Santa Fe National Forest (13 Picnic Sites)

The Santa Fe National Forest is one of the five National Forests in New Mexico. The National Forests are America's great outdoors, here to serve the American people at work and play. Some of the finest mountain scenery in the Southwest is found in the 1.6 million acres covered by the Santa Fe National Forest. Elevations rise from 5,300 to 13,103 feet at the summit of Truchas Peak, located within the Pecos Wilderness. Our objective is to maintain that natural beauty.

Santa Fe National Forest
1474 Rodeo Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone:(505) 438-7840

Picnic Areas

Aspen Vista Picnic Area
13 miles from downtown Santa Fe on NM 475.  Take Bishop’s Lodge Road to Artist Road, which will turn into NM 475, also known as Hyde Park Road.

Facilities:

• 10 sites, one group site
• Vaulted toilet
• Picnic tables and grills

Notes:

• Elevation at the picnic area is 9,800 feet. Day use only from sunrise to sunset.
• There is no potable water.
• There are additional recreation opportunities along NM 475, both above and below Aspen Vista Picnic Area, including hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, and in the winter both nordic and alpine skiing.

Table of Contents

• Aspen Vista Picnic Area
• Baker Flats Picnic and Fishing Area
• Battleship Picnic Area
• Big Pine Picnic and Fishing Area
• Coyote Canyon Campground & Picnic Area
• Dalton Picnic and Fishing Area
• Jemez Falls Group Picnic Area
• La Cueva Picnic Area
• Little Tesuque Picnic Area
• Oak Flats Picnic and Fishing Area
• Spanish Queen Picnic Area
• Windy Bridge Picnic and Fishing Area
• Winsor Picnic and Fishing Area

Baker Flats Picnic and Fishing Area
17 miles from Las Vegas on Highway 65 and Forest Road 263. 

Facilities:

• 5 units
• Vaulted toilet
• Tables and firepits

Battleship Picnic Area
5.6 miles south of the Jemez Ranger Station on State Highway 4.  From the Jemez Ranger Station go 5.6 miles south on State Highway 4.

Fees: $5.00 per vehicle

Facilities:

• 1 round wooded shelter with tables and four fire grills
• 33 picnic units with tabloes and grills
• Chemical toilets
• Drinking water
• Centralized refuse receptacles
• Paved access and parking

Notes:

• Elevation at the picnic area is 6760 feet. Day use only from sunrise to sunset.
• Battleship Rock is a 200 foot tall natural formation of welded volcanic ash. For safety reasons, hiking to the top of Battleship Rock is prohibited.
• Hiking along Trail 137 can be accessed from Battleship Picnic Area. Trail 137 begins east of the round shelter. This is one of two tralheads that access McCauley Warm Springs, a distance of two miles. Parking for trail use only is loacted in the parking area just north of the Battleship Picnic Area entrance.
• There is a user created footpath at the north end of the picnic area which leads you to Hidden Falls, giving you a spectacular vew of this magnificent 25 foot waterfall. Fishing access to the San Antonio River and East Fork River can be found at the picninc area where the two rivers join to formo the Jemez River.
• Both poison ivy and water hemlock are found in the area. Familiarize yourself with these plants and try and avoid them.
• Pets must always be on a leash or restrained while in developed areas.

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Big Pine Picnic and Fishing Area
15 miles from Las Vegas on Highway 65 and Forest Road 263. 

Facilities:

• 6 units
• Vaulted toilet
• Tables and firepits

Coyote Canyon Campground & Picnic Area
Semi-developed
Coyote Canyon Area alongside Coyote Creek.  From highway 96 take Forest Road 316 south for seven miles. Area is located at at the junction of Forest Roads 316 and 317.

• Uses: Camping, Picnicking, group gatherings
• Season: Spring to Fall
• Fee: None

Facilities:

• Portable toilets
• Picnic tables
• Fire grates

Notes:

• Bring your own water.
• Heavy use during hunting season

Dalton Picnic and Fishing Area
6 miles north of Pecos on Highway 63. 

• Uses: Picnicking, fishing
• Fees: Free

Facilities:

• 6 units
• 16 parking spaces
• Tables, grills and firepits
• Vaulted toilet

Jemez Falls Group Picnic Area
Location: Six miles east of La Cueva on State Road 4. From the Jemez Ranger Station go 7.5 miles north to the junction of State Roads 4 and 126 at La Cueva. Follow State Road 4 approximately six miles east to the campground turnoff on your right. From the turn-off continue approximately 1 1/4 miles to Jemez Falls Group Area which is south of the family campground.

