When most people think of Taos Ski Valley, they picture deep powder and steep chutes. But from early summer through mid-fall, those same mountains transform into one of New Mexico’s premier mountain biking destinations, a place where lift-served downhill trails are set against the jaw-dropping scenery of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Taos Ski Valley has invested in building a legit bike park experience, and the results speak for themselves. Upload onto Lift 4 in Kachina Basin, and drop into trails built specifically for downhill junkies. Like the ski runs weâre famous for, the bike park uses the same color-coded difficulty system; Green, Blue, and Black Diamond, so it’s easy to find your lane from the moment you unload the chair. Visitors can bring their own bikes or choose from a range of rental equipment, including demo, regular, and e-bikes, as well as full protective gear.
Green, Beginner
The appropriately named Green Chile Flow Trail is the gateway run at Taos Bike Park. Beginners can gain confidence on the 3.5-mile Green Chile Flow Trail with smooth sweeping berms, and forgiving terrain that lets first-timers and younger riders build confidence without consequence. If you’re bringing kids or it’s your first time at a lift-served park, start here and lap it until you are tired of smiling.
Blue, Intermediate
Grip It & Rip It steps things up with more technical features, tighter lines, and terrain that rewards riders who are ready to commit. You’ll find unavoidable rock sections, steeper pitches, and the kind of flow that makes you want to immediately hit the lift for another lap. This is the sweet spot for riders who’ve outgrown the beginner trail but aren’t quite ready to send it on black diamond trails.
Black Diamond, Advanced
Shrapnel is the short, sharp introduction to the black-rated terrain at Taos Bike Park. It’s a raw, hand-cut old-school descent that stands in contrast to the smoother flow trails below it. Narrow, technical, and challenging, this one is for riders who know their limits and are comfortable pushing them. As the trail network continues to expand, expect more advanced and double-black terrain to be offered.
Pioneer Flow Trails, Novice to Intermediate
The Pioneer Flow Trails are located in the base area to the left of Lift 1 near the Resort Plaza and parallel to the Pioneers Lift. These two novice to intermediate trails feature small jumps and rollers perfect to warm up on or hone your technical skills. Consider them your pre-lap warm-up or a low-stakes skills session at the end of the day.
The village infrastructure makes it easy to stay focused on riding. Rentals, bike shop support, food, and cold drinks at the base mean you can travel light. The setting alone with lush green mountains, waterfalls, rushing rivers, and big valley views is worth the trip before you even clip in.
The Skills Park
Perfect for beginners and younger riders, the Skills Park, located behind and to the North of The Bavarian, is a free, fun, and creative environment designed to build confidence and develop mountain biking fundamentals for the young rippers in your crew. Parents can rent the right-sized bikes and protective equipment at Kachina Sports near Lift 4 in Kachina Basin.
Lost Lake Trail: High Alpine near Taos Ski Valley
Difficulty: Blue to Black | 13.7 mile loop
This back-country trail near Taos Ski Valley features over 2,300 ft. of elevation gain and is considered challenging with he full loop taking your average cyclist over 6 hours to complete. Great for both hiking and mountain biking, it is known for being uncrowded and scenic. The best time of year to explore this gorgeous zone is June through September. FYI – dogs are welcome on this trail and may be off leash in some areas.
Horsethief Canyon: Classic High Desert Singletrack
Difficulty: Blue to Black
A short drive north of Taos Ski Valley sits Horsethief Canyon, a trail that earns its reputation every time you ride it. Technical rock gardens, punchy climbs, and fast descents through piñon and ponderosa pines make this one of the most satisfying routes in the area. Sections range from blue to black depending on your trail choices, technical enough to keep experienced riders honest, but navigable for strong intermediates who pick smart lines. There is no signage on these trails, so stop by Rift Cycles in town and pick up a trail map first.
South Boundary Trail: The Taos Bucket List
Difficulty: Blue to Black | ~22 Miles | Point-to-Point
The South Boundary Trail is a northern New Mexico classic. This point-to-point route runs roughly 22 miles through the Carson National Forest, gaining and losing elevation through aspen groves, meadows, and technical terrain that demands your full attention. Shuttle logistics are part of the deal, but the payoff is one of the finest big-day rides in the Southwest. More experienced riders can tackle the alpine trails of South Boundary and find everything from buffed-out dirt to rooty, exposed singletrack, sometimes within the same mile. Rated blue overall, with legitimate black sections that will test technical riders.
The Rift Valley and Slide Trail: Hidden Gem with Big Reward
Difficulty: Green to Blue | Moderate Distances up to 8.7 miles out and back route
The Rift Valley & Slide Trail network offers some flowy, less trafficked, and deeply scenic trails to ride. With consistent views over 400 f.t below to the Rio Pueblo and Rio Grande gorges, cyclists looking to escape the crowds and put in genuine effort will find a trail that delivers solitude in equal measure with the scenery. An 8.7 mile out-and-back trail, It connects well with other routes in the network, making it a solid building block for custom loops. This is also a popular trail with hikers, runners and equestrians, so share the trail responsibly with others.
Plan Your Ride
Whether you’re loading Lift 4 at the Taos Bike Park for laps or chasing a full-day epic through the National Forest, this corner of New Mexico delivers the goods. One important note: the top of Lift 4 sits at over 11,400 feet, and the altitude is real. Hydrate, pace yourself on day one, and let the mountain do the rest.
Trail Maps
The Enchanted Circle is a vast area consisting of Taos, Taos Ski Valley, Eagle Nest, Angel Fire and Red River. This âcircleâ is full of trails for every level of cyclist. You can check out the entire Enchanted Circle Trails network here to help you plan your day missions, locales and travel time.
Bike Shops
There are 2 fully-equipped bike shops in the area. Taos Sports, conveniently located in Taos Ski Valley offers a full-service bike rental and repair shop in the main base area, and Kachina Sports at the bottom of Lift 4 next to the lift-served trails. And Rift Cycles, located just north of downtown Taos is a 1-stop shop for maintenance, parts and rentals for all your MTB needs. They also organize weekly group rides with a calendar on their web site.
Other Mountain Biking Resources
The Taos Mountain Bike Association is the local IMBA chapter, and there are additional resources on their website to ensure your MTB adventure in Taos is a fun and safe one!
Skip to main content