Run Santa Fe

How to Not Get Hurt in the Mountains

Or: Be Safe and come home for an Xmas enchilada plate

Look, we want you to have a great time out there. We also want you to come home. So here's some stuff worth knowing before you lace up and head out for your run.

The Seasons Are Suggestions

Here’s the thing about the best-dates windows on each run: they’re our best guess. We’re not meteorologists. The snowpack changes every year, and the hot times come earlier or later. We’re just people who have run these trails enough times to have strong opinions about when they’re most likely going to be safe and enjoyable to run.

Some trails may be buried by snow well into June one year and clear of snow by March another year.

What this means for you: The season windows are a starting point, not a promise. Before you drive 30 minutes to a trailhead, check:

  • AllTrails recent reviews — other hikers and runners post updates.
  • The weather — Our run pages have up to date weather information from the NWS for the route trailhead.
  • Just look up at the mountains - If there is snow on Santa Fe Baldy or the other high peaks, there’s likely snow on the higher trails.
  • Go outside - If it feels too hot to run in Santa Fe, don’t go to a lower elevation run.

If you show up and the trail is a slushy mess or a sheet of ice, that’s New Mexico. Come back in two weeks.

Difficulty Is Our Opinion

We rate runs on a ski run scale (green / blue / black / double-black / extreme). With running, like skiing, what counts as “easy” depends enormously on who you are.

A fit local who grew up at 7,000 feet will breeze up something we called “Hard” while a first-time visitor still adjusting to altitude might find our “Easy” rating to be a legitimate sufferfest. Both experiences are valid.

The fine print, spelled out:

  • Difficulty ratings reflect our subjective assessment of terrain, distance, and elevation gain for a reasonably fit trail runner acclimatized to Santa Fe’s altitude (~7,000 ft).
  • All run information on this site — distances, elevation gain, altitude, season windows, difficulty ratings — is provided for general informational purposes only. It may be inaccurate, outdated, or wrong.
  • You run at your own risk. Full stop. We are not responsible for anything that happens to you on trail: injuries, altitude sickness, getting lost, bad decisions, acts of God, or encounters with wildlife.
  • Always make your own assessment before heading out. If a trail looks beyond your ability on the day, trust that instinct. The mountain will be there next time.

Let’s Talk About Safety

Okay, let’s be real about safety for a second.

Altitude

Santa Fe sits at 7,000 feet. Many of these runs start at 10,000 feet and can climb over 12,000. If you just flew in from sea level, your body hasn’t had time to figure out what’s happening. Altitude sickness is real: headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness. The cure is to descend, drink water, and give yourself a day or two before hammering the high routes. Try some of the lower-elevation runs until you feel more acclimated.

Afternoon Thunderstorms

From roughly June through September, the mountains are likely to be hit by afternoon thunderstorms. They build fast — a clear blue morning can turn into a full-on lightning show by 1pm. If you’re doing anything above treeline, or even above 8,000 feet, start early and plan to be back below the trees before the afternoon.

Falls

Rocks are slippery. Roots are sneaky. Stones and sand are loose. This is probably how most trail running injuries actually happen — not bears, not weather — just a moment of inattention and a face-to-trail introduction. Watch your feet, take your time.

Wildlife

Yes, there are rattlesnakes (at low elevation). They like to warm up on trails and don’t enjoy surprises any more than you do. Watch where you put your hands and feet, especially at elevations lower than 7,000 feet on warm days.

There are also black bears, coyotes, and mountain lions around. Your odds of a bad encounter are extremely low, but not zero. Be aware, look around, enjoy the scenery, keep an eye out.

Getting Lost

Cell service is non-existent on most routes. Know where you’re going in advance. Download your route and maps for offline use before you go — CalTopo, Gaia GPS, AllTrails, Goat Maps, etc. — whatever you prefer. That’s why we give you a gpx.

Tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Bring a PLB or satellite messaging device if you can.

The Short Version

Go early. Bring water. Check conditions before you go. Know your limits and be honest with yourself. Come back down if something feels wrong. The trails aren’t going anywhere.

Now go have fun.