The South Boundary Trail: Trail Guide to New Mexico’s Classic MTB Route

Mountain biker riding through aspen grove on South Boundary Trail in New Mexico

A man riding a bike through the woods surrounded by golden aspen trees.

New Mexico tends to fly under the radar when it comes to mountain biking (and outdoor adventure in general), but it’s got some seriously good riding if you know where to look. One of the state’s most iconic trails is the South Boundary Trail, an IMBA Epic that delivers 21 miles of high-country singletrack through aspen groves, pine forests, and rugged backcountry terrain.

Just outside the artsy town of Taos and a stone’s throw from Angel Fire (one of my all-time favorite bike parks) this shuttled ride starts at a lung-busting 10,500 feet and gradually descends the slopes of Mt. Osha. While it’s not my favorite trail in the world, it’s absolutely worth checking out if you’re in the area for a few days.

From mellow sidehill to fast, techy descents (the last few miles get spicy), the South Boundary Trail offers a bit of everything. Sound like your kind of ride? Keep reading to get all the trail beta.

The South Boundary Trail at a Glance

Location: Taos, New Mexico
Distance: 21 miles
Elevation gain: 2,034 feet
Elevation loss: 4,804 feet
High point: 10,730 feet

Remote backcountry riding, beautiful aspen groves, sweet and fast singletrack

What I like about the South Boundary Trail

Remote backcountry feel
Almost 5,000 ft of descending
Beautiful forest riding
Fast, flowy stretches (Heaven on Earth!)

What I don’t

Honestly a bit monotonous…
No real viewpoints
2,000 feet of climbing on a shuttled ride is a bit mean
Trying to breathe at 10,700 feet is a struggle

Mountain biker riding bike away from camera on singletrack trail through brown-grass meadow in New Mexico

Quick Tips

For riding the South Boundary Trail

e-bikes are not allowed.
Don’t underestimate the elevation – you top out at 10,700 feet!
Even though it’s a shuttled ride, there’s still almost 2,000 feet of climbing.
There’s no water on the trail.
Shuttle Taos is the company to book with (Loam Pass accepted)

TWW Take

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

Fun-ness Factor

Trail Variety

Average Difficulty

Preparing for your South Boundary Trail Shuttle

How to shuttle it

You can self-shuttle if you have two vehicles, but I recommend booking a shuttle with Shuttle Taos. The drive takes over an hour and the last part is on a very rough fire road that I highly recommend having a 4×4 vehicle for.

Tip: Want to ride Angel Fire and Taos Bike Parks without spending extra money? Grab a Loam Pass! It gives you a free shuttle up South Boundary Trail and two free days at both bike parks.

South Boundary Trail Map

What to expect from top to bottom

The South Boundary Trail is best ridden as a shuttle starting from the high-elevation trailhead near Osha Pass and finishing just outside Taos. Here’s how the ride breaks down, mile by mile(ish):

Miles 0–1: Osha Pass

Update: Good news! It looks like there’s now a new shuttle drop-off point that skips the brutal 800-foot slog up Osha Pass. Instead, the ride now starts with a much more manageable 1-mile, 200-foot climb on a trail called Jarocito on TrailForks. I haven’t ridden this new section yet, but honestly, it sounds way better than the sufferfest I endured. If that’s the new standard drop-off, consider yourself lucky!

Elevation: Starts around 10,000 ft, climbs to ~10,200 ft
Terrain: Smooth, mellow singletrack
Vibe: A gentle warm-up instead of a soul-crusher
Effort: Low to moderate—just enough climbing to get your legs going
Notes: Thanks to a newer shuttle drop-off option, the ride now begins on the Jarocito trail an easy 1-mile climb that replaces the old, rocky grind up Osha Pass. It’s a welcome change. The grade is mellow, the trail is smooth, and it gives you time to warm up and enjoy the scenery. I haven’t personally ridden this section yet, but from what I’ve heard, it’s a massive improvement over the 800-foot sufferfest I did. If this is your intro to South Boundary, you’re starting on a much better note.

Two mountain bikers pedaling up hill with colorful aspen trees in distance — This was the old initial climb from the shuttle drop-off. It was challenging and very steep! I walked.

