Day Hike: Soaking in the views atop Santa Fe Baldy

Viewed from the west, Santa Fe Baldy’s rounded profile gives it an air of approachability. 

It’s a challenging but manageable 14-mile out-and-back hike from the Santa Fe ski basin to reach the summit of New Mexico’s fifth-highest mountain (12,622 feet), and the views from the top are well worth the effort. 

Starting from the ski basin, hikers make an immediate climb up Winsor Trail to the Pecos Wilderness boundary, then pass through aspen trees and moss-covered pines as the trail levels out. About five miles into the hike, past a pair of stream crossings, is the large meadow known as Puerto Nambé, a popular backpacking location with views of the surrounding peaks.