Arroyo Hondo Open Space

Arroyo Hondo Open Space consists of 87 acres along the Arroyo Hondo, located approximately 5 miles south of downtown Santa Fe. Hiking trails from two trailheads wind through piñon-juniper habitat, weave among hillsides of cacti and yucca, and lead to panoramic views of the Galisteo Basin, Cerrillos Hills, Ortiz Mountains, the Arroyo Hondo, and more. The historic Arroyo Hondo Dam No. 2, constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, can be seen from vista points. The trail network from Arroyo Hondo Road can sometimes be inaccessible during spring runoff; please access the trails via Old Agua Fria Road East during these times. The property is open from dawn to dusk. 

Trail map » 

Parking Directions from Santa Fe »

The Santa Fe Irrigation and Improvement Company funded construction of Arroyo Hondo Dam No. 2 between 1908 and 1912 as part of a large development scheme intended to harness the capricious waters of the Arroyo Hondo with three dammed reservoirs.  Capitalists backing the plan dreamed of irrigating 5,500 agricultural acres south of Santa Fe  and developing two new suburban communities to be named Glenview and Bethlayne. Though acclaimed by financiers and local politicians, the Arroyo Hondo project was plagued by false starts and slow progress. Built from poured concrete, this dam was still not complete when a flash flood destroyed it on July 15, 1912, resulting in the project's abandonment. 

Talaya Hill Open Space

Tucked into the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains between Atalaya Mountain and Picacho Peak, the trails of Talaya Hill Open Space that wind through piñon-juniper woodland are part of the extensive Dale Ball trail system. The City of Santa Fe stretches out below trail high-points, with views reaching southwest to the Sandia and Manzano Mountains and west toward the Jemez range.

Use this map to locate trailheads and plan your hiking route.   

One of the trails leading down from Picacho Peak through Talaya Hill Open Space.

Cerrillos Hills State Park

Cerrillos Hills State Park is located 25 miles south of Santa Fe on Highway 14 along the scenic Turquoise Trail in the village of Cerrillos, New Mexico. The 1,098 acre property is owned by Santa Fe County and managed by New Mexico State Parks.

Recreational opportunities include hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding on five miles of trails with breathtaking views of surrounding mountain ranges. The trailhead is equipped with restrooms, an informational kiosk, and horse trailer parking.

The park visitor center, featuring exhibits about area history and more, is located at 37 Main Street in the village of Cerrillos. 

Brochure with Map »

Learn more about this incredible landscape from Amigos de Cerrillos Hills State Park.

Santa Fe-based poet Haniel Long, gazing toward the Cerrillos Hills in 1925, wrote,
"Those cones of turquoise to the southwest draw my thoughts like a magnet. They never reveal themselves; the more I gaze at them the more they clothe themselves in their mysterious garments."

Photo courtesy New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department.

Little Tesuque Creek Open Space

 and 

Arroyo de la Piedra Open Space  

Access the riparian zone of Little Tesuque Creek just after Nun's Corner on Hyde Park Road. Look for a small parking area on the south side of the road; take care crossing safely to access the trailhead on the north side.  This trail follows Little Tesuque Creek to the west down a shaded canyon of mature cottonwoods, and connects at multiple junctions with the Windsor Trail System (US Forest Service). 

The far west end of the trail connects to the steep, uphill Arroyo de la Piedra trail, which rises to a hilltop with views of Tesuque Valley, Pojoaque, and the Jemez Mountains. If you continue south along the trail through Arroyo de la Piedra Open Space, the trail connects to the Dale Ball Trail System and Sierra del Norte Trailhead (City of Santa Fe). 

Use this map to locate trailheads and navigate these trails. 

Little Tesuque Creek's shady riparian canyon is a cool respite from summer heat.

Rio en Medio Open Space 

Rio en Medio Open Space is CLOSED to the public following the 2020 Medio Fire and 2022 flash flooding. 

