Santa Fe Peak

800

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 09/02/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Went on Friday late morning of Labor Day weekend. Only saw 2 vehicles and a couple hikers. I do think this is one of the underrated trails in the Montezuma area. As described, the last section is not for the faint of heart. It’s extremely rocky and off camber. The rest of trail has beautiful scenery once you get above tree line. The trail becomes steeper and rockier once you’re above tree line too. Really neat to see Webster/Red Cone in the distance at the end. Ran with a stock Xterra on KO2s.

Ray

6550

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 08/06/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Mellow switchbacks until treeline, they then become steeper, looser and off camber. The trail was picturesque the whole way with sweeping views of the surrounding area. The last shelf section is very narrow, loose and off camber, great care must be taken through here. The track tops out just above 13k ft allowing a short scramble to the summit of Santa Fe Peak. It's a cool thought knowing you're higher and can spot the people on Webster Pass, Red Cone and Radical Hill at the saddle.

Matt Wesley

500

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 07/24/2022

Amazing trail, and one of the most overlooked in the Montezuma area. Drove this in my 2012 stock Xterra Pro-4x. The whole trail is basically switchbacks from treeline to the peak. A few interesting mines to see along the way. Although the trail is relatively easy, the pucker factor is very high. Especially the last couple hundred yards before the peak. But it’s very short and you can easily walk it instead of driving. Views are outstanding and only saw 3 dirt bikes the entire time on a Saturday. No other full size vehicles. Non licensed vehicles are not allowed on this trail.

Trint Ladd

Official Crew

34800

Impassable

Rated 5/5

Visited: 06/25/2022

I did not have time to drive up Sante Fe today, but looking over from Saints John, it looks like there's still some snow on the shelf road at the summit.

David

400

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 06/19/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

We cleared the last two snow drifts on the upper switchbacks with shovels. Trail is in good shape and open to the summit!

Jeff Jansick

200

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 06/16/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Got just out of tree line and up to first ridge. A snow drift was blocking the road. Probably be gone in a few days!

Ryan Boudreau

Official Crew

96150

Open

Visited: 05/27/2022

Dillon Ranger District has opened the seasonal gate. The trail still has some snow and could be impassable to vehicles.

Trint Ladd

Official Crew

34800

Impassable

Visited: 10/26/2021

Reports of snow at high elevations and folks going off trail to avoid drifts. While this trail may be passable by experienced groups in very capable rigs, we feel it safer to designate the trails as *IMPASSABLE* at this point.

Richard Westra

700

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 09/06/2021

Had a Labor Day afternoon to find a new trail to share with a friend from CA. Santa Fe Peak seemed to fit the requirement and it had been 10 years since I was on it. The Ghost town of Montezuma has grown! Found the trail head with no problem and aired down for a soft ride. The requirement for extra ground clearance and low range is a must especially near the top portions with the sharp switchbacks and off canter slopes. Drivers pay attention in the narrow sections and if uncomfortable walk and the actual summit at 13'123 is only a 200 yard boulder scramble. Be sure to find the jar and register your summit of Santa Fe Peak. I only encountered 1 other jeep on the entire trail top to bottom.

Christopher Leal

800

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 09/05/2021

Went up in a stock 17 4runner OR. Hit the skids maybe once or twice, very gently. Other than that, trail was decently off camber in quite a few stretches, but nothing scary as the description for this trail. Even my passengers didn't seem to have many sphincter squeezing moments. Very fun trail, would definitely do it again!

Eric Holloway

200

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 07/04/2021

Trail is open now with tree removed (was noted closed in previous review). It is a well maintained moderate trail most of the way, with a few brief challenges nearer the top. Drove a TRD Pro 4Runner. Stopped twice to check out abandoned in-tact cabin and mine equipment. Near the peak the road was off camber some, and narrow with loose rock - sharp drop off too. We fortunately had no problem with this. I could see a full size vehicle more on the edge, or it being dangerously slippery when wet as noted in our guide. But on this beautiful clear day, my initial worries driving into that stretch were unnecessary. At the top you park next to the actual peak and can scramble 50 yards to the top for incredible 360 degree view. My son found a geocache there! First time on Santa Fe and a new favorite.

