A national forest is more of a "Do" place than a "See" place. However, there are attractive views of the forest from a number of viewpoints in the Española Valley and along the "High Road to Taos," a network of back roads connecting Taos and Santa Fe. State route 4 between Los Alamos and Jemez Springs also offers attractive vistas.
Autumn color in Santa Fe National Forest mainly takes the form of a band of gold at elevations above about 8000 feet 2500 meters, where the leaves in the aspen groves turn en masse. A drive to the Santa Fe Ski Basin at this time is scenically rewarding. Peak period varies from year to year and locale to locale, but is commonly during the last week in September.