Rio en Medio Open Space is located just past the village of Rio en Medio along State Road 592, approximately 6 miles northeast of the Village of Tesuque. The property consists of 121 acres along Rio en Medio. The trail follows the stream for about a mile through mixed woodlands to connect with a Forest Service trail and ultimately with Forest Service Road 412 and Pacheco Canyon. Please note that parking at the trailhead is limited.

The upper Rio en Medio trail (USFS Trail 163) can still be accessed at Aspen Ranch, and at the trailhead at the end of State Road 475 (near the Ski Santa Fe parking area).

Heal-All (Prunella vulgaris) in bloom in Rio en Medio Open Space.

Ortiz Mountains Open Space

This 1,350 acre preserve encompasses the upper reaches of the Ortiz Mountains -- about 30 miles southwest of Santa Fe -- including Placer Peak, the highest peak in the range at 8,897 feet.  The property is biologically diverse, contains many wildlife species of conservation need, and is part of the Galisteo Basin wildlife corridor. It also contains many historic mining resources, including the Old Ortiz Mine which is one of the earliest hard-rock mines in the western United States.

Access to the Ortiz Mountains is through an active gold mine reclamation site, and is not open to the public.  County staff are developing plans for guided public hikes, dependent upon road and trail safety improvements. 

Looking northwest from the approach up Placer Peak in the Ortiz Mountains.

Santa Fe Rail Trail 

and

Spur Trail

The Santa Fe Rail Trail follows the historic Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line from Santa Fe Railyard Park to Lamy. The City of Santa Fe manages the first section of the trail, from Railyard Park to the I-25 overpass near Rabbit Road. Santa Fe County manages the remaining 12.5 miles of trail south to Lamy. Trail users may see the Santa Fe Southern Railway train, which conducts scenic train tours along this route. 

The Santa Fe Rail Trail connects to the Spur Trail 1.78 miles south of Rabbit Road Trailhead.  Follow the Spur Trail west, through piñon-juniper grasslands, to connect with the Santa Fe Community College District. 

Trail Map»

The Santa Fe Rail Trail crosses Arroyo Hondo south of the Rabbit Road Trailhead.

El Camino Real Trail 

The trailhead features a paved parking area for 20 cars on Constellation Drive, interpretive exhibits, and two pedestrian bridges over the Santa Fe River. El Camino Real Trail extends north for 14 miles to Diablo Canyon. The first 4.5 miles from Contellation Drive trailhead to County Road 62 is paved, while the remainder of the trail is dirt.  Bicyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians will see a variety of interpretive exhibits along the trail. 

Trail Map»

El Camino Real Trail leads from Constellation Drive trailhead in Santa Fe to Diablo Canyon (above).

Santa Fe River Greenway

This project is a joint effort between Santa Fe County and the City of Santa Fe to construct approximately 15 miles of a continuous greenway comprised of parks and trails along the Santa Fe River. The County’s portion of the Santa Fe River Greenway is approximately 8 miles running from the city limits at Frenchy’s Field to the wastewater treatment plant west of NM599. The county is restoring the river using natural materials and native plants to stabilize the channel and enhance the riparian habitat. It is also constructing a multi-use trail for recreational and alternative transportation use. 

The Greenway includes San Isidro River Park and Trail.  The trailhead and parking are at San Isidro Crossing on the Santa Fe River. A trail connects the parking area to Agua Fria Park for 0.7 mile along the river. A river restoration project has been completed along this stretch of the river.

Trail Map»

The Santa Fe River Greenway, shown here east of Siler Road provides a beautiful and safe alternate route into downtown on foot or bicycle.
Motorized vehicles like ATVs and motorcycles are not allowed on the trail.

Other Properties

• 10 Little Hills Open Space
• Edgewood Open Space
• Lamy Open Space
• Los Potreros Open Space
• Madrid Open Space
• Old Pecos Trail Open Space
• Ortiz Mountain Preserve
• Paseo Primero Open Space
• El Peñasco Blanco Open Space
• El Rancho Open Space
• San Pedro Open Space
• Thornton Ranch Open Space

10 Little Hills Open Space, near Cerrillos Hills State Park.