Thanks to artistic powerhouses like the incredible Georgia O’Keefe, northern New Mexico has long been known as a desert haven for aspiring bohemian types. While Santa Fe, the capital city of New Mexico, offers visitors a seemingly endless array of museums, cultural landmarks, and spiritual experiences, the region is also home to countless national parks and hiking opportunities. After all, the red-and-orange soaked hues of the high desert are what initially inspired the artists who fell in love with the region, and the unique landscape also features prominently in New Mexico’s Native American lineage.
While it would be impossible for a visitor to hike in every park near Santa Fe, sampling the region’s gorgeous national parks will leave travelers with a deep reverence for the beauty of the area. Like national parks, national monuments are also managed and protected by the National Parks Service, so I feel comfortable combining them into this NPS-themed article. Each of these five breathtaking national parks near Santa Fe, New Mexico are within a ninety minute drive of downtown, making them accessible day trips for travelers looking to experience the unspoiled beauty of the American southwest.
1. Bandelier National Monument
Easily one of the most unique and historic experiences Santa Fe has to offer, a visit to Bandelier National Monument will not easily be forgotten. Hundreds of years ago, Ancestral Puebloans called the region their home, and built ceremonial alcoves into the sides of dramatic rock formations. In fact, they constructed two thousand alone at Bandelier, and a number of them are accessible to visitors thanks to wooden ladders. Fair warning, however: this park is not for the faint of heart or those terrified of heights. Travelers willing to climb four consecutive ladders, totaling roughly 140 feet, will be able to experience the park’s impressive Alcove House. However, of all the national parks near Santa Fe, Bandelier is arguably the most popular – plan to visit first thing in the morning or in the early evening, especially during the summer.
Distance from Santa Fe: 40.4 miles
2. Fort Union National Monument
At its zenith, northern New Mexico’s Fort Union was the largest U.S. military outpost for hundreds of miles in any direction. Citizens and soldiers alike converged at the self-sustaining fort that more closely resembled a small town. There were shops, a hospital, and even a morgue. Today, the site is largely in ruins, although visitors will not find it difficult to imagine life back in the 1850’s and 1860’s. The fort sits along the famed Santa Fe trail, a historic route travelers used in the mid-nineteenth century when heading west, which many travelers now use as a rough guide when visiting the region. Free to visit, this park is accessible for those with limited mobility and small children.
Distance from Santa Fe: 93.5 miles
3. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Unlike the other parks mentioned in this article, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks offers visitors pure and unadulterated natural beauty without requiring a history lesson. The park’s unique rock formations account for its name; especially from above, the rocks certainly do resemble tents or tepees. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks is ideal for those craving an excellent, unique day hike, and is my favorite hiking spot in the entire Santa Fe area. The best part? The park offers trails for travelers of all skill sets; there’s even an accessible loop for those with limited mobility. The strenuous Slot Canyon Trail, however, offers the incredible panoramic views.
Distance from Santa Fe: 40.9 miles
4. Pecos National Historical Park
Aside from boasting gorgeous desert scenery, Pecos National Historical Site commemorates the location of the only successful revolt by Native Americans against European colonizers. While it’s true the Spanish returned to Pecos twelve years later, and conquered the local Puebloans for good, the revolutionary spirit became forever a part of the Pecos landscape. The highlight of the park is the largely intact Spanish church, the third of its kind constructed at Pecos, as well as a number of ceremonial kivas built by the Puebloans. Learn more about the park and its incredible history here.
Distance from Santa Fe: 30.5 miles
5. Petroglyph National Monument
Petroglyph National Monument, a new addition to New Mexico’s National Parks Service offerings, is an incredibly family-friendly stop just outside Albuquerque. In the heart of the park is Rinconada Canyon, which offers visitors the chance to see upwards of three hundred petroglyphs created by both the region’s ancestral Puebloans and the Spanish ranchers and missionaries that came later. While the visibility of any given petroglyph is highly dependent on the time of day, weather, and sunlight, travelers can still admire countless petroglyphs no matter the conditions. Rinconada Canyon is also outside the park’s fee area, meaning a visit is free, but I still recommend first stopping by the brand new visitor center for a map and personalized hiking advice.
Distance from Santa Fe: 66 miles
