SUMMARY: 7k feet to 10k feet, 23.9 miles, from Tesuque to Cowles
DESCRIPTION: Winsor National Recreation Trail is one of the easiest access methods to the Pecos Wilderness extensive network of trails, using the Winsor Trailhead at Santa Fe Ski Area. To the west is a section popular with mountain bikers, often taking a shuttle to enjoy a long downhill from the ski area to Tesuque. The trail’s terminus at Cowles is one of the principal ways to access the Pecos Wilderness from the east.
From the ski area going east, the trail begins broad and wide, with boulders removed, heavily traveled, very popular among hikers. A couple of miles in, inside the Pecos Wilderness, the path settles down to a more typical width. Four miles in is Puerto Nambe, an open meadow, a popular camping area, and also the intersection with Skyline Trail. Spirit Lake is about 5.7 miles from the trailhead. Stewart Lake is around 7.5 miles in.
GETTING THERE: Climb Hyde Park Road up to the Santa Fe Ski Area, Aspen Basin, and park at either the upper or lower parking lot. No high-clearance vehicle is ever required! The trail is accessed just behind the latrines, next to the NMVFO sign!
To access the trail from the eastern terminus, at Cowles turn west on Windsor Road, and follow to the trailhead at road’s end.
CONDITIONS: As of June 2020 the length of Winsor between the trailhead at Santa Fe Ski Area to Spirit Lake is in fine condition, with no deadfalls or major erosion problems. We cannot speak to other segments.
NMVFO has done recent work on this trail:
Stewart Lake Backpack (Santa Fe NF)
Four-day backpack at Stewart Lake in the Pecos Wilderness, sawing and lopping
Borrego & Bear Wallow (Santa Fe NF)
National Public Lands Day project near Hyde Memorial State Park. Tread work and possibly some brushing
CANCELED DUE TO MONSOON WEATHER – Spirit Lake Backpack (Santa Fe NF)
Horse supported. Brushing, removing downed trees, and some tread work along the Winsor Trail in the Pecos Wilderness
Winsor Trail #254 (Santa Fe NF)
Tread work and some trail reconstruction on the Winsor Trail.
Nambe Creek Crossing (Santa Fe NF)
Creating a safe water crossing along the Winsor Trail in the Pecos Wilderness
Puerto Nambe (Santa Fe NF)
Back Country Horsemen will support our backpack project to repair trail tread, improve drainage, and close off user trails along the Winsor Trail near the Santa Fe Ski Basin.