• Uses: Picnicking, fishing, and hiking
• Fees: $50.00 per day for up to 50 people; $1.00 for each additional person. There is an additional reservation fee of $8.65.
• Reservations: Must be made in advance by calling
  1-877-444-6777 or www.ReserveUSA.com . Sites may be reserved from May 15 through September 13.

Facilities:

• Vaulted toilets
• Drinking water
• centralized refuse receptacle
• Paved access
• Group area will accommodate up to 100 people
• 1 large pavilion with 16 wooden tables and 2 large fire grills
• 25 parking spaces

Notes:

• Elevation at the picnic area is 7880 feet. Day use only from sunrise to sunset.
• The picnic area is in close proximity to the Jemez Falls Trailhead which leads to both the Jemez Falls as well as McCauley Warm Springs.
• Pets must always be on a leash or restrained while in developed areas.

La Cueva Picnic Area
Seven miles north of the Jemez Ranger Station on State Hwy 4. From the Jemez Ranger Station go seven miles north to the picnic area turnoff on your right, which is located just south of State Highway 4 and 126 junction.

• Uses: Picnicking, fishing, and hiking
• Fees: No fee
• Day use only, 6am to 10pm
  Camping and campfires are prohibited

Facilities:

• Vauleted toiled
• Centralized refuse receptacles
• Paved access to river
• 12 units with fire grills
• 25 parking spaces
• Direct access to river from most units
• Universally accessible facilities available

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Little Tesuque Picnic Area
Seven miles from downtown Santa Fe on NM 475.  Take Bishop’s Lodge Road to Artist Road, which will turn into NM 475, also known as Hyde Park Road.

• Uses: Picnicking and hiking.
• Fees: None

Facilities:

• 10 sites, one group sheltered site
• Vaulted toilet (May be closed from November through April)
• Picnic tables and grills

Notes:

• Elevation at the picnic area is 8,350 feet. Day use only from sunrise to sunset.
• There is no potable water.
• In order to help keep the area clean, there is a closure order in effect banning the use of glass bottles.
• Little Tesuque Picnick Area is a popular spot for a quick get away from town. It is the closest to town of the several developed recreation sites along NM 475 (Hyde Park Road), and the first one the visitor will pass.
• NM 475 is also designated as the Santa Fe Scenic Byway. There are additional recreation opportunities along NM 475, including developed campgrounds, hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, and in the winter both nordic and alpine skiing.

Oak Flats Picnic and Fishing Area
15 miles from Las Vegas on Highway 65 and Forest Road 263.  

• Uses: Picnicking, fishing
• Fees: None
• NO CAMPING ALLOWED
• NO WATER

Facilities:

• 7 units
• Vaulted toilets
• Tables and firepits

Spanish Queen Picnic Area
Five miles south of the Jemez Ranger Station on State Hwy 4.  From the Jemez Ranger Station go five miles south to the picnic turnoff on your right.

• Uses: Picnicking, fishing, and hiking.
• Fees: $5.00 per vehicle
• Day use only, 6am to 10pm
  NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING

Facilities:

• Vaulted toiled
• Centralized refuse receptacles
• Paved access to river
• 12 units with fire grills
• 25 parking spaces
• Direct access to river from most units
• Universally accessible facilities available
• Universally accessible trails and fishing pads

Notes:

• Elevation at the picnic area is 6000 feet.
• You will find spectacular views of the surrounding mesas. Fishing is best at this location in the winter months.
• Pets must always be on a leash or restrained while in developed areas.

Winsor Picnic and Fishing Area
16 miles north of Pecos on Hwy 63, one mile on Forest Road 646.

• Uses: Picnicking, fishing in Winsor Creek
• Fees: None
• NO CAMPING ALLOWED
• NO WATER

Facilities:

• 2 regular parking spaces; 2 parking spaces accessible to people with disabilities
• Vaulted toilet

Notes:

• No horse trailers allowed

Windy Bridge Picnic and Fishing Area
12 miles north of Pecos on Highway 63

• Uses: Picnicking, fishing
• Fees: Free
• NO CAMPING ALLOWED
• NO WATER

Facilities:

• 6 units
• Tables and grills
• 12 parking spaces
• Vaulted toilet

Notes:

• Self-contained RV's can park in the parking lot.

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