Hiking Trails in Taos Ski Valley
Year-round, you’ll find unparalleled opportunities to take long walks at your own pace to see big views among the trees on trails that suit your fitness level. See all the hiking trails in Taos Ski Valley on HikingProject.com – free GPS coordinates, descriptions, photos and other info.
TRAIL UPDATE: Please see our Snowshoeing page
ANNUAL CLOSURE: Second or third week of August for 6 to 11 days, and announced approx. two weeks out. Closure affects Williams Lake, Wheeler Peak Summit, and Wheeler Peak Trail #90 between La Cal Basin and Wheeler Peak. Closed for tribal traditional and cultural purposes. All other trails are open. Summit opportunities on Gold Hill (12,711 ft.), Lobo Peak (12,113 ft.) and Frazer Mountain (12,163 ft.). There are 8 trails open during the closure: Gold Hill, Long Canyon, Wheeler Peak Trail/Bull of the Woods to Frazer Mtn, Lobo Peak, Gavilan, Italianos, Manzanita, and Yerba.
Beginner & Recreational Hiking Trails
Taos Ski Valley has several easy beautiful paths and parks to enjoy. The Base Area Loop is a signed 1-mile circuit in the resort base area which features a creek-side nature trail following the Rio Hondo. Kachina Vista Park (off of Twining Road) has gorgeous views of Kachina Peak and the Village. Rubezahl ski trail is a great way to connect the base area with the upper base area of the ski resort. Simply walk uphill from chairlift 1 at the Resort base and you’ll find yourself at Kachina Basin, home of The Bavarian and chairlift 4 (used as the scenic chairlift during the summer).
Down in the valley, just outside of the Town of Taos, is the West Rim Trail departing from the Rio Grande Gorge Visitor’s area. Let your cares melt away on this flat dirt/rock trail. Enjoy gorgeous 360 views and perfect photo opportunities of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge from the rim of the Gorge and seas of sagebrush.
Intermediate – Challenging Hiking Trails
The trails within the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness offer excellent potential for day hikes, overnight or multi-day backpacking adventures! These trails include the Yerba, Manzanita, Italianos and Gavilan Canyon trails accessed from Highway 150, and the Long Canyon and Gold Hill trails accessed from Bull of the Woods/Wheeler Peak Trail #90. You’ll find everything from low-angle narrow singletrack trails, steep-walled traverses, open meadows, two summits (Gold Hill at 12,711 ft. and Lobo Peak at 12,115 ft.), and high ridges with amazing views of the surrounding mountains and the Rio Grande Rift Valley.
Williams Lake Trail
Discover Williams Lake in all its glory! This popular intermediate-level, four-mile round trip hike from the Kachina Basin area follows a beautiful valley forested with Engelmann and blue spruce, western white fir, and rarely seen red fir and bristlecone pines can be found in the higher elevations. This is the most popular trail in our valley.
Wheeler Peak
Conquer New Mexico’s highest peak ~ this 13,161-foot summit can be accessed by either the Bull of the Woods/Wheeler Peak Trail #90 or Williams Lake Trail. Get an early start for this expert level tour. Dispersed camping is allowed, please stay at least 300 feet away from streams and lakes. Keep your eyes peeled for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mule deer and elk, and smaller forest critters like pine marten and ermine.
Bull of the Woods/Wheeler Peak Trail #90
This popular trailhead starts by the Twining Campground (at the upper level parking lot in the village). It’s an 8 mile hike through a steep canyon, across an old mining road on Bull of the Woods Mountain’s north slopes, then the route climbs above treeline and past the 12,163-foot Frazer Mountain summit. This route is popular among seasoned alpinists and peak-baggers, it’s a challenge to take on with determination and experience. It can get quite windy above treeline, pack extra layers and bring your sense of adventure! Avoid walking onto any snow cornices overhanging off the ridges.
Wheeler Peak Summit Trail #67
This trail begins along the Williams Lake Trail at the saddle just above the lake. The route climbs through old growth conifer forests, crosses several steep avalanche chutes then ascends above treeline onto a wide open glacial moraine at 12,000′. The trail makes some switchbacks up the steep western slope towards the ridge between Mount Walter and Wheeler, traversing scattered rock fields across open slopes. On a clear day you’ll be treated to incredible 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains, the Rio Grande Rift Valley and distant mountain ranges such as the Sangre de Cristo’s in Colorado.