Miles 1–17: The South Boundary Trail

Terrain: Singletrack with some rocky fire road, mellow climbs, long traverses, and the occasional meadow
Feel: Starts dreamy, then turns into a bit of a mental game
Effort: Moderate— pedally, with a few climbs and stretches that feel longer than they are
Notes: The South Boundary Trail kicks off with a short descent on rocky doubletrack before transitioning into one of the best parts of the whole ride: a fast, flowy sidehill section known as “Heaven on Earth.” It’s the kind of smooth, smile-inducing trail that makes you think this ride is going to be epic.
But then things mellow out… maybe a little too much.
The next 10+ miles are a mix of mellow singletrack, fire road, and gentle climbs. The trail winds through thick forest with limited views, and while it’s smooth and non-technical, it can start to feel a bit monotonous. My mind started to wander to thoughts like “Does Taos have good ice cream?” and “What if I just lived in my van full-time?”
You’ll pass through a few open meadows, including Garcia Park around mile 11, and catch the occasional glimpse of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to your right, although there are never really amazing views.
While this may not be the most thrilling stretch of trail I’ve ever ridden, some riders absolutely love it for its peacefulness and backcountry feel. In fact, a few folks on our shuttle called South Boundary “the best trail in New Mexico.” So ride it and form your own opinion.

Mountain biker riding down singletrack trail on the South Boundary trail in New Mexico — “Heaven On Earth” is a section of fast, flowy singletrack and it’s super fun!

Miles 17-21: El Nogal

Terrain: Steep, loose, rocky singletrack with tight switchbacks and fast forested stretches
Feel: Rowdy, technical, and engaging
Effort: High—mentally and physically demanding if you’re tired
Notes: Around mile 17, the trail takes a sharp turn toward spicy. You’ll hit a steep, loose pitch that drops into a series of rocky switchbacks: challenging, fun, and a definite shift from the mellower miles before.
From there, the trail opens up slightly but doesn’t ease up. The rocky, fall-line descents keep you on your toes, and you’ll either be quickly picking your lines on the fly or pausing to scout the best way through. Somewhere along this stretch, there’s a great overlook with sweeping views of Taos. It’s worth a quick stop before the final plunge.
As you near the bottom, the trail ducks back into the trees for a fast final descent. The straightaways let you open it up a bit, but keep an eye out, tight switchbacks pop up quickly, and this section is popular with hikers. Control your speed and ride heads-up.
And just like that, you’re done! I’m not sure it lived up to the hype, but that said there’s no denying it’s a classic New Mexico ride that is worth doing if you’re in the area.

Mountain biker going over rock and log roll on technical section of trail — The final four miles are by far the most technically challenging

Ojitos Trail Optional Finish: The last four miles of the South Boundary Trail are pretty steep, rocky, and full-on. If you want to bypass this section and finish on a mellower note, you can take Ojitos trail. I haven’t ridden it personally, but from what I read, it seems like an easier way to finish the ride.

FAQs for riding The South Boundary Trail

Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are some helpful tips for riding TSBT in Taos

No, e-bikes are not allowed on the South Boundary Trail. Please respect this.

That depends on your pace, but I’d say give yourself at least 3-4 hours to get from top to bottom (not including the shuttle drive time).

Yes, you can start at Garcia Park and just do the last 12 miles. Garcia Park skips some climbing but it also skips Heaven On Earth, which is fast and super fun. Shuttle Taos has a Garcia Park start option.

The shuttle ride from El Nogal parking (where you’ll park, the shuttle will pick you up there) to the drop-off point is about 1 hour. And it’s a pretty rough ride!

If you don’t want to shuttle, I recommend parking at Garcia Park and doing the upper section of the South Boundary Trail as an out-and-back. You can also do a loop of Ojitos and El Nogal. But if you want to ride the full thing, it’s best to shuttle.

The only real option to bail is at Garcia Park, which is about 8 miles into the ride. From Garcia Park, you can take the gravel Forest Road 437 down to State Route 518. After Garcia Park, you’re committed.

The South Boundary Trail is typically rideable from June through October, but it can stay snow-covered later into the spring and get early snow in the fall. Call Shuttle Taos for the most up-to-date trail information.

I prefer to ride in New Mexico in the fall (late September-October) because it’s so beautiful with the changing aspen leaves!

Pretty easy, but I recommend having TrailForks or MTB Project downloaded to your phone. There are some intersections that are not well marked.

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

I give the South Boundary Trail a 2.5 out of 5 on the IMBA Epic scale. While it has its moments, like the dreamy Heaven on Earth section and the rowdy El Nogal descent, it’s mostly a pedaly cross-country ride with long stretches of smooth, somewhat repetitive singletrack and very few standout features. The middle 10-ish miles, in particular, kind of blurred together for me, and despite the elevation, there aren’t many sweeping views or dramatic overlooks.

That said, the forest itself is beautiful, especially in the fall when the aspens are popping. If you’re someone who enjoys long backcountry rides with a remote, peaceful feel (and you don’t mind a bit of a grind) you might love this trail. But if you’re chasing technical features, fast flow, or big-mountain views, it might fall a little flat.

Still, it’s a classic New Mexico ride, and checking it off the list is part of the fun. Ride it for yourself and see where you land!

Have you ridden the South Boundary Trail? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below!