Santa Fe New Mexico Hub & Spoke

Explore Historic Santa Fe and New Mexico’s Land of Enchantment By Bike!

Bienvenido a Santa Fe! Let’s cycle in one of America’s most distinctive cities past centuries old adobe buildings and bright red strings of chiles hanging from portals. Known as the City Different, Santa Fe embodies a rich history melding Hispanic, Anglo and Native American culture, which is apparent in its architecture, food, art and language. This experience has the flair of cycling in a foreign country, but without ever leaving the States!

The 4-day tour features a special orientation ride that winds through the historic district, a spin on the Old Santa Fe Trail, a day on city bike trails and an out-and-back north on backroads to the village of Tesque. You’ll be fueled by Indian fry bread and New Mexico green chile while riding at elevations between 6,500 and 7,800 feet beneath a backdrop of the Southern Rockies.

Stay at One Inn, Do Daily Rides Exploring Santa Fe & Beyond

This is a fantastic revision of our inn-to-inn Santa Fe Bike Tour with as little shuttling as possible! This new tour has all daily bike rides starting from the lovely Inn of the Governors.  Called a “hub-and-spoke” tour, you get to unpack and pack up your suitcase only once for the entire trip!

This tour is rated as “Active,” but don’t be intimidated by the rating! Since we’re staying in the same place every day, you’re free to do whatever you like! Want to skip a ride? Relax at the Inn in the morning, stroll around Santa Fe for the afternoon and meet your riding partners for dinner in the evening!

The Historic Inn of the Governors

The Inn of the Governors has been an inn since the mid 1960s, but a century ago, it was the site of a cavern that was used to store ice as a water supply during hot summers. By the early 1900s, the plot was used as a stable and then an auto shop before Santa Fe transformed into a tourist destination and more inns began popping up around the city. Today you can expect a luxurious experience with a daily sunrise breakfast, included parking for those driving, and an on-site pool. 

The rides will range from 15-22 miles, so you’ll have plenty of time to get to know Santa Fe! Pack your sense of adventure and come find out why they call New Mexico the Land of Enchantment. No passport required!

Day 1: Your Santa Fe cycle tour starts negotiating the narrow streets around the historic Plaza, and the areas of South Capitol and the Railyard District. Today is all about exploring downtown, noting places you may want to come back to over the next few days and getting used to the elevation (7,000 feet). In the evening, we will experience a hands-on culinary experience at the Santa Fe School of Cooking.

Highlights: Canyon Road, where 100 galleries line the half mile street, the O’Keeffe Museum, the country’s Oldest Church, several 19th-century cathedrals, including the one with the mysterious staircase, the Roundhouse (state capital) and the Palace of the Governors where natives from all 19 northern pueblos sell their wares in a fashion modeled after the fiesta markets of Old Mexico.

Day 2: Yesterday we visited the End of the Santa Fe Trail Monument on the Plaza, and today our bike route traces the final miles of this historic route. We’ll immerse ourselves with a group walking tour, taking in more than 400 years of history, culture and architecture of America’s oldest capital city.  Lunch is at Museum Hill, home to four museums representing a different facet of the area art and culture with a campus that also acts as a public sculpture garden and includes several of Santa Fe’s most recognizable pieces. Dinner is on your own tonight and we’ll serve up several suggestions walking distance from the hotel.

Day 3:  Today we hit the city’s bike paths starting with the Rail Trail. Be sure to take a selfie at the bright red Santa Fe caboose. Then you’re on Acequia Trail for a short distance and neighborhood streets to reach Arroyo Chamisos Trail. Finally, the River Trail, which takes you almost all the way back to the Plaza area where you can hit the local food truck scene for lunch. The afternoon is yours to explore the O’Keeffe Museum or Canyon Road. And tonight the group heads to the Shed, a place where you can downshift a couple centuries enjoying Southwestern fare on the patio of an adobe hacienda, circa 1692. Some folks don’t think you’re “arrived” in town until you’ve eaten here. After our celebratory meal, hike up to the Cross of the Martyrs, downtown’s best sunset viewing spot.

Day 4: Our last day we head north out of town on backroads into the village of Tesuque. Roadside attractions include Tesuque Glassworks where you can watch the magic of fiery kilns and molten glass. After a quick stop at Tesuque Village Market, which is reminiscent of an old world trading post, we tackle our final miles, zoom back down into Santa Fe and say “hasta luego” to new friends and the City Different.