Aspen Vista to Big Tesuque Campground Hike
In Sangre De Cristos Region
Map File Source: Garmin BaseCamp
Hike Key: H10669Last Updated: 05/01/2026 11:22am
Last Updated By: Dawn McIntyre
Hike Class: B (Moderate)
Hike Distance: 3.7 mi
Minimum Elevation: 9710 ft
Elevation Change: 900 ft
Total Uphill: 640 ft
Total Downhill: 1215 ft
Avg. Grade: 8 %
Route Type: Messy
On Trail: Yes
Paved or Gravel Roads: Yes
GPS Advised: Yes
Drive Distance Round Trip: 160 mi
Drive Time One-Way: 1:30
Hiking Seasons: Summer and Fall
New Mexico Game Unit: 44
Hike Status: Published
Attractions: Fall Color, Views, and Water Features
Highlights
Just below the Santa Fe Ski Basin, beautiful Aspen Views. Both a nice cardio workout at the beginning then an easy stroll down through aspens, mixed conifer and meadows following the North Fork Tesuque Creek to the Big Tesuque Campground.
CautionsThe trail is rocky and has occasional steep descent, hiking poles may be helpful. The uphill part is at or above 10,000 ft.
Trailhead Directions
Take I-25 north to Santa Fe. Take the Old Pecos Trail exit 284 and follow to Paseo de Peralta. Turn right and follow to Washington Avenue, just before the pink Masonic Temple. Turn north on Washington, then east on Artist Road, which becomes Hyde Park Rd. Continue past the Big Tesuque campground to Aspen Vista. PARK-AV (0.0 mi).
Actual Hike
From PARK, hike mainly uphill on the old rocky road past the sign TO BIG TESUQUE (0.9 mi) and the OVERLOOK (1.6 mi) and have LUNCH (1.9 mi) at the next stream crossing which may include a little waterfall. This is as far uphill as you’ll go. Turn around and hike back to the TO BIG TESUQUE sign (2.8 mi), and take the beautiful trail that follows the North Fork Tesuque Creek down to the Big Tesuque Campground. If there’s enough water, you’ll hear the creek burbling the rest of the way. Near the end of the hike, cross the creek on a short wooden pedestrian bridge then go a short distance to the BIG TESUQUE parking area (3.7 mi).
Comments
This hike can be done (1) as a shuttle hike or (2) the driver can skip the Big Tesuque part, hike back to the Aspen Vista parking location, then drive downhill to pick up the hikers at the Big Tesuque campground.
The hike data say that this is a “B” hike but it may be challenging for some of your hikers due to the high elevation or steep downhill.
Hike data were recorded with a Garmin 64s GPS.
WaypointsPARK-AV: N35 46.628, W105 48.630
TO BIG TESUQUE: N35 46.727, W105 48.054 (0.9 mi)
OVERLOOK-AV: N35 46.225, W105 47.852 (1.6)
LUNCH: N35 46.153, W105 47.706 (1.9)
TO BIG TESUQUE: N35 46.727, W105 48.054 (2.8)
BIG TESUQUE: N35 46.171, W105 48.513 (3.7)
Hike GPS File Name: AspenVistaToBigTesuque_MW.gpx
Hike GPS File: Click link to download hike waytrack file
Text Author: Marilyn Warrant
Map Author: Marilyn Warrant
Waypoints Author: Marilyn Warrant
Track Author: Marilyn Warrant
Maintainer: Marilyn Warrant
Editor: Dawn McIntyre