One nice thing about the Winsor Trail is that it starts at the elevation of the
town of Santa Fe. That means the lower section can be ridden late into the
fall and in the early spring. The tricky thing is that it starts at 7200 feet but
climbs to 10,300 feet where people are skiing in the winter.
This trail posting describes one of several bailouts (Chamisa, Bear Wallow
and Borrego being the other ones. This bailout is only a couple of miles
below the end of the trail, but it’s good to be aware of it if there is snow on
the trail or if the weather turns on you. Of course you always have the
option of turning around and retracing your route.
If you want to do this as a shuttle/descent, there is some parking just
above the FR 102 junction and lots of parking .8 miles up Hyde Park at
Aspen Vista.
Trail Detail:
Reset your bike computer or GPS at the last parking space off 72A.
Bailout option #1: At mile 3.59 you intersect the Chamisa Trail (#183)
coming in from the right. If you turned up this trail you will reach Hyde Park
Road in 2.25 miles. Don’t turn, but continue straight on the Winsor Trail.
Bailout option #2: At mile 4.57 you intersect the Bear Wallow Trail (#182)
coming in from the right. If you turned up this trail you will reach Hyde Park
Road in 2 miles. Don’t turn, but continue straight on the Winsor Trail.
Bailout option #3: At mile 5.39 you intersect the Borrego Trail (#150)
coming in from the right. If you turned up this trail you will reach Hyde Park
Road in 2.25 miles. Don’t turn, but continue straight on the Winsor Trail.
At mile 6.54 Big Tesuque Trail comes in from the right. Bear left.
At just under 7 miles you intersect FR 102. To abandon the last couple
miles of the Winsor Trail, turn right on FR 102. At mile 8.5 you intersect the
(paved) Hyde Park Road.
