Nambe Lake Out and Back

Dogs Off-leash

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

With dense forests, a beautiful creek, and a high alpine lake, this is a great escape on a hot day in Santa Fe.

Start on the Winsor National Recreation Trail going north (right) from the ski area parking lot. It starts off with a significant hill, but only lasts a half mile. Pass into the wilderness boundary and enjoy a leisurely downhill until mile 2. Take the well-signed right turn up the Nambe Lake Trail.

This trail is very steep, but mitigated by the amazing creek you're next to almost the entire time. Take your time - it's only a mile, but with 1,000' of vertical at high altitude, it's something of a change after the easier trail you're coming from!

Enjoy the lake, take care not to trample the delicate grasses and shoreline, and return the way you came.