When you visit Santa Fe New Mexico you're going to have many fun and exciting things to do. To add a little bit of alpine experience to your Santa Fe vacation you might want to add this stop to your trip planner.
One of the best short drives out of Santa Fe is to the Hyde State Memorial Park which is on the way to the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Avid skiers in the Santa Fe area know the park quite well. The drive to the park is only about eight to nine miles northeast from the center of Santa Fe via Hyde Park Road. From the Santa Fe plaza, drive north on Washington Ave. One block past the pink colored Scottish Rite Temple on your left, turn right on Artist road; the sign says that Hyde State Park and the Santa Fe Ski Basin are this way. Just continue up the road about seven miles. You'll pass a few residential areas on both sides of the road and then enter a curving, climbing and very scenic drive up to the park. Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range the park is filled with evergreens and aspens. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains extend from Salida Colorado in the north down to a bit southeast of Santa Fe to the south. It's a beautiful mountain range and is mostly a National Forest.
Hyde State park is loaded with a variety of hiking trails and is a favorite of people who just want to get up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains for a relaxing picnic in nature. It's closeness to Santa Fe makes it an easy side trip. Even if you're not in to hiking, a picnic at Hyde State Park is just the thing between visits to the art galleries and museums. The park is at an elevation of about 8,500 to 9,000 feet so you'll find the temperature perhaps 10 to 12 degrees cooler than down in Santa Fe. During the winter months there is plenty of snow and Hyde State Memorial Park has a few sledding slopes just behind the park ranger's station. During the winter you can also rent ski's if you're headed up to the Santa Fe Ski Basin or you can rent or buy sleds at the lodge building adjacent to the sledding slopes. There are also cross country skiing trails in the park. There is a Circle Trail which runs along the parameter of the park which can be used for winter snow shoeing. The Circle Trail also offers great views of the Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia and Ortiz mountains.
The Circle Trail includes a lot of switchbacks and grades, some of which have loose gravel. While the views are magnificent, you may want to be sure to bring along your hiking boots and trekking poles. Often while on one of the Circle Trail's flat portions you might get the sense that you've reached the top only to find another incline ahead. Many people hike just a portion of the trail. Also, some people hike a portion and then return the next day to pick up where they left off. There is another very popular hiking trail just beyond Hyde State Memorial Park a bit higher in the Sangre de Cristos in the Santa Fe National Forest. The trail is called Aspen Vista. It's a gradual uphill climb and the width of the road make it perfect for skiers of all abilities and ages. The road itself is closed to cars including snowmobiles. Begin the hike from Aspen Vista Picnic Area, which is just past the 13 mile marker on the road. There is plenty of parking and picnic tables. There are also several side trails leading off the main trail. I've hiked this trail several times and it's got some great views. The distance is about 10 miles and the rating is difficult to moderate. One other interesting trail is Chamisa Trail. This one is rated as an easy hike and is 4.75 miles round trip. It's also close to town being about six miles from the Santa Fe plaza. It runs through rolling terrain and meadows. The hike will take you through large stands of evergreen trees. To get to the Chamisa Trail, follow Hyde Park Rd. 5.6 miles to a wide canyon with two large parking areas on the south and north sides of the road. Park on the north side. All in all, the park and the National Forest, it's trails and it's natural beauty, is a great low cost and fun side trip for the entire family.
Campers will find more than fifty camping sites with a few offering electric hook ups. There are also three picnic shelters and a lodge which can be used for family or group gatherings for up to 150 people. During the winter months the lodge is used for equipment rentals. Hikers will find over four miles of trails at the Hyde State Park and several more in the adjoining Santa Fe National Forest.
Here is a web site for more information on Hyde State Memorial Park.
(Photos from author's private collection)
The New Mexico's Rail Runner train offers visitors excellent and low cost options to see more of New Mexico. If you happen to be visiting the Albuquerque area, then the Rail Runner can get you up to Santa Fe and experience "The City Different" all in one day if you prefer. The same holds true if you're in Santa Fe and want to see the sights in Albuquerque. If you go to Albuquerque make sure to stop by Old Town filled with great restaurants and shops.
When stepping off the Rail Runner at the Albuquerque's Alvarado Transportation Center, visitor’s can ride the city’s bus system to get to many popular destinations around Albuquerque. As a great added benefit people may now use their Rail Runner tickets to ride the buses for free.
