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Dale Ball Trails - Sierra del Norte Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 125 Google reviews · Running trail in Santa Fe, New Mexico · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Dale Ball Trails - Sierra del Norte Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Easy and moderate trails (some gently inclined) through pine forests and rocky parts of the hills, with views over Santa Fe.
What runners say about Dale Ball Trails - Sierra del Norte Trailhead
“Great trail, mostly shady with great views of the mountains and Santa Fe.”
“The wife and I recently visited Santa Fe, and I was looking for a moderately difficult trail, that was at least partially shaded and had great scenery.”
“Beautiful views and a variety of hikes with really well marked trails.”
This is a great way to get the blood flowing after morning coffee. A very pleasant group of easy going, gently up and down trails through small pine and cedar trees. Close to town so fairly busy.
It's a network of trail loops so you can pick you hike length. You can even connect to an additional trail network for long extended hikes. There is a few hundred feet of elevation change but you can loop trail together to create a good deal of hill climbing.
Beautiful views and a variety of hikes with really well marked trails. Easy parking at the trailhead as well
Nice gravel lot, clear map and info wall. If you have any wayfinding skills you will be fine. A map and directions at each cross point. Rocky parts but nice trails, busy but not overcrowded. You can find space on the trails. Great views!
Trail conditions & character
“The trail offers some nice overlooks of Santa Fe, other than that the scenery is pretty much the same, scrub juniper forest.”
“We hiked in winter, so not many folks on the trail and easy parking.”
“Beautiful views and a variety of hikes with really well marked trails.”
“There is a few hundred feet of elevation change but you can loop trail together to create a good deal of hill climbing.”
“The trail was less rocky than most; we were able to hike in walking shoes rather than boots and saw some trail runners.”
“There is a few hundred feet of elevation change but you can loop trail together to create a good deal of hill climbing.”
“0% of dog owners had their dogs on a leash as posted.”
“The wife and I recently visited Santa Fe, and I was looking for a moderately difficult trail, that was at least partially shaded and had great scenery.”
“great gradual up-down trail, packed dirt with some rocks.”
Plan your run at Dale Ball Trails - Sierra del Norte Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitesfct.org
- Phone+1 505-989-7019
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
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