Bicycling Around Santa Fe

One of Santa Fe's best kept secrets is that a bicycle ride around town can be one of the highlights of a visit here. Sometimes visitors will put off cycling “for another time” due to a tight schedule. The funny part is, there is no better way to shop, eat, or save time than to ride a bicycle in our magnificent city, and the magical hills that surround it. Cycling avoids parking hassles like running out of quarters and searching for a space and makes navigating the old, winding streets of Santa Fe a simple pleasure. We think it's the easiest way to get around downtown and Canyon Road, and a lot more fun than getting back in the car.

Santa Fe is the closest thing to an ancient European city in America. Paths go in all directions, leading in and out of intriguing places you frankly can’t see from a car. The roads can often change from pavement to dirt, from business to residence in a blink – and in these places, during these experiences by bicycle, many of our visitors have their best moments, where they take that photo that makes them smile every time they see it.

Downtown Santa Fe is bustling. There is a constant flow of energy in and out of businesses and visitors and locals alike. At times, it seems daunting to try and blend in to this, not to mention on a bicycle. But over the distance of a few short blocks, one can go from the Plaza, the cultural center of our city, to a blissfully quiet dirt country road. Many get pulled into the maelstrom, following corridors through old courtyards in search of the perfect something. Others will cycle away from the hustle and bustle they are wishing to escape on their trip, out to the places that made O’Keefe pick up a brush.

The options for riding are plentiful and growing by the month. Mountain bikers can enjoy miles of alpine singletrack leading up to the top of the Ski Basin at 11,800 feet. The famous Winsor Trail has made more “Top Ten” lists for well-traveled riders than any other trail I know. New to the scene is the Dale Ball Trail Network, a mapped system of 30 plus miles of singletrack trails less than fifteen minutes by bicycle from the Plaza. This is a fantastic way to dabble in the dirt if you are not experienced, and live it up if you are experienced.

The road riding in Santa Fe ranges from rolling manageable grades, to alpine ascents with mountaintop views. The roads in town are four hundred years old, so don’t expect the streets to be lined with the kinds of bike paths found in a five year old subdivision. Recently, however, some of the best roads leading in and out of town have been completely redone, and it is entirely possible to go ride from 20 to 50 miles and never wind up on “one of those roads.” Old Santa Fe Trail headed East out of Downtown along the foothills is the best way to get started. A quick 24 mile “out and back” on this road will have you stopping at every real estate sign along the way, wondering if you, too, could find a job in this town!

Another way to see the sights is by renting a “shopping bike” – a properly geared, old-fashioned cruiser with a wicker basket and a comfortable upright position. For around twenty dollars a day, one can easily pedal from the Railyard attractions, through the Guadalupe District, over to the Plaza, up to Canyon Road and back again. Trying to do this by foot would be exhausting, but on a cruiser, it is a blast! You will get whistles and “hey nice bike!” comments all day long.

If the thought of getting lost or changing flat tires is less than appealing, try hiring a guide for the day. No different than a good ski instructor, a guide can be the one to tell you how to approach a climb, manage the altitude, point out the mountains around the city, take your picture, and show you the tucked-away magic the locals love everyday.

So whether you’re coming from Seattle, New York City or Saskatoon, there are many ways to enjoy Santa Fe by bicycle. After all, a couple of hours a day on a bicycle – and you can eat and drink WHATEVER you like! Cheers!