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

Atalaya Trail is a very serviceable and enjoyable trail.  It's just the right length for an…read moreafternoon (or morning) hike, and it offers just enough elevation gain that you won't be bored by the level of endeavor required.  That said, apart from the views you'll be rewarded with when you're here, there's not a whole lot else of interest to see during your visit. Tip: This is a popular destination for both hikers and cyclists; both of the aforementioned need to keep their eyes peeled for their opposite numbers; hikers especially need to exercise caution to avoid being hit by oblivious cyclists. I've been here several times recently, and very much enjoy myself each time.  I've found that the views (especially from the top) are very rewarding.  Because it's very easily accessible from all over the area, the trail can sometimes get very crowded; it's best to visit either in the early morning or at off-peak hours to optimize avoid the crowds. The trail winds through the Cruz Blanca neighborhood before rapidly ascending up the side of Atalaya Mountain; it eventually reaches a height of just over nine thousand feet.  While the final stretch is quite gravelly and steep, the views from the top are totally worth it!

Part of the Dale Ball trail system, that include the Dorothy Stewart and Wilderness Trailheads. The…read moreparking lot near after entry for St John's college is the largest and furthest away. Drive up Camino Cruz Blanca and save yourself the 1.5 walk along the road past $1MM homes to these other trailheads. As with everything Dale Ball creates, this is a superbly marked trail system that allows the hiker to plan and tailor their experience. I made a bee-line to the summit of Mt. Picacho. Beautiful vista, but I'll need to return for a sunset and very carefully make my way down the steeper parts of a darkening trail.

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.

I love to drive up here and just chill. The park is well kept, for what it is... but could…read moredefinitely use more funding for upgrades, if our state government is reading.

We have been to Hyde Memorial State Park several times since the 70's. How lucky visitors and…read morelocals are, that this exists because of the generous land donation. Recently we hiked Bear Wallow and Big Tescuque Trails in December. We used Yaktracks and poles (purchased at Christy Sports-which was a great experience as well) !!!

Beautiful trail with great views. A little rocky in some areas but a good incline overall and nice…read moreoption for a hike or trail run. It is in a residential area and the only parking is right in front of the trailhead with room for about 4 cars. We got lucky and the 4th spot was available when we arrived! Worth a visit! Near downtown so an easy trail for visitors staying at hotels to check out!

The trailhead for this beautiful and easy 1.9-mile loop hike is about 3/4 miles above St. John's…read moreCollege on Santa Fe's eastside. The trail affords great views of the north end of Santa Fe and the Jemez Mountains. There are frequently lizards and horned toads along the trail edges. Although the trailhead parking lot is small (4 cars), there is roadside parking near St. John's College.

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.

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.

When I was searching for things to do in Santa Fe I stumbled upon this park. I was thinking to…read moremyself that it looked kind of boring, but it turned out to be a really cool place. Admission is only $3 per person. They give you a pamphlet/laminated book type thing and you follow the trail and read the information as you go. They did an excellent job of describing life at the pueblo and it made the trip super interesting. There is a lot of opportunity for great photos. Dogs are allowed throughout the park as long as they are leashed and picked-up after. They had a movie in the visitor center, which we watched after our walk, it was informative, but not necessary.

Nice NPS site. Well designed walking path through ruins. Trail guide is informative. You can…read moredrop into the kivas, which my kids thought was fun. Friendly rangers. Just not a lot of unique content. Would stop by if in area but probably not a facility to go out of your way to visit.