Mountain Biking the Horsethief Mesa Trails in Taos: Surprisingly Fast & Flowy!

Woman taking a selfie in front of scenic view of river running through canyon

POV out over from of mountain bike handlebars onto singletrack trail lined with sage brush

The day after riding the Taos Valley Overlook Trails and finding them to be pretty meh, I decided to give the area one more shot and headed out to the nearby Horsethief Mesa trails. I’m so glad I did. Unlike the TVOT, this network of singletrack was surprisingly fast, flowy, and fun—with the same sweeping views of the Rio Grande to top it off. Sure, there were a few loose, chundry sections and some punchy climbs that weren’t exactly pleasant, but overall, I really enjoyed my time out there.

There’s one main 8-mile loop with a 1-mile access trail. It might be tempting to skip that access trail by parking farther down the dirt road, but don’t! It’s actually a super fun, flowy bit of trail that adds nicely to the ride.

So if you’re passing through Taos or wrapping up a weekend at Angel Fire and craving some mellow cross-country pedaling, I definitely recommend checking out Horsethief Mesa. I was pleasantly surprised—here’s everything you need to know to plan your ride.

Quick Tips

For mountain biking Horsethief Mesa outside of Taos

The Horsethief Mesa Loop is rated blue on TrailForks, but I thought it was easier than the Taos Valley Overlook Trails.
Don’t skip the Access Trail – it’s actually quite fun!
There is some pretty big exposure along the rim. The trail doesn’t get too close, but use caution.

TWW Take

Please note that these are my personal opinions – you may argue otherwise! And if so, state your case (politely) in the comments 🙂

Fun-ness Factor

Trail Variety

Average Difficulty

What I like about the Horsethief Mesa Trails

Surprisingly fast and flowy
Sweeping views of the Rio Grande River from above
Views of the Sangre De Christo Mountains in the distance

What I don’t

A few mean, loose, punchy climbs
Some stretches of loose chunky rock
A bit monotonous, but not as much as TVOT’s

POV out over front of mountain bike handlebars onto singletrack trail

Planning your Horsethief Mesa (Taos) ride

Best trails to hit

There’s really only one loop here – the Horsethief Mesa trail. If you don’t want to do the whole thing, you can cut it in half via the Horsethief Cutoff.

Tip: I rode the loop clockwise and it rode great. It would probably be fun CCW, too.

Route recommendations

Horsethief Mesa Loop (beginner+) – This is really the main loop in the trail network. Add the access trail for more fun and flow.

Taos Valley Overlook Trails Map

Scenic mountain views from Horsethief Mesa trails in Taos

FAQs for riding Taos’s Horsethief Mesa

Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are some helpful tips for riding Horsethief Mesa outside of Taos.

No, e-bikes are not allowed at Horsethief Mesa. The trails are designated for non-motorized use only.

There are no long, sustained climbs, but there are a few punchy climbs. For the 11-mile ride I did, there was about 925 ft of climbing.

No, there are no toilets or water at the trailhead.

I’d say better than the TVOT’s, but there are still some clay-based sections, so parts of the loop could be sticky.

Yes – just keep following the trail signs for Horsethief Mesa.

Need gear recs?

Head over to my gear closet! I’m always testing out new pieces of bike gear and if I really like them, they earn a place on this page.

See my gear favorites

Horsethief Mesa totally redeemed my riding experience in Taos after the TVOTs. It’s not the biggest or most technical trail system out there, but the fast, flowy singletrack, wide-open views, and mellow vibe made it a really enjoyable ride. If you’re in the area and looking for a fun cross-country loop, definitely give it a one. I’m glad I did!

Is Horsethief Mesa a ride you’d like to do? What questions do you still have? Have you ridden around the Taos area? Leave a comment below!

Mountain Biking the Horsethief Mesa Trails in Taos: Surprisingly Fast & Flowy!

Quick Tips

TWW Take

What I like about the Horsethief Mesa Trails

What I don’t