Jake Anderson

500

Impassable

Visited: 05/30/2021

Down tree blocking the trail about 15 minutes in.

Jordan Rogers

1200

Open

Visited: 08/16/2020

Drove this in a Stock 2019 Tacoma SR on 31". Amazing drive would do this again. Only passed a few hikers after the treeline. Didn't have any problems going up. Hit the skid plates a few times going down.

BrianRD

2200

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 07/11/2020

This trail was less crowded than others around which is always a plus, it's got some boulders and tight switchbacks to negotiate but nothing too crazy. I was looking for an excuse to hike so we actually stopped about a mile short of the peak and walked the rest. The off-camber shelf road at the top would have made me nervous to drive but it was definitely doable. Great views at the top, you can watch vehicles descend Red Cone, it also overlooks Geneva Creek, Saints John, Webster, Deer Creek, and mountains galore.

Patrick McKay

Official Crew

4850

Not Reported

Visited: 01/06/2020

FYI, something I noticed while browsing the official MVUM GIS data from the Forest Service. The MVUM route for this trail shows the official designated route as ending an an arbitrary point shortly after waypoint 7, at 3.96 miles. I don't know if this was an error in the last travel management process or deliberate, but the maps from the most recent White River NF travel management plan show the remainder of the trail as only open to horse and hike. I doubt anyone will actually care, but it appears the last mile of the route shown here is not technically a legal motorized route. See the attached Google Earth screenshot for reference, with the MVUM route from the Forest Service GIS data shown in red and the GPX track provided here shown in blue. Note that the red line ends shortly after the fork at waypoint 7.

Doug

400

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 07/30/2019

No snow blockages at this point. Very nice 4wd road, decently varied and fun. Views up top are excellent, with a 360 sweep and Grays right there. Impressive. Didn't go around the shelf at top. No reason to, it peters out quickly with no additional views, but it is clear of snow as well.

Cory Christensen

1400

Partially Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 06/29/2019

This trail is wide open to waypoint 3. After that it continues to be blocked by snow. It is clearing up fast. Even the lower part was an enjoyable trip with great views and a couple of small challenges. Very nice for a short out and back trip.

Trint Ladd

Official Crew

34800

Impassable

Rated 5/5

Visited: 10/27/2018

I didn't make it over to Santa Fe, but I did fly my drone up from Webster Pass. The shelf road is snowed over. VERY DANGEROUS! DO NOT ATTEMPT!!

Brooks Canaday

100

Open

Visited: 07/21/2018

This trail was spectacular from start to finish- a beautiful forest approach with tight switchbacks and waterbars, then out above treeline for long stretches of rocky, off-camber trail with a few fun obstacles that were challenging but more than doable in my stock '12 Xterra Pro4x with fresh 33" tires. As soon as you think you're there, you hit the sketchy shelf road- not somewhere I'd want to be when it's wet! The views from the summit area are stunning, and the ride down is just as fun. Highly recommended.

Steve

250

Partially Open

Visited: 05/28/2018

We were able to make it to the fork at 2.5 miles, but had to turn back due to deep snow covering the road at this point.

Trint Ladd

Official Crew

34800

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 10/09/2017

Summit County has had a couple of snow storms now. Most trails that go above treeline are blocked with snow. The image here is a drone shot of the summit of Geneva Peak (Sante Fe's sister to the south) taken from directly above the Webster Pass trail. Please DO NOT attempt the shelf road if there is snow or ice. It's a long way down.

John W Post

100

Open

Visited: 09/21/2017

Super trail with amazing views from just over 13,000 ft. altitude. Nothing challenging on this trail except a few tight switchbacks, and the off-camber shelf road at the top requires 100% full attention. Vehicle: '98 Jeep XJ 3" lift

EVLXX

350

Open

Visited: 07/19/2017

A little more loose rock than what is in the description, but overall in good condition. Stock 2012 Xterra

Alan

100

Open

Visited: 07/15/2017

Beautiful day - Up and back. Trail was in good shape. Wild flowers were awesome. 1974 Toyota Landcruiser.

Tara Singapuri

200

Open

Visited: 08/13/2016

Very simple, straight forward trail. If you have a fear of heights you might not enjoy this

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