Aspen Vista Trail
Trail · New Mexico
A wide, gently graded old logging road climbs six miles above Santa Fe through what may be the largest aspen grove in New Mexico, gaining nearly 2,000 feet to a ridge over the Rio Grande Valley, 13 miles up Hyde Park Road from downtown.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 5–October 9
Color builds from September 27 · mostly bare by October 30
Sampled at Aspen Vista Trail’s own coordinates and elevation (3042 m) rather than a regional average.
New Mexico is sampled at 51 weather points, then moved 5 days earlier so the model agrees with 2 published peak dates from krqe.com. New Mexico is running 3 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works
When to go to Aspen Vista Trail
You get about 19 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly October 16. That runs roughly 14 days earlier than the rest of New Mexico. Height explains the gap, since this sits at 9,980 ft. The elevation is 9,980 ft, which pulls the turn earlier.
Figure about 67 mi from Albuquerque.
Aspen Vista Trail on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of New Mexico, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does Aspen Vista Trail peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 5–October 9 (best estimate October 7). Color starts around September 27 and is mostly bare by October 30.
- How do I get to Aspen Vista Trail?
- The closest city is Albuquerque, about 67 mi away. It's part of New Mexico's fall lineup.
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