BASIC INFO ABOUT THE SANTA FE TO TAOS THRU-HIKE
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Santa Fe Plaza to Taos Plaza.
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132 miles on existing trails.
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Can be done over a series of weekends. Or do it as day hikes and one-night overnights plus one two-night overnight.
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Route is broken up into six Sections, each about 20 miles each. Each
Section has 7-9 sub-sections.
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Most of the thru-hike is above 9,000 feet elevation. Expect to do 2,000-3,000+ feet of elevation per day.
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Has far more water than you’d think! 28% of the route is directly next to or within a few hundred feet of water. Goes right by 13 lakes and ponds.
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Goes through wilderness and on remote trails. Expect occasional fallen trees and faint trails.
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Resupply at SF2T members’ resupply right off the route in Tres Ritos (approx 1/2 way) or at Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort 2 miles down NM 518. You have to be a member to access the Members' Resupply.
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Best months to do it are June, July, August, and September. Lower elevations can be done in May. October is nice, too.
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Separate route for mountain bikers in development. Route shown here is not designed or intended for
mountain bikes.
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Highly recommended: Get the guidebook: The Santa Fe to Taos Thru-Hike Guidebook has 57 maps, 60 photos, and everything you’ll need to know to plan and complete the thru-hike, including detailed itineraries for doing the thru-hike over a series of weekends. Available in paperback or Kindle. 193 pages, 6 oz. $22.95. Available on the SF2T website, in Santa Fe and Taos bookstores & outfitter shops, & on Amazon.
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ROUTE
Section 1: Santa Fe Plaza to Santa Fe Ski Basin (19.5 miles)
S1-1: Santa Fe Plaza to Patrick Smith Park. 1.4 miles.
S1-2: Patrick Smith Park to Arroyo Polay Trailhead via Cerro Gordo Park. 1.2 miles.
S1-3: Arroyo Polay Trailhead to Sierra del Norte Trailhead. 1.8 miles.
S1-4: Sierra del Norte Trailhead to Little Tesuque Creek / Juan Trail (Trail 399). 3.4 miles.
S1-5: Little Tesuque Creek / Juan Trail (399) to Winsor Trail (254). 1.8 miles.
S1-6: Winsor Trail (254) / Juan Trail (399) intersection to Winsor Trail (254) / Chamisa Trail (183) intersection. 3.3 miles.
S1-7: Winsor Trail (254) / Chamisa Trail (183) intersection to Winsor / Borrego Trail (150) intersection. 1.8 miles.
S1-8: Winsor / Borrego Trail (150) to Forest Road 102. 1.9 miles
S1-9: Forest Road 102 to Winsor Trailhead at The Ski Basin. 2.9 miles
Alt Route: Tesuque Peak to Puerto Nambe
Section 2: Santa Fe Ski Basin to Pecos Baldy Lake (26.2 miles)
S2-1: Ski Basin / Winsor (254) trailhead to “the Y”. 2.4 miles.
S2-2: “The Y” to Puerto Nambe. 2.2 miles.
S2-3: Puerto Nambe to Lake Katherine. 2.8 miles.
S2-4: Lake Katherine to Winsor Ridge (271) / Skyline Trail (251) intersection. 3.6 miles.
S2-5: Winsor Ridge (271) / Skyline Trail (251) intersection to Skyline Trail (251) / Cave Creek (288) intersection. 2.9 miles.
S2-6: Cave Creek (288) / Skyline Trail (251) intersection to Cave Creek (288) Dockweiler Trail (259) intersection. 3.3 miles.
S2-7: Dockweiler Trail (259) / Cave Creek Trail (288) junction to Dockweiler field and rill. 4.1 miles.
S2-8: Dockweiler field and rill to intersection of Dockweiler (259) and Jack’s Creek Trail (257). 2.5 miles.
S2-9: Dockweiler (259) / Jack’s Creek Trail (257) junction to Pecos Baldy Lake. 2.6 miles.
Alt route: Puerto Nambe to Spirit Lake to Winsor Creek / Winsor Trail
Section 3: Pecos Baldy Lake to Santa Barbara Campground (19.6 miles)
S3-1: Pecos Baldy Lake to intersection of Skyline (251) & Jose Vigil Trail (351). 2.8 miles.
