Aspen Vista Picnic Site · U.S. Forest Service
Aspen Vista is a small picnic site just below Aspen Ski Basin. It also serves as a trail head to the road to Tesuque Peak and the new Alamo Vista Trail to the top of the Santa Fe Ski Hill.
Aspen Vista Picnic Site
U.S. Forest Service
Aspen Vista Picnic Site sits at 9,976 feet along the Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway, just below Aspen Ski Basin. The land drops 410 feet within 600 meters, and the view faces 240 degrees, oriented roughly toward the sunset. This site also functions as a trailhead, giving access to the road leading to Tesuque Peak as well as the Alamo Vista Trail, which climbs to the top of the Santa Fe Ski Hill. Santa Fe lies 9.5 miles to the southwest, with Los Alamos 28.3 miles west-northwest and Las Vegas 35.3 miles east-southeast. Sunset times shift through the year, from 20:23 at the June solstice to 16:54 at the December solstice, affecting how light falls across the facing slope at different times of year. The previous stop along the byway is Cross of the Martyrs Hill, and the next is Vista Grande Overlook Observation Site. As a small picnic area rather than a developed overlook, it offers a place to pause partway up the byway before continuing on toward the ski basin or heading out on foot toward Tesuque Peak or the Santa Fe Ski Hill.
Access
On the byway
Elevation
9,976 ft
View
Southwest · 240°
Light
Best at sunset
Relief
410 ft drop
Light
This overlook faces sunset — 30° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:08 | 19:15 | 18:42 |
| June solstice | 05:48 | 20:23 | 19:45 |
| September equinox | 06:52 | 19:02 | 18:28 |
| December solstice | 07:10 | 16:54 | 16:14 |
Local time (America/Denver). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Santa Fe9.5 mi southwest
- Los Alamos28.3 mi west-northwest
- Las Vegas35.3 mi east-southeast
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How high is Aspen Vista Picnic Site?
Aspen Vista Picnic Site sits at about 9,976 feet (3,041 m).
Is Aspen Vista Picnic Site better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. The land falls away from Aspen Vista Picnic Site toward the sunset, so at sunrise the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the nearest town to Aspen Vista Picnic Site?
Santa Fe, 9.5 miles SW of Aspen Vista Picnic Site.
What is the next lookout after Aspen Vista Picnic Site?
Vista Grande Overlook Observation Site is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Aspen Vista Picnic Site.
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