Hike New Mexico
w/Tom & Ken
Hike New Mexico
w/Tom & Ken
Picacho Peak
Hike Statistics
Nearby City / Locale:
Santa Fe
Hike Difficulty:
Moderate
Total Length of Hike:
4.5
Max to Min Elevation:
1239 ft
* Total Ascent / Descent:
1234 /
1437 ft
Estimate based on track data
Logistics: Two-Cars
Exposure Type: Full sun
Seasons :
All
"Wow" Factor: Views
Authors last hiked: 2016-11-01
More!
View Full Page Map
Download GPX File
For additional photos, click here:
Photo Album Link
Additional Album Link
On-line directions to the trailhead:
Google Directions
Scroll down to see photos and additonal information. Click on photos for enlarged view. Red segments on the elevation chart indicate slopes of 18 degrees or higher.
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TRAIL TIPS!
The Picacho Peak Trail is actually a part of the Dale Ball Trail System of Santa Fe. Being close to Santa Fe makes the hike accessible to locals. That means parking can be a problem, especially at the Atalaya Upper Trail Head (off Camino de Cruz Blanca) where space is quite limited. An alternate parking area is at the St. John's lot nearby.
The authors did Picacho Peak as a one-way (two-car) hike starting at the Atalaya Upper Trail Head and ending at the Canyon Road Trail Head. On the way down towards Canyon Road, the authors made a detour off the main trail that is indicated with green flags (left turns) on the interactive map. This hike can also be done as an "out-and-back" hike from either of the two trailheads, the distance to the top being roughly equal regardless of the starting point.
There are numerous nice views of the Santa Fe valley as you proceed along the trail. From the summit of Picacho, the view extends north along the Sangre de Cristos, southeast to Atalaya Ridge, south to Sun and Moon Mountains, and southwest to the Sandias. The trail is well-defined and ascends at a reasonable rate, a bit steeper near the summit.