With the elevation of this campsite at this high elevation, the temperature is noticeably lower than it is in Santa Fe, New Mexico. After spending three nights in the city, the temperature never got below fifty degrees, and one night, it was warm until late, a night which I slept nearly all night without a blanket.

With it now after the fall equinox, here at Big Tesuque campground, it has dropped to the thirties each night requiring that I use two blankets to stay warm.

The campground is located in the Santa Fe National Forest, about twelve miles from Santa Fe, New Mexico on SH 475, also known as Hyde Park Road.

From US 285 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, also N. St. Francis drive, turn east on SH 475, also Paseo de Peralta, and continue on SR 475 up into the mountain. There will be a left on Bishops Lodge Road and quickly after, a right on Artist Road which changes name to Hyde Park Road, which road will go by one subdivision after another and finally enter into the Santa Fe National Forest.

After a short time seeing more subdivisions, SR 475 leaves all that behind and begins climbing up a long winding and steep highway. The roadway is all hard surface but the curves are very plentiful so you will not be able to drive more than 30 or 35 mile per hour.

It seemed to me a lot longer of a drive up to the campground, but it was only about 13 miles from US 285 to the where I came to a deep inside switchback and when make the curve, pulled into the parking lot for the campground on the right. It is very easy to spot, really the first large paved parking lot that I came to.

There are walk in campsites on a first come basis, after you park, then walk up one of the two canyons, both of which have flowing water, situated at either end of the parking lot and choose an available site, each which have a tent pad, picnic table grill and a fire ring. There is a two seater vault toilet with plenty of paper

On the north end of the parking lot is the Big Tesuque creek with a small dam right next the the parking lot. I arrived here in late September and the Big Tesuque creek has plenty of flowing water, more than enough for me to fill my bucket and take a bucket bath.

There are additional recreation opportunities along NM 475, both above and below Big Tesuque Campground, including hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, and in the winter, both nordic and alpine skiing.

At most of the above listed federal park locations, Federal Parks Pass holders will receive half off camping fees.

Big Tesuque is a walk in campground not conducive to trailer or RV camping. There are 10 units, each with a picnic table and grill, and there is a vaulted toilet in the parking lot. There is no potable water and no campground host.

The entire area is very scenic, and the state highway NM 475 which leads to the campground is designated as the Santa Fe Scenic Byway. Because of the large stands of aspen, the area is very busy, especially in the fall aspen viewing season.

Tesuque is pronounced "Tes-SU-kay" and is a person in the Tanoan (or Puebloan) Family groups, Tewa Division.

This is the only reason why I drove up the steep road to get to this campground, because if I had learned that there was a fee to camp her, I most likely would not have come.

picnic table, grill, fire ring, tent pad

There is a two seater vault toilet each with several rolls of toilet paper

Awake, drive to the front of the hw-mart, park and go inside to use the mens room. Then, I drive to the w-mart for a cup of hot, check com, and then pound keys until nearly five this afternoon. Next, I upload all of the Bird Gallery files, which I have gotten very close to finishing.

Then, I pack out of the w-mart and Santa Fe, and drive northeast up SH 475, a local highway that climbs up to about 9700 feet into the mountains east of town and when I begin the drive, it is only 14 miles to the campsite. This is a very steep highway and the cooling system in the jammer was hard pressed to keep up with the climb, despite my driving slow all the way up. Upon my arrival, I can already feel the cool in the air when I park the jammer, get out and walk around to check out the campground.

After setting up my camp, I go to the free flowing Tesuque creek and fill a bucket with some very clear water and use it to refill my cooling system. Next, I fill the bucket a second time and use the water to take a bucket bath, this one a very cold bath because of the temperature of the creek water.