Discover Santa Fe Scavenger Hunt
Discover the oldest capital in America with a scavenger hunt through Santa Fe's adobe heart. Stand on the Plaza where Pedro de Peralta laid the city out in 1610, look up at the Loretto Chapel's mysterious spiral staircase, walk into the oldest church in the United States and trade galleries on Canyon Road. Brown earth, blue sky, red chile.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
-
1
Santa Fe Plaza
Navigate to the Santa Fe Plaza in the historic centre and check in by the obelisk in the middle.
-
2
Palace of the Governors
Walk to the north side of the Plaza and check in on the long Palace of the Governors portal.
-
3
San Miguel Mission
Walk south across the Santa Fe River to San Miguel Mission on Old Santa Fe Trail and check in at the entrance.
-
4
Loretto Chapel
Walk back across the Santa Fe River to Loretto Chapel on Old Santa Fe Trail and check in at the entrance.
-
5
Canyon Road
Walk east along Alameda and up Canyon Road. Check in once you reach the densest stretch of galleries (around the 600 to 700 block).
Challenges (20)
Santa Fe kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Santa Fe backdrop (an adobe wall, a string of dried red chile ristras, a turquoise window frame) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Santa Fe Plaza
Navigate to the Santa Fe Plaza in the historic centre and check in by the obelisk in the middle.
Plaza obelisk circle
Form a circle around the central obelisk on the Plaza and take a group photo from above (one team member stands on a bench or step) so the obelisk anchors the shot.
Trivia: Santa Fe founded
Pedro de Peralta laid out the Spanish colonial town of Santa Fe and made it the capital. In what year?
Answer: 1610
Checkpoint: Palace of the Governors
Walk to the north side of the Plaza and check in on the long Palace of the Governors portal.
Portal artisan portrait
Under the long portal of the Palace of the Governors, Pueblo and Navajo artisans sell handmade silver, turquoise and pottery directly to visitors. Ask permission and take a respectful photo of an artisan's display (or buy a small piece).
Trivia: Highest state capital
Santa Fe is the highest state capital in the US by elevation. Approximately how many feet above sea level does it sit (within 100)?
Answers: 6998 / 7000 / 6900 / 7100 / 6950
Checkpoint: San Miguel Mission
Walk south across the Santa Fe River to San Miguel Mission on Old Santa Fe Trail and check in at the entrance.
Adobe mission portrait
San Miguel Mission is one of the oldest church structures in the United States. Find a flattering angle on the adobe walls and bell facade, and take a group photo with the church behind you.
Trivia: San Miguel built
San Miguel Mission is widely cited as the oldest church in the continental United States. In what year was it originally built?
Answer: 1610
Checkpoint: Loretto Chapel
Walk back across the Santa Fe River to Loretto Chapel on Old Santa Fe Trail and check in at the entrance.
Spiral staircase shot
Inside Loretto Chapel stands the famous mystery staircase, a spiral that rises to the choir loft with no visible central support. Buy the small admission, take a respectful photo of the staircase from below and a group shot in front of the chapel.
Trivia: Loretto staircase turns
The mysterious spiral staircase in Loretto Chapel rises 20 feet to the choir loft. How many full turns does it make as it rises?
Answers: 2 / two
Cathedral Basilica facade
The sandstone Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi sits one block north of the Plaza. Find the facade with its two towers and take a group photo with the cathedral filling the frame.
Checkpoint: Canyon Road
Walk east along Alameda and up Canyon Road. Check in once you reach the densest stretch of galleries (around the 600 to 700 block).
Canyon Road sculpture pose
Canyon Road has the highest concentration of art galleries in the city, and many display outdoor sculptures along the street. Find a striking outdoor sculpture and take a group photo where the team mirrors its pose.
Adobe archway portrait
Adobe arches and gated courtyards are everywhere on and around Canyon Road. Find a beautiful adobe archway and take a group photo framed inside the arch.
Red or green chile taste
In Santa Fe the official state question is "red or green?". Order a New Mexico classic (chile relleno, enchiladas, breakfast burrito) and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time. Christmas-style (half and half) earns bonus points.
Local Santa Fean tip
Convince a local Santa Fe resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Santa Fe finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Santa Fe spot (an adobe wall at golden hour, a courtyard, the Plaza after dusk) and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from the oldest capital in America!
Frequently asked questions
Three to four hours covers the Plaza, Palace of the Governors, Loretto Chapel, San Miguel Mission and Canyon Road at a relaxed pace. The historic core is compact (about one mile from Loretto to the top of Canyon Road), and most groups walk the whole route with a stop for red or green chile in between.
Santa Fe sits at 6,998 feet, the highest state capital in the US, so first-day visitors notice the thinner air on uphill stretches like Canyon Road. Walk slower than at sea level, drink plenty of water and skip the hard cocktails until you have acclimated. The route itself is flat through downtown.
The Santa Fe Indian Market takes place on the Plaza on the third weekend of August. It is the largest Native American art fair in the world, which makes the hunt either incredible (extra crowds, food, performers) or overwhelming depending on the group. Booking accommodation months in advance is essential during that weekend.
The Santa Fe Plaza is the natural starting point: all four sides have free parking nearby (the Sandoval garage one block west is cheapest), the Palace of the Governors sits on the north side and you can sweep east toward Loretto Chapel and Canyon Road from there. Pop into a coffee shop on the Plaza first.
Yes. The Plaza is pram-friendly, San Miguel and Loretto Chapel charge a small admission but welcome children, and Canyon Road has a free open-gallery night every Christmas Eve known as the Farolito Walk. The chile and sopapilla stops are crowd-pleasers for all ages.