Santa Fe’s Upper Canyon Road

Take a tour of Santa Fe’s Upper Canyon Road. A mile and a half east of The Plaza, by Christo Rey Parish Church, Canyon Road makes a radical shift in culture and character.  Canyon Road, the fabled arts district, is a gently bustling stretch of galleries and restaurants. Cross Camino Cabra and Canyon becomes Upper Canyon: a mellow mix of homes, art studios, and natural preserves.

The City of Santa Fe’s Hydropower Plant and Park

At the base of Upper Canyon is the City of Santa Fe Hydropower Project . Built on the site of the historic hydro-electric plant, the Project is a renewable energy revival that includes a charming park. Read the story at EcoDaddyo.com. North of the park, the distinctive Upper Canyon streetscape begins. The East side of the road feels like Old Europe. Many homes are set right on the street. On the west side, the land rises quickly. Vegetation thickens and driveways and roads spur off through the mystery of trees. As Upper Canyon continues its climb towards the Randall Davy Audubon Center –the end of Upper Canyon’s publicly accessible portion– houses are fewer and less visible.  The perceived distance from downtown Santa Fe expands.

Hiking Trails and Natural Preserves

Just before the Audubon Center, where Upper Canyon meets Cerro Gordo, is the The Nature Conservancy’s Santa Fe Canyon Preserve. Here you also will find the trailhead for the 22 mile Dale Ball Trails network. The Preserve’s 525 acres of open space includes a Bosque, good for birdwatching. A 1.5 mile interpretative loop details the site’s history and ecology. The Dale Ball Trails are a cooperative effort between city, county, the Foothills Trails Trust and private landowners. The trails are popular with hikers and cyclists.

According to City-Data, the Canyon Neighborhood includes Cerro Gordo, Upper Canyon, Camino Cabra, Canyon Road, Camino Militar, Esperanza Lane, South Armijo and Camino Pequeno. City-Data stats provide some window into the demographics of Upper Canyon Road. But the data bedevils the details. To get a real feel for Santa Fe’s Upper Canyon Road, take a slow drive to the top. Hike the 3.3 mile Upper Canyon loop. Take a docent tour (2:00 pm on Friday’s) at the Randall Davey Audubon Center.

Sold on the Upper Canyon Road Neighborhood?

Contact us. At this writing, we have a old family estate on over an acre of land, but the offerings change all the time. Let us know what you’re seeking and we’ll hunt through the MLS and consult our network for off-market options.