Best Mountain Biking in New Mexico

Trying to find the best mountain biking in New Mexico? Bivy has great hiking, biking, paddling, climbing, skiing, riding and more, with hand-curated trail maps, as well as detailed driving directions.

1

New Mexico, Taos County

04 :01 hrs
13.9 mi
891.3801 ft
Hard

Get ready to climb up to this beautiful glacial lake, just below Gold Hill. The ride up to the lake, for the first 7 miles, is quite the slog, and much of it is on some loose rocky soil - the trail is very easy to follow though, as it is an old jeep trail. Keep an eye out for vehicles, as they do still use this road. You will climb your way past old cabins, abandoned mines, and a number of spur trails before you reach the lake. Take a break and enjoy before you start your descent alongside Goose Creek on a fantastic single track. There are a number of stream crossings and the track is tight in places, and you will thoroughly enjoy the well earned downhill back to your starting point.

2

New Mexico, Bernalillo County

01 :03 hrs
3.9 mi
142.65161 ft
Hard

This route through Tunnel Canyon is pretty short and is great paired up with the Otero Canyon routes. Mainly singletrack, with the return portion of the loop using the highway. This singletrack climbs up the skinny canyon and provides lots of sidehill options. Once you hit the highest point, you will get some views of the Sandia Mountains. Most of the obstacles on this ride are fun and not too technical, but there are some sections of loose rock and staircases that add to the adventure.

3

New Mexico, Bernalillo County

02 :31 hrs
9 mi
153.85693 ft
Expert

Ride on what is considered by many, the best single track around. This will take you through the foothills, around some pinon-juniper forest and through grassy meadows as well as beautiful Tablazon Canyon, with some nice views of the Sandia Mountains up top. This is a fairly level route, and most is hard packed single track, but you will find yourself amongst some tough rocky areas, so be aware. There is a large network of trails around this area, so be vigilant to stay on the track you want.

4

New Mexico, Taos County

06 :19 hrs
18.7 mi
1071.6143 ft
Expert

The South Boundary Trail is, by far, one of the best mountain biking trails in all of New Mexico. Famed for its epic downhill, this trail is not to be missed. The entire ride runs through beautiful mixed coniferous forest and open grassy meadows. The steepest climb will hit you within the first 2 miles, after that it is smooth sailing. You may want to stop and take a break around the 13.5 mile mark, before you hit the technical descent you've so long been hearing about. You will want to set up a shuttle for the ride, or call one of the local bike shops in Taos - many will shuttle you for a fee.

5

New Mexico, Santa Fe

03 :09 hrs
5.9 mi
622.57324 ft
Easy

Aspen Vista Road is a service road that requires no technical skills, just a strong pair of lungs. The parking lot is located at 10,000 feet and you will be climbing the whole way up to the summit of Tesuque Peak - if you aren't acclimated to the altitude, this one will burn. Summer will bring ample wildflowers but also mid-afternoon thunderstorms, so be prepared. Fall, on the other hand, has much more stable weather and you can enjoy the changing colors of the trees. Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with amazing views in all directions. This road will also connect you to a bunch of other single track routes at the top, so bring a map and enjoy the area.

6

New Mexico, Santa Fe

01 :41 hrs
9.7 mi
1005.3921 ft
Expert

The Windsor Trail is a local downhill favorite. Some prefer to take on the grueling climb first to earn their downhill later, but most tend to set up a shuttle. Mellow Velo, one of the local bike shops, may be able to set up a shuttle for you. This is a very technical downhill, you will have multiple stream crossings (beware, they are cold!), some log bridges, loose rocks, fast single track switchbacks, berms and more! You will be riding through beautiful forest scenery, alongside a creek, and through wildflower filled meadows. When you get a chance to let go of those brakes, take a look around and enjoy. This ride is not to be missed.

7

New Mexico, Bernalillo County

01 :56 hrs
7 mi
193.85498 ft
Hard

Otero Canyon offers up some great single track that travels through a colorful limestone canyon with some strenuous climbing at the beginning and a rewarding, technical downhill at the end. You will mainly be travelling through pinon-juniper forest with some wetters areas down on the canyon floor. Most of the ride is on hard packed trail, but there are some loose, rocky sections that can be difficult to navigate. There are many different trail options once you get to the top, so be vigilant if you want to stick to this route. Also, be aware of federal land and no trespassing signs.

8

New Mexico, Bernalillo County

02 :30 hrs
9.2 mi
224.17175 ft
Hard

Some find Chamisoso Canyon to be the prettiest in the Cedro Peak area, so take a ride through it and see for yourself. This ride starts through Chamisoso Canyon and climbs up and out, before heading back down the Coyote Trail. Most of the trail is great, hard-packed single track, but there are some loose, rocky climbs and technical staircases, forcing many to get off and walk it. You will ride through some beautiful terrain and get some nice views of the Sandia Mountains while you're out.

9

New Mexico, Sandoval County

06 :50 hrs
12.5 mi
306.01514 ft
Moderate

Take these old forest roads on top of Virgin Mesa out to some old pueblo ruins. You'll have some great views of the small town of Jemez Springs below and ride through beautiful aspen forests almost the entire way. Take a look over the side and see some very interesting tent rock formations as well. The route is not very technical, as it's all on old jeep/forest roads, but do watch out for erosion ruts and bumps. The climb on the way back out is a little bit of a slog, but not too terrible.

10

New Mexico, Albuquerque

02 :14 hrs
8.2 mi
81.517334 ft
Moderate

Head out of the city and check out the extinct volcanoes in Petroglyph National Monument. This ride is really easy, but there are a few rocky/sandy spots that bump it up to a 2 difficulty level. You'll find some fairly challenging climbs on this route, with the rocks and sand making it a bit more of a slog. Take plenty of water in the summer, as this entire route is very exposed. Also, consider bringing a patch kit, as there are goat heads galore. These volcanoes are a must see and this is a great way to see all 5!

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