Taos Bike Park Guide: What to Expect at New Mexico’s Newest DH Playground
On a recent trip out to New Mexico to ride Angel Fire bike park (one of my all-time favorite DH destinations!), I learned that near by Taos Ski Valley just opened its own downhill park: Taos Bike Park. Of course I had to check it out, especially since the lift ticket was covered by my Loam Pass.
The verdict? It has a lot of potential.
Trail construction and infrastructure were still in the early stages when I visited in 2025 (only a small handful of trails were open) but the setting alone is worth the trip. Picture lush green mountains, waterfalls, rushing rivers, and big valley views.
The trails that were open? Impressive. Smooth, fast-rolling machine-built flow, sweeping berms, and a couple of raw, hand-cut old-school descents to keep things interesting.
It’s clear that Taos Bike Park is just getting started, but I’m stoked to see where it goes. I’ll definitely be back in a year or two to check on its progress. In the meantime, here’s everything you need to knoaaaaw to plan your own trip.
Highlights of Taos Bike Park
TWW Take
Please note that these are my personal opinions – you may argue otherwise! And if so, state your case (politely) in the comments 🙂 Also, keep in mind that I visited Taos just after it first opened – they are continuing to expand and build new trails.
Fun-ness Factor
Trail Variety
Bike Park Features
Average Difficulty
✨ Photo Gallery
How Taos Bike Park works
First time to Taos Bike Park? No worries! Here’s what to know before your first visit.
🚐 Getting there
Taos Ski Valley is located about 35 minutes north of Taos into the mountains. It’s a beautiful drive, but the roads are pretty narrow and it gets steep and windy. It’s all paved to the resort base, but…
Note: The bike park is NOT at the Taos Ski Valley resort base. It’s up at Chair 4, which is another 2-mile drive up a dirt road deeper into the mountains. The road is pretty well maintained and I was fine in my Dodge Promaster van, but it’s pretty steep in places and I imagine it gets torn up throughout the summer. Most vehicles should be able to make it, I was just a little surprised and wasn’t expecting the bike park to not be at the resort base.
🎟️ Lift tickets & passes
You do need a lift ticket to ride the bike park (there is not uphill riding). You can buy a ticket online or in-person when you get there. Or grab a Loam Pass, which is how I rode it — you get two ‘free’ days at Taos Bike Park!
🚠 Getting to the top: Lift 4
Taos Bike Park is lift-accessed, meaning you and your bike catch a ride up the mountain via a chairlift. Mountain bikers use Chair 4, which runs daily throughout the summer season. It drops you off at a lofty 11,433 feet, so expect to feel that high-altitude air, especially on your first few laps.
Each lift chair is outfitted with self-loading bike trays that can carry up to three bikes. You’ll load your own bike by dropping the wheels into the designated baskets. It’s pretty intuitive once you see how it works, and friendly staff are usually nearby if you need a hand.
Tip: There is a chairlift loading practice station next to Chair 4. Test it out before you head up for your first run if you’re nervous about loading your bike.
Once your bike is secured on the lift, grab a seat on the next chair and enjoy the scenic 10-minute ride to the top. The views are pretty epic: waterfalls, mountain peaks, and big New Mexico skies. At the top, your bike will be waiting for you, and from there, you can choose trails back down.
🗺️ Trail layout
Taos Bike Park is very much still being built, so the trail map will evolve over the next few seasons. When I rode there, there were only about 6 trails already built, but I expect that to grow every year!
Taos Bike Park Trail Map
Pick up a paper trail map at the ticket counter or use the TrailForks app on your phone.
⏰ Hours & season
I was surprised to learn that the bike park lift runs 7 days a week, especially since weekdays are pretty quiet. But since Chair 4 is also used by hikers and scenic lift riders, it makes sense that it stays open for mountain bikers, too.
Chair 4 operates daily from 10am to 4:30pm, and the bike park season typically runs from late June through early September.
Tip: The last time I was at Taos Bike Park (in August), intense thunderstorms rolled in each afternoon around 2pm, shutting down the lifts. If you visit in the summer, try to make first chair so you can max out your time there if the lifts do close.
🚲 Rentals & gear
Taos Bike Park offers mountain bike rentals and a full-service shop right at the base of Chair 4, where you’ll also pick up your lift ticket. The rental fleet looked solid (I spotted Transition and Santa Cruz bikes) plus they have helmets and protective gear available, too.
Right next door, there’s a well-stocked retail shop with Taos Ski Valley merch and all the mountain biking essentials like tires, helmets, gloves, and apparel.
What to expect
When I visited, Taos Bike Park felt very w. There weren’t any man-made features yet, and the few open trails were all smooth, bermy flow— no jumps or technical sections to speak of aside from one short black-rated trail— Shrapnel. That said, I’ve got high hopes! With time and more trail development, I can see it evolving into a more dialed and diverse bike park, similar to what Angel Fire has going on.
The Trails at a Glance
Currently, there are only half a dozen trails at Taos Bike Park and not all of them were open when I was there. Here’s a quick rundown on what to expect on the runs that are built:
🟢 Green Chile
This is the beginner run at Taos Bike Park. It’s mellow and meandering with swoopy berms and not tech to speak of. That being said, the berms at the bottom of the trail have some pretty severe consequences if you go over the edge. Stay in control and look where you’re going!
🔵 Rip It > Grip It > Pop Rocks
This run is similar to Green Chile, but maybe a bit faster with a few minor tech sections (nothing serious), and tighter berms. Again, stay in control— you don’t want to go flying over the edge of some of the berms!
Hike to Williams Lake: After about 6 runs, I was pretty much done— I’d ridden all the trails at least twice and I didn’t feel like I was going to get anything more from doing them again. So, I ate a quick lunch, changed into some hiking gear, and hiked 2-miles up to Williams Lake. It’s a nice hike, not too steep, and the lake at the end is a nice place to relax for the rest of the afternoon (if a thunderstorm doesn’t roll in!).
FAQs for Taos Bike Park
Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are some helpful tips for riding Taos:
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.
Taos Bike Park might still be in its early days, but I can already see the potential. The setting is absolutely stunning, the lift runs daily, and the trails that are open offer some fun, flowy riding, perfect for mellow laps or newer riders looking to build confidence.
It’s definitely not a full-blown bike park yet, but I’m glad I checked it out, and I’m really curious to see how it evolves over the next few seasons. I’ll definitely be back to see what new trails get added and how the scene grows!
Is Taos Bike Park a destination you’d like to visit even though it’s just getting started? What other places in NM do you want to ride? Leave a comment!
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