Rock Climbing and Trail Running in Taos Ski Valley

Rock Climbing: From Alpine Iron Paths to Desert Crags

Start at the top with the Via Ferrata. Taos Ski Valley Resort’s Via Ferrata is the signature climbing experience accessible right from the Village via ATV. Situated at 11,500 feet on Kachina Peak, this guided “iron path” uses fixed cables, iron rungs, and ladders to take climbers of any experience level across a 100-foot skybridge and a double-cable catwalk, with sweeping views of the Rio Hondo and Wheeler Peak Wilderness below. No climbing background is required, and guides lead every tour, and helmets and harnesses are included, with beginner through advanced route options depending on how much exposure you’re after. It typically runs summer weekends into the fall shoulder season, so it’s worth checking current hours before visitors plan their trip.

For rock climbing itself, Mountain Skills Rock Climbing Adventures is the outfit to know. Based just down the road in Arroyo Seco, Mountain Skills has been guiding climbers in Taos for more than two decades, with a roster of certified guides who’ve spent 15 to 30-plus years on local rock. They run trips for total beginners through advanced climbers, plus families, scout troops, school groups, and corporate teams. They operate year-round thanks to Taos’ famously mild winters and cool summers. It’s the kind of outfit where a first-timer and a seasoned leader can rope up on the same trip and both walk away satisfied.

Beyond the guided experience, the Taos area is a genuine climbing destination. Visitors and locals point to a few standout zones:

• The Rio Grande Gorge (Hondo Gorge / John Dunn Bridge area) — basalt crags carved by the river, with routes ranging from approachable to seriously technical, and some of the best winter and shoulder-season sun exposure in the region.
• Tres Piedras — granite domes north of town offering both traditional and sport routes, single and multi-pitch, plus excellent bouldering.
• Questa Dome and Comales Canyon — lesser-known gems that longtime guides still consider some of the most scenic climbing in northern New Mexico.

Combine any of these with the area’s other outdoor draws like hiking, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande, and it’s easy to see why climbers build multi-day trips around Taos rather than a single afternoon.

A note on safety. Whether you’re on the Via Ferrata, roped up with a Mountain Skills guide, or climbing independently at one of the area’s crags, the right equipment and protocols make all the difference. At minimum, that means a climbing-rated helmet, a properly fitted harness, a dynamic climbing rope, locking carabiners, a belay device, and shoes with sticky rubber soles built for the rock. Before ever leaving the ground, climbing partners should run through a buddy check: confirming harness buckles are doubled back, the knot is tied and dressed correctly, and the belay device is loaded properly, and should visually inspect anchors and bolts rather than assume they’re sound. Clear, standard climbing commands between climber and belayer prevent miscommunication on the wall. Because afternoon thunderstorms are common across northern New Mexico in summer, exposed rock and via ferrata routes carry real lightning risk, so checking the forecast and starting early in the morning is recommended. And as with any backcountry activity, letting someone know your planned route and expected return time is good practice. Guided trips with Mountain Skills and the resort’s Via Ferrata provide gear and guides to manage the technical safety, which is exactly why they’re such a good entry point for visitors who are new to the sport.

Trail Running: High Alpine to Rim-Rock

Trail running around Taos Ski Valley means big elevation, thin air, and views most runners only dream about. The run-ready terrain scales from a mellow lake loop to a full mountain summit push.

In Taos Ski Valley itself, the Williams Lake Trail (#62) is the classic. It climbs roughly 1,000 feet over 2 miles from the upper base area to a glacial alpine lake tucked below Wheeler Peak, almost entirely within the Wheeler Peak Wilderness. Runners looking for a bigger day continue on to the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail,, topping out at 13,161 feet on New Mexico’s highest point, a serious effort that rewards athletes with 360-degree views of the Sangre de Cristo range. For a longer loop, the Wheeler Peak Trail [aka Bull of the Woods trail] connects back toward Williams Lake for a full-mountain circuit favored by more experienced trail runners.

In greater Taos, a strong local running culture (shoutout to the weekly Taos Trail Runners meetups) centers on a handful of favorites:

• Devisadero Loop Trail — a steep, technical climb just outside town with panoramic views of Taos and the surrounding peaks, popular for its fast, rocky descent.
• Rio Grande Gorge West Rim Trail — a flatter, faster run tracing the edge of the gorge near the famous bridge, ideal for building distance without heavy elevation gain.
• Rift Valley Loop and South Boundary Trail — favorites among local runners for open, wide-sky terrain and solid mileage with more moderate climbing.

Mark Your Calendar: Up & Over Trail Run Weekend

If you want to experience Taos Ski Valley’s trail running at its best [race the mountain instead of just admiring it] the Up & Over Trail Run Weekend returns to Taos Ski Valley on July 31 & August 1, 2027. The weekend anchors around the Up & Over 10K, a demanding climb from the base up through high alpine terrain, alongside the VerticAL’s VertK straight up Al’s Run, the two-day Double Trouble combo, and a kids’ fun run for the youngest trail runners in the family. It’s grown into one of the region’s signature summer events and registration is open now!

Register for the Up & Over Trail Run Weekend