Set in the high desert near Santa Fe, New Mexico, Under Canvas Santa Fe offers sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo, Ortiz, and Jemez mountain ranges. Opening in April 2027, this new glamping retreat spans 640 acres near the Galisteo Basin Preserve, blending the great outdoors with the elevated comforts that make Under Canvas special. Spend your days hiking, biking, and riding through a landscape of terracotta earth and fragrant piñon, or exploring Santa Fe’s art galleries, Puebloan architecture, and culinary scene. Then return to camp for evenings around the fire beneath a wide, dark sky. Here are 10 reasons to make Under Canvas Santa Fe your next Southwest escape.
A High Desert Setting with Views in Every Direction
The journey into camp climbs over a rocky ridge, revealing a desert landscape shaped by wind, water, and time. At 6,321 feet, piñon and juniper dot the rolling high desert as views stretch toward the surrounding mountain ranges. Safari-inspired glamping tents span three distinct settings: an upper terrace near the communal spaces, a middle slope tucked among juniper trees, and a lower meadow sculpted by shallow arroyos. Each offers a different perspective on New Mexico’s wide-open beauty.
Trails Begin at the Edge of Camp
Under Canvas Santa Fe borders the Galisteo Basin Preserve, a nearly 10,000-acre landscape of craggy sandstone formations, savannah grasslands, and winding arroyos. More than 44 miles of public trails welcome hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians, placing one of the region’s most expansive trail networks within easy reach. These are a few of the most popular multi-use trails in the preserve:
Shepherd’s Trail
This 0.7-mile, easy-to-moderate trail crosses gently rolling terrain with broad views of the preserve’s grasslands and distant peaks. Connect it with Eliza’s Ridge and Gretl’s Way for a scenic 5.5-mile moderate loop.
Cowboy Shack to Eliza’s Ridge Loop
Beginning at the popular Cowboy Shack Trailhead, this 4-mile moderate loop takes about 1.5–2 hours. The route crosses colorful desert terrain and rolling ridgelines, opening to panoramic views of the Sangre de Cristo, Ortiz, and Jemez mountains.
Weller’s Wiggle Loop
Combine Weller’s Wiggle with Blue Moon, Sophie’s Spur, and Shepherd’s Trail for an easy 3.6-mile loop with roughly 300 feet of elevation gain. The winding route takes you through open high-desert scenery and to Cat’s Pause Overlook, a peaceful place to take in the Galisteo Basin.
Explore Santa Fe’s Art, Culture, and Heritage
Under Canvas Santa Fe feels peaceful and removed, yet Santa Fe Plaza is only 30 minutes away. Wander streets framed by adobe buildings and the smooth lines of Puebloan architecture, then explore museums, 250+ art galleries, studios, and markets where centuries-old traditions meet contemporary creativity.
Art is at the heart of Santa Fe. Discover Georgia O’Keeffe’s work and connection to New Mexico, join an art or history walk, and shop for traditional Pueblo pottery, jewelry, and handwoven textiles. Throughout the year, markets and festivals celebrate the Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo influences that shape the city’s rich heritage.
The city’s creative spirit continues back at camp through collaborations with local artists and regionally inspired design, including rich woods, wrought iron, terracotta and clay-toned textiles, and displays of work by local makers.
Taste the Flavors of Santa Fe
Santa Fe’s cuisine tells its own story of place, blending Native American and Spanish influences with ingredients grown across northern New Mexico. Taste smoky red and bright green chile, blue-corn dishes, tamales, and warming bowls of posole, then explore seasonal produce and artisan goods at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market, open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Santa Fe Railyard. Food festivals throughout the year bring together local chefs, growers, and makers, offering another delicious way to experience the Southwest’s flavors and traditions.
