B Hyde Park and Santa Fe Ski Area 
The drive from the city of Santa Fe to the Santa Fe Ski Basin gives a progressive change in the life zones from Upper Sonoran (mixed woodland of Piñon and Juniper trees) in Santa Fe to Transition (mixed forest of Ponderosa Pines) at Hyde Park to Canadian (colder, moister areas on mountain slopes with spruces and firs ) at the ski basin. Thus, the areas available for birding along this roadway give a dramatic change in prominent bird species.

The road from Santa Fe to the Santa Fe Ski Basin (State Route 475) passes through Hyde State Park approximately 7.5 miles from the downtown area. A winding, paved, 7 mile road leads from there to the ski basin. Route 475 intersects with the main north-south highway through Santa Fe (US 84/285 or St. Francis Drive) at the stoplight for the north end of Paseo de Peralta (Bank of America is on the corner). Proceed east to the fourth stoplight (corner of Paseo de Peralta and Washington), make a left turn and drive to the next stoplight. Turn right here for the main road to the ski basin (indicated as Artist Road in the schematic). At the top of the hill is a large sign for Hyde Memorial State Park. All the following distances are taken from this point.

The extended area near Hyde State Park, as you progress along Route 475, includes several hiking options, each of which represent possible birding opportunities. These are in order of their appearance: Chamisa Trail at 5.2 miles, Black Canyon Campground at 6.8 miles, Circle Trail at 7.1 miles, and Borrega Trail at 8.2 miles (north exit from the park). Hyde State Park offers daily and overnight facilities for the customary state fees. Unless you want to pay a fee to bird in Black Canyon Campground it is necessary to park along Route 475 outside the entrance. Good birding opportunities are possible within the campground and on a trail that leads uphill to the Santa Fe watershed from the far east end. Williamson's Sapsucker's (breeding), Hammond's and Cordilleran Flycatchers, Western Tanagers, Nuthatches (Red and White-Breasted, Pygmy), Mountain Chickadees, Stellar Jays, and western warblers are some of the species anticipated here.

There are three major stops possible as you drive the remaining half dozen miles into the mountains from the Borrega Trail to the ski basin. These points are: Big Tesuque Campground at 11.4 miles, Aspen Vista Picnic Ground at 12.6 miles, and Norski Trail at 13.7 miles. Aspen Vista has a large parking area and is a favorite place for those who want to hike up a broad access road toward the mountain tops. The Norski Trail is not well marked from the road. It and a good parking area are found at a sharp curve a short distance from a prominent lookout within a mile of the ski basin. Blue Grouse are sometimes seen on the drive from the Borrega Trail to the ski basin. The Norski Trail (actually a series of braided pathways used by cross-country skiers) proceeds on a high ridge through a heavily forested area. It is good for House Wren, Junco, Stellar's Jay, and western warblers.

The Santa Fe Ski Basin is located 14.4 miles from the first mileage point. There are multiple large parking areas and restroom facilities. This is the trailhead for those who want to venture into the high mountain back country. Very good birding opportunities are found around the parking areas and on the slopes of the ski basin. Those who enter the ski area property during the non-skiing months will find a warning sign: "Ski Area Closed ­ Danger Man-Made and Natural Hazards Exist." You are encouraged to bear this in mind when walking the hillsides. There is a large area, with a relatively moderate slope, leading to the main chairlift up the draw from the lodge (see map insert). This and the trials up to the lower chairlift, immediately across from the lodge, offer a multitude of birding possibilities. In the summer it is quite common to find Red Crossbill in the pine trees adjacent to the parking and near the ski lodge. During the summer of 2001 there were regular sightings of White Wing Crossbill. In mid-summer it is common to flush Blue Grouse from places on the ski slopes that are heavily overgrown with weeds. Other species expected include Hermit Thrush, House Wren, Junco, Western Tanager, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Lincoln's Sparrow, western warblers, Gray Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, House Finch, and Steller's Jay.