Hiking Near Taos

HeyTaos · Hiking

Hiking Near Taos

Carson National Forest, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, and the Rio Grande Gorge. Trail options range from a flat canyon-edge walk to the highest point in New Mexico.

Safety and Planning

Taos sits at 6,969 feet. Wheeler Peak is at 13,167 feet. The altitude difference matters and hits visitors from low elevations harder than expected. On any mountain trail above 10,000 feet, plan to start early and be below treeline by early afternoon.

Rule Why it matters
Start before 9 AM on mountain trails Afternoon lightning storms are common June through August above treeline. Being caught above treeline in a lightning storm is dangerous.
Carry water The altitude and dry air dehydrate faster than most visitors expect. Carry more water than you think you need.
Sun protection UV intensity increases significantly at elevation. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are not optional at altitude.
Tell someone your plan Cell coverage is limited or absent on many Taos area trails. Leave your itinerary with someone who knows when to expect you back.
Acclimatize first If you arrived from sea level in the last 24 hours, start with an easy trail at lower elevation before attempting Wheeler Peak or high alpine routes.

Trail Guide

Trail Distance Gain Difficulty Notes
Wheeler Peak via Williams Lake 8.3 mi out-and-back 2,972 ft Hard New Mexico high point at 13,167 ft. Trailhead at Taos Ski Valley. Best June through October. Start before 9 AM. Dogs on leash welcome.
Williams Lake 4 mi out-and-back ~800 ft Moderate Alpine lake below Wheeler Peak. Good family option and a strong turnaround for those not going to the summit. Same trailhead as Wheeler Peak. Accessible mid-June through October.
West Rim Trail 9 mi out-and-back Minimal Easy Canyon-edge walk from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge heading south. Flat, open, big views with very little effort. Also open to mountain bikers. No shade.
Rift Valley Trail 9 mi loop Gentle Easy to Moderate Sagebrush mesa north of Pilar near the Taos Valley Overlook. Open to hikers, bikers, and horses. Views into the gorge at the overlook.
Devisadero Peak ~3 mi out-and-back ~800 ft Moderate Short and steep. Sweeping views of Taos town and the mountains. Trailhead on Hwy 64 east of town. No shade on approach.
Yerba Canyon ~5 mi out-and-back ~1,200 ft Moderate Carson National Forest access east of Taos via Hwy 64. Aspen, wildflowers, stream crossings. Good fall color hike.
South Boundary Trail ~20 mi one-way Significant Hard One of the best mountain bike trails in New Mexico, also hikeable. Carson National Forest. Access via Taos Canyon (Hwy 64 east) and Valle Escondido.

The trailhead for Wheeler Peak and Williams Lake is inside Taos Ski Valley. No park fee required but parking can be limited on summer weekends. Arrive early.

Rio Grande Gorge Trails

The Rio Grande del Norte National Monument manages trail access on both the mesa and in the gorge. The West Rim Trail from the Gorge Bridge is the most accessible. The Orilla Verde Recreation Area south of the bridge on the river has several short trails with petroglyphs and river access. The Wild Rivers Recreation Area near Questa, where the Red River meets the Rio Grande, has rim hiking with views into the gorge and occasional bighorn sheep sightings.

Location Contact
BLM Taos Field Office 575-758-0940
Rio Grande del Norte NM blm.gov

Guided Hikes and Llama Trekking

Far Flung Adventures offers guided hiking and multi-sport trips into the Sangre de Cristo wilderness and Carson National Forest, in addition to their river operations. Llama trekking with pack animals into the high wilderness is a Taos-specific option worth knowing about for multi-day itineraries.

Operator Contact
Far Flung Adventures 575-758-2628 · farflung.com · 15 NM Hwy 522, El Prado
Carson National Forest Supervisor 575-758-1405 · 208 Cruz Alta Road, Taos

Sources: Carson National Forest, BLM Rio Grande del Norte, Taos Ski Valley. Trail conditions change seasonally. Verify current access before heading out.