New Mexico History Comes Alive Nearby
The landscapes around Santa Fe hold centuries of history. About 30 minutes northeast, Pecos National Historical Park preserves traditional pueblos and 12,000 years of history with stories from the ancestral Pueblo and Spanish colonial eras, the Battle of Glorieta Pass, and New Mexico’s ranching past. Trails lead among pueblo remains, a 17th-century mission church, battlefield sites, and the Pecos River, turning a day outdoors into a journey through time.
To the west, Cerrillos Hills State Park lies just off the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, pairing more than five miles of trails with the area’s mining history and sweeping mountain views. Together, these places reveal how deeply the history and culture of northern New Mexico are connected to the land.
Adventure from Desert Trails and Wild Rivers to Scenic Railways
The Santa Fe region offers adventures across landscapes ranging from open desert to forested mountains. Hike among piñon and juniper, follow flowing singletrack across the Galisteo Basin by mountain or e-bike, explore rugged terrain on an off-road excursion, or experience the high desert on horseback. Raft the Rio Grande through stretches ranging from gentle family floats to thrilling Class III rapids, with canyon walls and cottonwood-lined banks framing the watery journey.
For a more leisurely adventure, Sky Railway follows the historic rail line between Santa Fe and Lamy. Themed rides feature desert scenery, sunsets, live music, stargazing, and New Mexico food and drink. Settle into a vintage railcar and watch the high desert unfold beyond the window.
Plan ahead with the Adventure Concierge, or ask the on-site Guest Experience Coordinator to help shape your perfect day, from a challenging ride or scenic float to historic sites and time in Santa Fe.
Safari-Inspired Tents Bring Comfort Close to Nature
After a day of exploring, return to a safari-inspired glamping tent with a private deck designed for rest and relaxation. Each comfortable, stylish tent includes upscale furnishings, an en suite bathroom, a king-size bed wrapped in luxe linens, a wood-burning stove, and an in-tent cooler for warm high-desert afternoons.
Choose a Deluxe Tent, look through the viewing window above the bed in a Stargazer Tent, or spread out in a Suite Tent. You can pair select accommodations with an adjacent Kids Tent, or choose two-tent suites with adjoining decks for extra room while keeping everyone close.
Dark Skies Make Every Evening Feel Expansive
Far from the glare of city lights, Santa Fe’s high desert offers the darkness and open horizons that make stargazing unforgettable. Under Canvas follows DarkSky International’s principles and standards, using thoughtful outdoor lighting to help protect the surrounding environment and preserve starry views overhead.
Watch the last amber and purple light fade from the mountains, find familiar constellations from your private deck, or settle beneath the sky-viewing window of a Stargazer Tent. In a place this open, the night sky becomes part of the destination.
Locally Inspired Dining and Fireside S’mores
Meals at Under Canvas Santa Fe bring people together and fuel adventure with healthy, café-style dining for breakfast and dinner. Savor seasonal, Southwest-inspired flavors al fresco, pair your meal with a craft cocktail, or pack a housemade grab ’n go option for a scenic picnic. In the evening, gather around the fire for live acoustic music and nightly s’mores – an Under Canvas tradition.
Camp Programming for Connection in the Great Outdoors
Hilltop gathering spaces make the most of the expansive views, offering inviting places to ease into the morning or unwind after an adventure. Start the day with yoga or a guided nature walk, relax in the saunas, then gather for live acoustic music, stargazing, and storytelling as daylight fades across the basin.
Paint nights, photography, outdoor games and trivia offer even more ways to connect with nature and one another. Our on-site Guest Experience Coordinators can help you discover what’s happening at camp.
Staying at Under Canvas Santa Fe
Set across 640 acres of rolling high desert, Under Canvas Santa Fe offers space to slow down while keeping northern New Mexico’s art, history, cuisine, and outdoor adventures close by. From April through October, wake to mountain views from one of 45 safari-inspired tents, explore nearby trails and Santa Fe’s creative treasures, then return to the comforts of camp and gather around the fire beneath the desert stars. It’s an unforgettable way to experience New Mexico at its most breathtaking.