Shortly after departing from the Ski Basin, the trail enters the thick forest of the Pecos Wilderness. The forest here consists of a mix of aspens and conifers. During the fall, the aspens turn a brilliant gold, making this a fantastic late-season hike!

After turning off the Winsor Trail onto the Skyline trail, the hike begins gaining elevation quickly via a series of switchbacks. The tree cover begins to thin out, and as you hit the summit ridge and begin the final push to the summit of Baldy, you'll leave the treeline behind entirely, enjoying expansive views from the alpine tundra. In the upper section of the trail, you may need to watch out for rock cairns marking the best way forward.

The final push to the summit can be steep in places, but this is generally considered to be a very achievable peak climb. Most hikers with the stamina to cover 13.6 miles and 3,600 feet of elevation gain should be able to make it.

Once done on the summit, the shortest way back to the trailhead is found by retracing your steps. However, if you're prepared for a longer backpacking trip, Santa Fe Baldy could prove to simply be the first stop of a much longer loop!

Sources: https://www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/new-mexico/santa-fe-baldy-windsor-trail https://www.summitpost.org/santa-fe-baldy/151395 https://www.theoutbound.com/new-mexico/hiking/hike-santa-fe-baldy