Visiting is a little more complicated than some other parks/monuments, but if you just read the…read morewebsite you'll get it figured out! The key is that reservations are required, both from the NPS and from the Cochiti Pueblo. Get the NPS reservation first, and only then get the Cochiti Pueblo one (link to that is on the NPS site!). Don't drive to the trailhead, drive to the Cochiti Pueblo visitor center first, check in there, then follow the guide car (runs pretty much continuously all day) to the NPS entrance. The trailhead has multiple pit toilets, all of which were well maintained. The hike through the slot canyon and up onto the ridge is absolutely stunning. There really aren't words to do justice, nor do the pictures really convey things either. The hike into and through the slot canyon isn't steep, although there are some pretty big steps required to clamber over some rocks here and there, and it can be narrow and is often sandy. There's not a lot of elevation change though until you get through the slot canyon, then you just switchback straight up a couple hundred feet onto the ridge. That section isn't terribly long though, and the views from the top are well worth it. The first third of the hike and the last third are pretty exposed to the sun, so make sure you apply that sunscreen and bring plenty of water!

Incredible. Reservation was easy. Gov Rec Ticket and Cochiti Tribal Pass, so two tickets. Worth…read moreevery penny. We got our tickets about 5 days out from visit. Check in at Visitor Center on arrival to check off your name on the list. Visitor centre has good restrooms, snacks and a few gifts and some very pleasant staff. Next Line up behind the white pilot vehicle and he will guide you in for a few miles where they will check your pass. After that its another few miles to a small carpark with restrooms and then off your go. We did slot canyon. Half a mile walk through amazing scenery/narrow passages through the stone and some climbing over rocks. I found it quite easy but do go before the sun comes out. We started at 9.30 am. After this section, which took us about 40 minutes due to lots of photo ops you will see another sign saying 1 mile to overlook. We almost gave up as the first climb looked hard - its not, just go on. We are in our 60's with dicky knees and it was not issue, just use your bottom when you have to. A light pair of garden gloves would be handy for when your hands scrape the boulders. All practical stuff here, the views speak for themselves. it's stunning and because of the limited access you meet few people along the way. As always with State Parks, check the website for any passes required or closures.

The Puye Cliff Dwellings are closed until further notice (as of last week of November) because of a…read moreroad maintenance project. Please give the visitor center a call before you plan to visit this place.

Five stars for a great look into the ancient Pueblo people. The 1 hr Mesa top tour was perfect- I…read morerecommend checking the weather and going early or later in the day because it can get very hot and there is no shade at the top where they do most of the talking about the history. Our tour guide was Samantha and she did a great job. They have done a beautiful job maintaining the site and hiring local tribe members. Overall, it was great to walk through the ruins and while terrifying to get to, it was so cool to see the cliff dwellings up close. Definitely have to be moderately fit to make it down the hill but they do have the option to take the tour van they use to get us to the top back down. That said, if you don't climb down you miss the best part of the tour. I recommend wearing clothes that you can rinse off easily (I had an athletic skort on which was the perfect material to dust off).

I'll never get tired of the view towards the Rio Grande River from Overlook Park in White Rock. On…read moreevery trip to Northern New Mexico (however far apart), you'll find me here (hot or not) admiring the scenery. Last week was but one experience that I hope to repeat.

We came back in May and it's just not as nice. No waterfall. It's hotter. The sunlight is so bright…read moreand air is drier so there's less color saturation/contrast in the area. Sept and October are the months to visit.

This was a great tour. Rocky had knowledge of the land, the culture, and lot about the history of…read moreSanta Fe. This tour was definitely worth it. He was very personal, very engaging and was open to it questions. Highly recommend and if you're lucky to have Rocky that's a plus!! Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures. From the time we took off to the end of the tour, we were constantly looking left right up around. It was a very busy tour and that's probably why I didn't even bother to take my camera out. Just so much information.

First let me say that tour itself was well worth the time and money because you saw a lot of places…read moreyou wouldn't see otherwise because you simply wouldn't know about them. The guide was knowledgeable about the history but there were times it would have been nice for some silence to just take in the sights. If you're a first time visitor like we were then you should for sure take this trip. Now for the down side. They don't take reservations so it's first come first serve. Some people missed out which having an on line presence could have prevented. Second we were told they picked up at the Lorreto Chapel, they don't so we had to dash over several streets to catch the tour. They only take cash, having a web site could eliminate that. There were some who didn't have money, just plastic. Word of caution, these buses are difficult to get in and out of, they are like trolly cars. If you have any sort of physical disability the trip might not work for you

Peaceful easy stroll, run, bike or hike. This is a beautiful, safe and easy place to get your sweat…read moreon. Highly recommend.