The Rail Runner has been around New Mexico since 2006 operating between Belen, south of Albuquerque, to Bernalillo, to the north of Albuquerque. This modern rail service has been a great benefit for New Mexico transportation. The idea passenger rail serving the Central New Mexico north/south corridor had been talked about for many years, but it wasn’t until 2003 that the then Governor Richardson decided to have his administration make it a priority. Grants were given to the New Mexico Department of Transportation to get the ball rolling. The line was extended north to Santa Fe in December 2008. The way New Mexico's population is distributed made a very good case for the construction of the NM Rail Runner system. The central New Mexico corridor is home to about half the state's population. This includes Albuquerque, the largest city and economic center of New Mexico. Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the state capitol, is connected by Interstate-25. The Interstate which can get very congested runs fairly parallel to the Rail Runner tracks. Because of the topography of the region, alternate two lane auto routes are much slower and longer. Another reality is that home prices in Santa Fe have consistently been higher than in Albuquerque so the Rail Runner allows people who work in Santa Fe to easily commute from their Albuquerque area homes. The Santa Fe Rail Runner train schedule has been designed for commuters but works very good for tourists as well.
The RailRunner (northernmost Santa Fe stop shown at right) really serves two purposes and both are important to New Mexico's economy. As stated above, it is an excellent comfortable commuter train with convenient schedules for workers going between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The added benefit of course is that tourists to New Mexico can also take advantage of the Rail Runner. I think that even in the relatively short time the New Mexico Rail Runner has been serving Santa Fe, it's impact has been felt and in addition to allowing workers get to their jobs inexpensively, the train has brought many more people to events like Fiesta, Indian Market, Spanish Market, Zozobra and other art and cultural festivals. To check on the current New Mexico Rail Runner schedule and the train route map go to Rail Runner NM.
Indian Market began as a partnership between local pueblos and community leaders. Since 1922 Indian Market has been held every year and was aided in the early years from both the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad along with the completion of old Route 66. It is a wonderful display of Native American culture. About half the board of directors of the SWAIA ( Southwestern Association for Indian Arts) are Native Americans and most are artists exhibiting at the event. The artists are Native/Indigenous people from over 100 federally recognized tribes from the United States as well as Canada. Some of these exhibitors have participated for over 60 years. For decades, Santa Fe Indian Market has brought together the most talented Native American artists from the U.S. and Canada and has attracted serious collectors from around the world.
The event is a week long affair which goes on prior to the weekend Indian Market exhibition. During the weekdays there are previews and awards given out with about $100,000 in prize money to be won. Functions that go on during Indian Market include the Friday night press reception, the best of show announcement, a sneak preview of award winning art and a silent auction. Also, the Native Cinema Showcase event is a celebration of film by indigenous directors, producers, writers, actors and cultural activists. The Indian market gala usually takes place at the La Fonda Hotel on the plaza, Santa Fe's oldest hotel. SWAIA also gives out lifetime achievement awards during the weekend event. Another terrrific Indian Market event is the clothing contest held on Sunday morning from 9A-Noon. Children and adults model contemporary and traditional Native American clothing. It's also a great photo opportunity. Entertainment is also presented on the Plaza Stage from 1-4P during the weekend. The artists display and sell their work from booths all around the plaza, which itself is a National Historic Landmark, and adjacent streets. Typically featured are pottery, jewelery, textile weavings, paintings, sculptures, beadwork, basketry, and a variety of other traditional and contemporary art.
Indian Market has grown so much over the years that Native Americans throughout the United States are represented. It's my understanding that it is the largest single event in this country for exhibiting and selling Native American art. Many of the artists have attended the Institute for American Indian Arts..The next date for Indian Market in Santa Fe is the weekend of August 18-19, 2012 with other events held the weekdays prior.
While in Santa Fe during August you may also want to attend the Santa Fe Opera which also attracts people each year from around the country. You'll also be able to visit the many many galleries in Santa Fe including those on the world famous Canyon Road. If you're looking for great restaurants you'll also find these in Santa Fe and there are very good restaurants available to fit any type travel budget. I think you'll find this event a lot of fun for the entire family. Another transportation plus is the New Mexico Rail Runner which can whisk you up to Santa Fe inexpensively and in comfort from the Albuquerque area.
Indian market is a world renown event and you'll no doubt see people in attendance from all over the globe. If possible try to book your hotel early. (Photos public domain and author's private collection)
Many would say that the most famous landmark in Santa Fe New Mexico would be the Saint Francis of Assisi Basilica Cathedral just one block east of the plaza. There had been a place of worship at the cathedral's site since the founding of Santa Fe in the the year 1610. The cathedral was constructed by Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy between 1869 and 1886. Prior to this the site was home to an older adobe church. Archbishop Lamy was a very significant figure in 1800's Santa Fe. Today, the settlement about 15 miles southeast of Santa Fe was named in his honer and is now best known as the Santa Fe stop for Amtrak's Southwest Chief train than travels between Chicago and Los Angeles.
