Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
In fact, I would say that the city is too close to the mountains for mountain views, because of the 'false summit' effect. The best views tend to be from 5-10 miles from the base, otherwise you are just looking up at the foothills, with the true summits hidden behind them.
Hi, I'm answering a bit late but this is the truth.
From Santa Fe in town, like most of "cities", you don't have a view because you have a few buildings in front of you (and not really hills to help you see the mountains). Get out of your hotel, get out of town, and go to the mountains, it's quite easy.
From anywhere outside the city (especially south, to Cerillos and Madrid for example, but also east), you'll have view to Placer Mountains, Sandia in Abq, and obviously everything in the Santa Fe NF : Sangre de Cristo Mountains / Santa Fe Mountains (Truchas Peak, Santa Fe Baldy, etc).
In fact, I would say that the city is too close to the mountains for mountain views, because of the 'false summit' effect. The best views tend to be from 5-10 miles from the base, otherwise you are just looking up at the foothills, with the true summits hidden behind them.
This is true. You can get good views of the mountains, including the summits, one of which is closer to Taos but can be seen from Santa Fe (especially beautiful when covered with snow), just driving around town. The west side of town, away from the downtown core which is "too close" to get the full perpsective, is sufficiently removed from the base to give you the full view. If there are any Air B & B's on that side of town that have a second floor or are situated on the low hill along West Alameda St., you should be able to get a good view.
Hotel Santa Fe is just west of the downtown core, and should have rooms on upper floors that give you a view of the mountains.
We live near the Community College and are frequently in the Plaza/Railyard area. My return route is almost always St. Francis or Old Pecos Trail south to Rabbit Road, then west to Richards.
I say because there are terrific, panoramic views of the Jemez Mountains along Rabbit Road.
The Lodge in Santa Fe has a nice unobstructed view of Lake Peak, Elk Mountain, and Thompson's Peak to the East. Their restaurant/bar patio faces that way and you get some very beautiful colors in the afternoon light.
Unfortunately, The Lodge is nowhere as good as it used to be.
Last edited by Trekker99; Today at 01:45 PM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