Nice park with a big walking area for exercise. They also have an exercise section of the park to…read moredo workouts. They have bbq's and picnic tables. Only 2 tables have tree shade though.

We spent the afternoon exploring the Santa Fe Canyon Preserve, and it was absolutely beautiful. The…read moremain 1.5-mile loop is easy, quiet, and full of character -- cottonwoods, old reservoir ruins, and a nice mix of sun and shade. It's amazing how peaceful it feels being just a few minutes from town. We also took a short side hike on the Dale Ball Trail System, which connects nearby. The views opened up fast -- rolling foothills, crisp mountain air, and wide open blue skies. Perfect mix of short-and-scenic without feeling rushed. Highly recommend this combo if you want something relaxing but still photo-worthy. Bring water, take your time, and enjoy the calm New Mexico landscape before heading back into Santa Fe.

Nice little hike along the ruins of the old Santa Fe Reservoir. Signs with old photos give…read morehistorical and ecological perspectives. Nice lush scenery along the Santa Fe "River," usually a steam. Some wonderful cool hidden benches for the romantically inclined. No dogs or bikes. Trailhead across from Audubon sign is not easy to find.

During our annual winter road trip from Austin to Taos, we take as many opportunities as possible…read moreto stretch our legs and take in some beautiful New Mexico landscapes, especially after a great local meal. We chose one of the trails at La Tierra because it was near our location after our tasty late lunch at the original Pantry diner and would put us on the correct side of town to easily continue our journey north on Highway 84 to our lodging at Embudo (north of Espanola). From a peek at the trail system map from Santa Fe Conservation Trust (SFCT, https://sfct.org/la-tierra-trails/), it looked like the La Cuchara trailhead (off 599 aka Veteran's Memorial Highway, behind Unity Santa Fe church) would be our best option, as we could access the roughly 3-mile Ridgetop Loop that would give us a bit of elevation gain with lovely views of the mountains in every direction. If you wanna follow our path, start at the trailhead (designated by marker "TH" throughout the park) and proceed through these numbered markers: 24, 21, 17, 16, 14, 12, 11, 25, and back to the trailhead. This was a mild winter Sunday afternoon, with temps in the low-40s, breezy, and partly sunny. There was a bit of leftover snow here and there, but the single-track terrain was primarily sandy and rocky with minimal mud, a good thing, since we were in our street shoes. We encountered only 2 other parties during our 1-hour outing, one guy on a mountain bike, and a couple walking their 4 dogs (off-leash, grrrr, but thankfully, harmless). The La Tierra Trails system has over 25 miles within 1.5k acres and is rated for multi-use by hikers, cyclists, and horses, plus a small section for motorcycles and ATVs at Buckman Track. Trail runners can also enjoy this trail system, with caution for the abundant cacti. Mountain bikers and BMX riders can have extra fun with some technical trail sections, jumps, and terrain obstacles created just for them; they even get an annual event during Santa Fe Bike Month (August) here, the La Tierra Torture race https://www.core-crew.com/la-tierra-torture-4-27 . Good to know: There are no restrooms or other comfort facilities (at least near the trailhead and path we took). We did notice signs about the risk of car break-ins and shattered window glass on the ground, but no one broke into our car while we were on the trail.

We loved hiking out here, nice and secluded, well marked trails that were easy to follow. All the…read moretrail markers had the full map to help you orient. Very good scenery. There were a couple places that were a little steep but most of the trail was very reasonable grade wise. We took a two mile or so loop from the calabasas trailhead, but there are a bunch of different trail heads to start from and options to go. Some are horse and bike friendly, some not. Bring water with you! There isn't any place to get it nearby.

Leonora Curtin is the Santa Fe Botanical Garden's 35-acre natural wetland preserve. It is open on…read morethe weekends for tours May - October. The "hike" is easy (flat, but you are out in the sun) and the docents are very knowledgeable. They have a lot of literature available for you to view including very comprehensive guides to the plant life and birds you will spot. There is a bird watching station, and a very huggable tree! :) Free, but a $5 donation is requested. Reservations are typically not required, but there is a cost for groups of 20 or more and those require advance notice. Portapotties in the parking lot. Benches throughout the area, in the shade. Leisurely, relaxing, good for kids. (NO dogs allowed) This is quite a bit away from the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens up on Museum Hill in Santa Fe. (About a 15-minute drive south) Although all part of the Botanical Gardens, Leonora Curtin is a separate location with different hours and a shorter visitor season. The directions are easy enough, but it's difficult to locate on Google maps. (Typing in the physical address will get you nothing.) Take the La Cienega exit from the I-25. Turn north on W Frontage Rd. It's about a mile & 1/2 up Frontage Rd. Small dirt parking lot. (You'll either see other cars or the bright blue portapotty!)