A significant contribution to the old adobe church occurred in 1626 when Fray Alonso Benavides brought Our Lady of the Rosary to Santa Fe. The chapel in fact was built at that time for the statue. During the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, the statue was removed, but returned in 1693 during the peaceful return of the Spanish settlers. She was renamed La Conquistadora in honor of the peaceful manner in which it was believed she entered the hearts of the natives.
Another interesting note is that the current cathedral was elevated to the status of Basilica in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI. Also the patron saint of the diocese of Saint Francis was brought to the cathedral during the 1967 renovations.
In every respect, the story of Santa Fe and the story of New Mexico has everything to do with the establishment of the old Spanish missions. Much has been written about the twenty-one missions built in California during the period of 1765 and 1833. Many of those were either built or inspired by Fray Junipero Serra, the first being the mission in San Diego California built in 1765. On the other hand, the missions in New Mexico including ones in and around Santa Fe were built decades earlier. The Spaniards first traveled to present day New Mexico primarily over two routes. There was the Coronado Expedition in 1540 which arrived from Mexico via present day Arizona. Coronado's expedition was a scouting expedition. It's goal was not to build settlements. In fact, the 1540 expedition was in search of the Seven Cities of Gold which Coronado and others heard so much about from the Indians in Mexico.
Throughout Spanish rule of the Nuevo Mexico Santa Fe was a center for exploration and mission work. Franciscan friars constructed eleven churches and by 1617 had converted more than 14,000 Native Americans to the Spanish form of Christianity. During the Spanish rule, the event of the most significance was the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The revolt was attributed to the relatively harsh rule of both the Spanish military and their friars. In their quest to colonize the region and convert the Indian to Christianity, many strict rules were put in place as well as punishments for disobeying. The native Americans were forced to build churches on the very spot where their traditional kiva was located. They were also forced to work to aid the Spanish commercial interests rather than tending to their own pueblos. Mostly because of this denigration and prohibition of their traditional religion, many of the Pueblo people kept a latent hostility toward the Spanish. The year 1680 was when all of this came to a head. The result was a coordinated attack on everything Spanish. During this revolt the majority of the friars were slain. The Spaniards were forced to withdraw from the entire region and fled back south along the Rio Grande River. The Spaniards were absent for twelve years when they finally returned for good in 1692. Asa surprise to some, their return was not met with much violence at all. The new governors of the territory dealt with the Indians in a new and kinder way. Although there still was resentment from a few, the Native Americans and the Spaniards continued to live peaceable. It was not until the Mexican Revolt in the early 1800's that the Spaniards were driven out of Nuevo Mexico for the last time.
What is now Santa Fe was first inhabited by Indians as far back as 1050. The Spaniards first settled in northern New Mexico in the year 1598. Don Juan de Onate became the first Governor and Captain-General of New Mexico. The capital then was built in San Juan Pueblo about 25 miles north of Santa Fe. The city of Santa Fe itself was founded by Don Pedro de Peralta, New Mexico's third governor. Peralta named the city, "La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Assisi", or "The Royal City of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi".
Santa Fe is a great vacation destination and St. Francis Basilica is a real treasure for the city and a significant part of it's rich history. (Photos from author's private collection)
The Circle Trail includes a lot of switchbacks and grades, some of which have loose gravel. While the views are magnificent, you may want to be sure to bring along your hiking boots and trekking poles. Often while on one of the Circle Trail's flat portions you might get the sense that you've reached the top only to find another incline ahead. Many people hike just a portion of the trail. Also, some people hike a portion and then return the next day to pick up where they left off. There is another very popular hiking trail just beyond Hyde State Memorial Park a bit higher in the Sangre de Cristos in the Santa Fe National Forest. The trail is called Aspen Vista. It's a gradual uphill climb and the width of the road make it perfect for skiers of all abilities and ages. The road itself is closed to cars including snowmobiles. Begin the hike from Aspen Vista Picnic Area, which is just past the 13 mile marker on the road. There is plenty of parking and picnic tables. There are also several side trails leading off the main trail. I've hiked this trail several times and it's got some great views. The distance is about 10 miles and the rating is difficult to moderate. One other interesting trail is Chamisa Trail. This one is rated as an easy hike and is 4.75 miles round trip. It's also close to town being about six miles from the Santa Fe plaza. It runs through rolling terrain and meadows. The hike will take you through large stands of evergreen trees. To get to the Chamisa Trail, follow Hyde Park Rd. 5.6 miles to a wide canyon with two large parking areas on the south and north sides of the road. Park on the north side. All in all, the park and the National Forest, it's trails and it's natural beauty, is a great low cost and fun side trip for the entire family.