S3-2: Intersection of Skyline (251) & Jose Vigil Trail (351) to Truchas Lakes. 2.5 miles.
S3-3: Truchas Lakes to Santa Barbara Divide. 2.4 miles.
S3-4: Santa Barbara Divide to West Fork of Rio Santa Barbara. 5.4 miles.
S3-5: West Fork Rio Santa Barbara to intersection of Middle Fork Trail (24) and West Fork Trail (25). 3.6 miles.
S3-6: Intersection of Middle Fork Trail (24) and West Fork Trail (25) to Santa Barbara Campground free parking lot. 3.1 miles.
Alt route: Middle Fork Trail (24)
Alt route: Jicarita Peak / Divide Trail (36)
Section 4: Santa Barbara Campground to FR 442 (18.7 miles)
S4-1: Santa Barbara Campground free parking lot to intersection Indian Creek Trail (27) and Bear Mountain Trail (28). 2.1 miles.
S4-2: Intersection of Indian Creek Trail (27) and Bear Mountain Trail (28) to intersection Indian Creek Trail (27) and Divide Trail (36). 2.6 miles.
S4-3: Intersection Indian Creek Trail (27) and Divide Trail (36) to Los Esteros. 1.5 miles.
S4-4: Los Esteros to intersection of Agua Piedra Creek, Trail 19A and Trail 22. 3.8 miles.
S4-5: Trail 19a/22/Agua Piedra Creek to Agua Piedra Campground entrance. 1.9 miles.
S4-6: Agua Piedra entrance bridge to La Cueva Canyon / Trail 492. 0.9 miles.
S4-7: La Cueva Canyon / La Cueva Trail (492) to intersection of La Cueva Trail (492) and Ojitos Maes Trail (182). 1.7 miles.
S4-8: Intersection of La Cueva Trail (492) and Ojitos Maes Trail (182) to intersection of Ojitos Maes Trail (182) & La Cueva 8. 1.4 miles.
S4-9: Intersection of La Cueva 8 and Ojitos Maes Trail (182) to FR 442. 2.7 miles.
Section 5: FR 442 to Rio Chiquito / FR 437 (26 miles)
S5-1: FR 442 to the beginning of the burn. 4.73 miles.
S5-2: Beginning of the burn on FR 442 to FR 439 / Rio Grande del Rancho. 4.2 miles.
S5-3: FR 439 / Rio Grande del Rancho to the beginning of the Connector. 4.0 miles.
S5-4: The beginning of the Connector to FR 438. 4.0 miles.
S5-5: FR 438 / end of the Connector to Bernardin Lake. 2.4 miles.
S5-6: Bernardin Lake to Puertocito (junction of FR 438 and FR 478). 2.3 miles.
S5-7: Puertocito to Rio Chiquito / Forest Road 437. 4.5 miles.
Section 6: Rio Chiquito / FR 437 to Taos Plaza (20 miles)
S6-1: Rio Chiquito / FR 437 to Buena Suerte Canyon / FR 437. 2.3 miles.
S6-2: Buena Suerte Canyon to Manzanita Canyon on FR 437. 3.0 miles.
S6-3: Manzanita Canyon to Drake Canyon Loop Trail (165) on FR 437. 2.2 miles.
S6-4: Intersection of FR 437 and Drake Canyon Loop Trail (165) to intersection of Drake Canyon Loop Trail (165) and unnamed trail. 3.4 miles.
S6-5: Intersection of Drake Canyon Loop Trail (165) and unnamed trail to intersection of Ojitos Trail (166) and Talpa Ridge Trail. 1.5 miles.
S6-6: Intersection of Ojitos Trail (166) and Talpa Ridge Trail to Ojitos Trail (166) and Ojitos shortcut. 4.1 miles
S6-7: Ojitos Trail (166) / Ojitos shortcut to El Nogal. 1.1 miles
S6-8: El Nogal to The Taos Cow. 1.7 milesS6-9: The Taos Cow to Taos Plaza. 1.4 miles.
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