A Snowy Surprise in Santa Fe — A Short Spring Escape

Caption: Snow dusts the Roundhouse in Santa Fe — a quiet moment at the New Mexico State Capitol.

Santa Fe wasn’t originally meant to be a quick stop — my wife and I had planned a longer visit, but the early spring snow had other ideas. Being from outside New Mexico, I knew snow was possible this time of year, but I wasn’t quite expecting just how much of it I’d see.

A snowy Saturday brings a slower pace to the usually lively Santa Fe Railyard.

One of the places we were most excited to visit was the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, but unfortunately, it was closed due to the inclement weather. Still, we made the most of the day and embraced the shift in plans, opting for a spontaneous photo walk through the city instead.

The Great Seal of New Mexico stands out against adobe walls and a snowy spring sky.

Our first stop was the New Mexico State Capitol, also known as the Roundhouse. With snow gathering gently on the trees and the plaza, the Great Seal of the State stood out in bright contrast to the adobe-colored walls. A nearby statue stood quietly amid the storm, almost blending into the solemn atmosphere of the day.

The iconic Santa Fe Railyard water tower welcomes visitors even on snow-filled days.

From there, we wandered down to the Santa Fe Railyard. The tracks were dusted with white, and the normally bustling area had taken on a quiet, cinematic quality. We caught sight of the Sky Railway, a bold and artfully designed train that’s become a moving landmark in Santa Fe. Its stylized body and bright details made for striking compositions against the soft gray sky and snowy backdrop. The giant water tower marked the heart of the railyard — a spot where locals and visitors usually gather, but today it had a calm, almost reflective stillness.

Facing the Sky Railway head-on as snow falls at the Santa Fe train station.

Even with a shorter timeline, there was something about Santa Fe in the snow that made the trip worthwhile. The colors were more muted, the pace more relaxed, and every frame I captured felt unexpectedly serene.

The Sky Railway train idles on snowy tracks near downtown Santa Fe.

Discovering the Ruins of Pecos: A Journey Through Time

My wife watching a snowstorm on a distant mountain

Just 35 miles east of Santa Fe, Pecos National Historical Park offers more than just ruins—it offers a connection to centuries of culture, conflict, and resilience. The site is home to the remnants of a Spanish mission church built in the early 1600s, standing beside ancestral Pueblo ruins that date back over 700 years.

Inside the mission ruins made of adobe as the snowstorm begins

Walking through the crumbling walls of the mission, I felt the weight of time in every step—the texture of the adobe, the coolness of the stone, the silence broken only by the wind weaving through the open arches, creating a soft, hollow whistle that echoed across the site. It was haunting and peaceful all at once—like the ruins were still breathing.

As a photographer, I found endless inspiration in the contrast between man made structure and natural erosion, between sunlight and shadow. I arrived just after a light snowfall, which added a rare softness to the rugged landscape. The light filtered through the clouds, illuminating the earthy reds and yellows with a painterly touch. But with a snowstorm quickly approaching, I had to pack up and leave before the winds and whiteout conditions fully settled in—making the experience feel fleeting and even more powerful.

Me observing the ruins before the snowstorm

This visit reminded me why I pursue photography—to freeze these moments of stillness, history, and beauty. Pecos is a place that quietly commands your attention, and I hope my images from this journey bring that experience to you, wherever you are.