Took this beautiful trail on a Monday morning. You have to…read morepark off the side of the road, as there is no parking lot but there is plenty of parking in the morning. When I arrived, I found parking amongst four vehicles already lined up -- and when I left, about four to five more were parked up and down the road, so don't stress about the parking too much. I do want to mention that there are 'high car prowler' signs, so definitely don't come with valuables/leave valuables in your car. The hike itself takes about an hour to an hour and a half, give or take. A few recommendations: 01. Most of the hike is sun exposed, so do bear that in mind (in case a sunstroke or skin cancer is something of concern). 02. Go in the AM hours as you'll get rather sweaty from the steep uphill trekking. Besides, who doesn't want a gorgeous view at the start of their day? 03. Hiking boots (as it is steep going up and can be slippery going down). I encountered a lot of elderly people too. I'm talking people in their 60's+. It was... very inspiring to see, as this trail is a moderately difficult hike! Quite adorable to see them out there hiking with their dogs and their hiking poles. So kind and friendly too. 100% worth it.

Pretty, easy hike for visiting from flat land beginners offers nice view over St. John's Collegeread more

We had trouble finding the starting point that we were originally looking for (our Lyft dropped us…read moreelsewhere), but nonetheless we were able to still hike on a beautiful trail. It did not disappoint! It was easy to follow as everything we clearly marked.

This is a nice easy to moderate trail. Plenty of trees and great views to be had. It is not far…read morefrom the plaza and many other great Santa Fe destinations. There is a good sized parking lot. The markings and posting are great and the trail is easy to follow. It is definitely recommended if you are looking for a great way to spend a morning or afternoon in nature.

A challenging hike, but absolutely worth it!…read more When we went, the parking area had some construction going on, but it was still usable. There are several trails that start from the lot, so it will be used. The construction seems to be to connect this trailhead area to the nearby nature preserve society buildings and educational area. Which, by the way, is the closest restroom facilities. For those that need it... The trail is pretty easy to follow, though at the beginning, I was checking the photo I took of the trails and the AllTrails map. There were a couple confusing and unmarked on maps forks, or small dry creek beds or other areas that look like possible trails. And since part of the Picacho Peak trail is along or in a dry creek bed...it can be a little confusing. But once past that, the trails are pretty clear and well marked. It is challenging. It is in a higher elevation than I am generally used to, and even higher again from Albuquerque. And then you are climbing up a dang mountain. Take your time if you need to, bring more water than you think you'll need, bring snacks for energy at the top of the mountain. And enjoy!! The trail was neat and pretty well-maintained. The views are wonderful! And the other folks who will also make this trek are friendly and kind. Very glad we did it!

The views are so worth the sweat! Trails aren't well marked at trailhead, but gets better as you go…read morealong. Moderate to hard effort and you need to pack ample water. Highly recommend this beautiful hike.

Nice hike for us fairly fit seniors is the loop trail. Park at the lodge or just before it st the…read morecampground where sign indicates black canyon trail. Walk past the lodge and look for sign with trail map. We thought we'd try the waterfall trail but no signage made us stop after crossing the stream several times and ending at a memorial cross. Someone said you need to scramble with large rock/cliff to the left and keep going. The lodge was closed when we went in mid September. Lovely cool day for a 9:00 am hike.

This is camping! The trees are absolutely gorgeous and there are little trails right off the…read morecampsites. The sites are level and have a nice big table and a pole with two hooks for hanging trash or food so critters can't reach it. The way the loop is developed gives each campsite lots of privacy and you're never too far from a restroom or trash can. The people in the park were really friendly and the camp fees were totally reasonable. It's also not too far from town to run in to spend time in at the beautiful plaza area and browse for adorable nick knacks for souvenirs and gifts. It's also convenient for groceries or gas. There is an Albertsons and Whole Foods right off the highway as soon as you get to town.

Beautiful cool and shaded. What? Not good enough? Ok, most of Chamisa is nice soft dirt walking,…read moreTenderfoot! Easy to spot this trail head on left of road after crossing into the National Park from Santa Fe.

