Santa Fe visitors can explore this enchanting high-desert tourist destination as comfortably by bike as the city’s earliest inhabitants did by horseback.
of desert chamisa mingles with the music of Mozart, is just 10 minutes outside the capitol city. Tomasita’s restaurant—home to some of New Mexico’s tastier signature fiery red and green chile—named a dining room after former First Lady and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a frequent Santa Fe visitor. And recently the City Different made national headlines for building a retirement community catering exclusively to gay retirees; tennis sensation Billie Jean King reportedly was first in line to buy. Alongside its progressive, artistic leanings, however, Santa Fe has its share of poverty, a worrisome high-school drop-out rate, hospitality and construction industries propped up by undocumented Mexican laborers, and families who have lived here for generations being priced out of ancestral homes by newcomers redeveloping property and driving up property taxes. The disparity between the “haves” and the “have-nots” can be a basis for friction, but, by and large, Santa Fe is a friendly and safe city. It is also a city of unmatched scenic beauty. With earth-tone buildings and pueblo-style architecture, Santa Fe gives its more than one million annual overnight visitors a sense of intimate connection to the land. When not indulging in abundant cultural opportunities, visitors choose the City Different because of its natural setting. “People have recognized Santa Fe as a perfect stepping-off place for a lot of outdoor recreation, and that includes biking,” Lewis says. Riding the Santa Fe Trails With a cycling renaissance in progress, miles of trails and relatively uncrowded rural roads stretching for miles in all directions, it would be foolish for any bike tourist not to plan for at least one or two rides in the City Different. For those who prefer not to pack a bike, rentals are available at many local shops, some as close as a block away from the Plaza, the city’s tourist vortex.
The Santa Fe Rail Trail provides an easy dirt ride for cyclists of all abilities.
For mountain biking enthusiasts, opportunities are plentiful in and around Santa Fe. Local bike shops such as New Mexico Bike ‘N’ Sport can give the lowdown on some great rides, so don’t be afraid to ask. When you do park at trailheads, be aware that vehicles are subject to theft, so don’t leave any valuables behind. Santa Fe’s Dale Ball trail system contains loops of spectacularly fun singletrack that can accommodate everything from a five-mile quickie to a 20-mile epic. Climbs and downhills abound here, sometimes in rapid-fire succession, on terrain ranging from smooth to moderately technical. The northern and central sections of Dale Ball provide easier to moderate rides, while the southern section has the most challenging hills and switchbacks. Riders need to be in decent shape to enjoy the Dale Ball system.
The Dale Ball trails accommodate hikers and dog walkers too, so trails can be busy, particularly on weekends. Access to the trails is easy, with trailhead parking areas near St. John’s College, on Upper Canyon Roa, or on Hyde Park Road on the way to Santa Fe Ski Basin. Those looking for a good climb or a fun downhill on sweet singletrack should check out the Winsor Trail, which climbs up 3,000 feet from Bishops Lodge Road to the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Cyclists can shuttle up for a screaming 10-mile descent or challenge themselves with a 20-mile up and back. With several creek crossings, prepare to get wet. Because of its popularity, Winsor trail can be crowded on weekends. Those in the mood for a mellow cruise through desert countryside should consider the Santa Fe Rail Trail. This dirt track parallels the Santa Fe Southern railroad from Santa Fe all the way to the Mountain Flyer
71