Santa Fe County offers a myriad of outdoor recreational activities that not only minimize environmental impact but also foster outdoor education and promote cultural awareness. These activities enhance the welfare of local communities and include visiting national, state, and county parks, wildlife preserves, guided tours, and engaging in outdoor adventures such as canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, off-road tours, white-water rafting, and skiing.
Coming up!: Summer of Bike Rides & Activities
Get ready to roll—Santa Fe is calling May, June, and July the Summer of Bike! Whether you’re cruising for fun, pedaling for fitness, riding with the fam, or biking to work, you’re part of a two-wheeled revolution for safer streets, tighter-knit communities, a greener planet, and a whole lot more joy. And guess what? In Santa Fe, the fun doesn’t stop when summer ends. Our local bike clubs, businesses and organizers keep the good times spinning all year round!
Explore the gravel roads around Central New Mexico.
We cover a lot of ground in Santa Fe County: Ride Tesuqué, the Nambé Badlands, Chimayó, Agua Fria, Lamy, Cerrillos, the Rowe Mesa, San Pedro, Edgewood, Santa Fe, and more.
Santa Fe is a proud RRCA Runner Friendly Community, recognized by the Road Runners Club of America in 2024 for its commitment to safe, accessible running. From the Santa Fe Rail Trail to the Dale Ball singletrack — all set against the Sangre de Cristos at 7,000 feet — runners here enjoy exceptional terrain, a thriving local club in the Santa Fe Striders, and broad community support for the sport.
The Open Space, Trails and Parks program manages 9,400 acres of open space, 18 parks, and 75 miles of trails, and encompasses planning, capital improvements, maintenance, and volunteer opportunities towards the management of these properties for the use and enjoyment of Santa Fe County residents and visitor. Learn more.
Santa Fe – Trail Town
Santa Fe has been named one of the nation’s first-ever IMBA Trail Towns, recognizing our leadership in trail development, outdoor access, and community connection. This national designation highlights the impact of our trails on quality of life, local economy, and outdoor recreation. Learn more about the designation and a map of our mountain biking trails.
Outdoor Equity Grants:
The first-of-its-kind Outdoor Equity Fund, established in 2019, aims to break down these barriers and ensure equitable access to the outdoors for all youth in New Mexico. This grant supports transformative outdoor experiences that foster stewardship and respect
for New Mexico’s lands, waters, and cultural heritage while connecting youth to career
pathways in the outdoors
Congratulations to this year’s recipients!
GLORIETA ADVENTURE CAMPS
NON-PROFIT
Outdoor Equity Fund 2026
$30,000 for Santa Fe County
LOVENTURE
NON-PROFIT
Outdoor Equity Fund 2026
$40,000 for Santa Fe County
PUEBLO DE SAN ILDEFONSO
TRIBE OR PUEBLO
Outdoor Equity Fund 2026
$40,000 for Santa Fe County
RAILYARD PARK CONSERVANCY
NON-PROFIT
Outdoor Equity Fund 2026 $9,845 for Santa Fe County
REUNITY RESOURCES
NON-PROFIT
Outdoor Equity Fund 2026
$30,000 for Santa Fe County
THE MAYFLY PROJECT, SANTA FE CHAPTER, NEW MEXICO
NON-PROFIT
Outdoor Equity Fund 2026
$5,440 for Santa Fe County
Industry Trends
Outdoor recreation is a significant draw for both tourists and residents in Santa Fe County, thanks to its favorable climate and diverse natural amenities. The region boasts a wide range of activities including high-altitude running, hiking, fishing, hunting, skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, road and mountain biking, rock climbing, ultimate frisbee, and golfing.
Biking, in particular, has seen substantial growth, with the county’s open spaces and trail networks becoming key destinations. Highlights include the expansion of Bicycle Technologies International (BTI), the historic Santa Fe Century, the Gran-Fondo New York-Santa Fe, and the hosting of the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) World Summit. Santa Fe County features over 600 miles of hiking trails and 400 miles of mountain biking trails, earning it the designation of a Silver-Level Ride Center by IMBA.
Additionally, the county is home to the historic El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Trail, which connects Mexico with the United States and was historically used for trade. This extensive trail network presents significant opportunities to build upon existing assets and leverage them for further economic development.
Moreover, the region’s outdoor attractions support the growth of outdoor recreation businesses and entrepreneurial activities. The newly established New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division aims to promote and support this industry, making New Mexico the twelfth state to create a government office dedicated to enhancing the outdoor recreation economy. This sector encompasses guides, outfitters, outdoor manufacturers, retailers, and service providers, with a focus on capitalizing on the county’s natural resources and building facilities and programs to support these enterprises.