We need to have a talk, my Santa Fean Yelp brethren. You undervalue the James Beard-awarded fine…read moredining destination pumping lifeblood into your celebrated art district*. You ignore the historic (and haunted) cemetery where many of your most prominent ancestors rest (or *don't* rest, if my investigation is any indication)**. Worst of all, you apparently have no knowledge of the scenic trail just a few miles northeast of town. Fortunately for you, the dapper, mysterious Ryan M. from San Antonio is here not only to berate but to educate. My father and I were so taken with the Chamisa Trail that I added it to Yelp Santa Fe's business listings. The Chamisa Trailhead is located somewhere between mile markers seven and eight on Hyde Park Rd. Signage is minimal, which might explain the trail's relative obscurity to tourists and locals. When you arrive, you'll notice two paths, neither of which is labeled. The path on the right is apparently the more difficult of the two, a fact my father and I learned the hard way. It was a challenge at times but nothing too strenuous. If you're a girly man (or a LaVeyan Satanist who takes things too literally), then the "left-hand path" would probably be the better option. Both paths begin and end at the parking area, though, so don't worry about getting lost. The word "chamisa" refers to the rubber rabbitbrush that grows wild throughout Santa Fe and parts of the western United States. I could pretend to be a well-traveled authority on ericameria nauseosa, but that would be mendacious of me. No, I learned much about the rabbitbrush from a chatty server at Café Pasqual's, the best place for breakfast in Santa Fe. He informed me that many folks suffer a violent allergic reaction to chamisa, which might explain the Latin prefix "nauseo" in "nauseosa." Thankfully, my father and I suffered no ill effects throughout our three-mile hike. Ironically, I recall seeing very little (if any) chamisa brush on the trail. As I attempt to describe the unmolested beauty of this semi-secluded trail, I find myself resorting to adjectives such as "gorgeous," "scenic," "spectacular," and "peaceful." The Chamisa Trail is indeed all of these and more. Every turn reveals something new: a millennia-old rock formation, an aspen with trembling yellow leaves, a ground squirrel foraging for food. Not once did my father and I hear the sound of a car engine, an airplane, or any semblance of modern life. We had the trail practically to ourselves the entire time, which emphasized the sense of isolation. As I mentioned earlier, the path on the right is definitely the more difficult of the two. If you choose this path, expect a steep, mostly uphill hike with many switchbacks and drop-offs. The most challenging moment of the hike, however, occurred towards the end when we were declining. The section in question was steep and rocky. Had we attempted to navigate it on foot, we probably would have fallen and broken our necks. After some deliberation, we decided to sit and slide down until we reached the bottom. Our exfoliated butt cheeks paid the price, but at least we lived to tell the tale. The mystic charm of Santa Fe is apparent in its art, architecture, cuisine, and the untouched beauty of Hyde State Park, the home of Chamisa Trailhead. Whether you're a local (in which case, shame on you again for neglecting your Yelper duties) or a visitor, then please consider spending an afternoon hiking the Chamisa Trail. You'll appreciate its many gifts and work up an appetite for a world-class meal at either Geronimo or The Compound. *See my review of The Compound: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-compound-santa-fe?hrid=CL8YFxAUxslYbtKsF28oKw&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) **See my review of Fairview Cemetery: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fairview-cemetery-santa-fe?hrid=1kYzceD5CpAKFiqUDxapbw&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

This is a very well taken care of trail that is very easy for people to see quite up close. You…read morecould possibly have a stroller or wheelchair here and still see a lot. There are seats all throughout the routes. The first third of the trail isn't as shaded but the entire last portion is quite shaded. There's also a bathroom available about 2/3rds of the way to alcove house. The history is amazing. Glad we are preserving this place and sharing it with the public.

One of my favorite national parks that I have ever been to and hiked! STUNNING. I love that you can…read morehike up the ladders on one of the hikes here. That hike definitely is not for the faint of heart and pushed my limits at the top (you are high and it seems scary) but it is one of my most memorable hikes all around for the scenery and unique experience. A must visit! For those who don't to do the ladder hike, you can still walk to the bottom of it and look up and get a good view. So there is something for all levels here. The scenery is gorgeous. It does get windy here sometimes (we had a lot of wind blasting us as we were climbing the ladders) so be careful and be prepared for that. The nature all around is beautiful. Additionally, there are some tables so you could bring a picnic. Staff in the visitor center is very friendly and has lots of great recommendations of what to do here or nearby. A must do! This was the highlight of my trip to this area and I can't recommend it enough :)

Beautiful spot full of Petroglyphs ranging from all sizes. Scenic drive to the large parking lot as…read morewell. Highly recommend.

This was beautiful. Very dry. Yes, absolutely explore…read more A few recommendations. On the path out of the parking lot, there are two gates. If you enter the gate on the left, start scrabbling uphill. If you enter the gate on the right, go left until you are at the second gate. Then start scrabbling up. We explored all the way to the far end on the right, saw nothing, then all the way to the far end on the left, went back around into the rocks and saw a single set of petroglyphs. It seems the most drawings are up at the top of the Mesa. We were glad we discovered a few. Not for the faint of heart!

Scott's tour of the cave dwellings at Bandelier was the highlight of our week in NM. We were…read moreimpressed with his knowledge of the geology of the area, and delighted that he knew so much about native plants too. Scott kept myself and my 14 year old son engaged for the entire hike with stories and insights about the people who lived there 700 years before and we were left feeling a little closer to them. He also packs great snacks and didn't seem to mind all of our questions. Ask him for Coyote and Kokopelli stories! Thank you Scott!

The highlight of our trip to Santa Fe! We are city dwellers and inexperienced hikers so we opted…read morefor a guide. We wondered if we would feel like we had spent money unnecessarily or if we would be relieved we sprang for a guide. We are both so glad we hired Outspire! Scott was so nice to speak with over the phone and equally easy going on the day of our excursion. He picked us up at our hotel and drove us up the mountain to the trailhead. He brought liking poles, a day pack, water, and snacks. Scott made frequent stops on the trail to accommodate our adjustment to the altitude (and our fitness level). He never once made us feel bad for stopping. As a geology professor at the local community college, Scott is uniquely knowledgeable about the area. We learned so much about the mountain and the plants and animals, without ever feeling like we were in a lecture. Scott is professional, knowledgeable, and thorough - while still being easy going with a kind demeanor. HIGHLY recommend!