Alamo Vista: our absolute favorite hike in Santa Fe.

Alamo Vista is our absolute favorite hike in Santa Fe — challenging and pretty steep, but rewarding. It peaks at the top of the ski basin with amazing panoramic views.

It is especially gorgeous in the fall when the aspens change color. If you can time a visit to that window, do it. The aspens are the whole point.

Be honest with yourself about the climb. This is not Sun Mountain. The elevation gain is real and you're starting from already-high elevation. Bring water.

If Alamo Vista is more hike than your group is up for, the local alternates we love are Sun Mountain (very close to both houses, just a quick drive down Old Santa Fe Trail — short, scenic, good elevation for the effort), the Hyde Park Waterfall Trail (a short and easy hike perfect for families and kids, leading to a charming small waterfall), and the Dale Ball Trails (an extensive network of interconnected trails close to downtown, suitable for a variety of skill levels — popular for hiking, running, and mountain biking).

For something at the same scale as Alamo, Winsor Peak at the Santa Fe Ski Basin is challenging and rewarding, with scenic alpine vistas and wildflowers — particularly beautiful in summer and early fall.

After: hot tub at the house, a quiet dinner from one of the spots on our short list, and the kind of sleep you only get after a real hike at altitude.