Falls and the nearby Valles Caldera
• Nambe Lake — a beautiful alpine lake reached by a challenging hike into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
• Lake Katherine — one of New Mexico’s most scenic high-country lakes, surrounded by rugged peaks and alpine meadows
• Spence and McCauley Hot Springs — free natural hot springs reached by short hikes off NM-4
• Ski Santa Fe — high-elevation ski area with lifts reaching nearly 12,000 feet, just 30 minutes from downtown Santa Fe

Getting There

For the Jemez side, take US-550 to NM-4 through the town of Jemez Springs. For the Pecos/Sangre de Cristo side, take I-25 north from Santa Fe to NM-50 east toward Pecos, then NM-63 into the mountains. Hyde Park Road (NM-475) goes directly from Santa Fe up to Ski Santa Fe and several trailheads.