Taos Valley Overlook Trails: Mountain Biking in Rio Grande Norte National Monument

Woman mountain biker taking a selfie with beautiful canyon and river in backgrounbd

POV out over front of mountain bike onto trail lined with sage brush

The Taos Valley Overlook Trails is a small network of singletrack in northern New Mexico that overlooks the Rio Grande River southwest of town. On TrailForks, it doesn’t look like much— a few crisscrossing lines of green and blue trails, but I was curious nonetheless. The Rift Valley Trail looked promising with some flowy berms and cliffside pedaling. So, after two days of rowdy park riding at Angel Fire Bike Park, I headed down to check them out.

My take? It’s fine. Not unforgettable, but not a total miss either. The riding is mellow, the scenery along the rim is undeniably beautiful, and the Rift Valley Trail offers a unique slice of New Mexico singletrack.

If you’re already in Taos and looking for a lower-key ride day, it’s worth a spin. But it’s definitely not worth going out of your way for. Here’s what to expect and how to make the most of it.

Quick Tips

For mountain biking the Taos Valley Overlook Trails

These trails are very mellow and very… monotonous. Some might find them boring.
Don’t ride them during or right after a rain. Some of the trails are clay-based and it’ll be miserable!
The Rift Valley Trail is the one to do. The other trails looked quite washed out.
I preferred the Horsethief Mesa Trails over the TVOTs.

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 Taos Valley Overlook Trails

Some fast, flowy sections
Beautiful views of the Rio Grande along the rim
Backdrop of the Sangre De Christo Mountains

What I don’t

Kind of boring…
Stretches of very loose, chunky rock
Not much variety

Mountain bike leaning against sign post surrounded by sage bush

Planning your Taos Valley Overlook Trails ride

Best trails to hit

There’s really only one ‘main’ trail here Rift Valley Trail. The other trails looked pretty rugged and washed out. I don’t recommend venturing onto them.

Tip: There is some exposure when you get to the stretch along the rim. The trail doesn’t get too close to the edge, but it might be uncomfortable for some people.

Route recommendations

Rift Valley Loop (beginner+) – This is really the main mountain bike loop to do at the Taos Valley Overlook Trails. The ‘berm-y’ looking section looks like it could be a fun downhill, but it’s really just flat.

Taos Valley Overlook Trails Map

a woman wearing a helmet and goggles standing on a rocky cliff

FAQs for riding the Taos Valley Overlook Trails

Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are some helpful tips for riding the Taos Valley Overlook Trails:

No, e-bikes are not allowed on the Taos Valley Overlook Trails. All the trail signs say ‘not for motorized use, including e-bikes’.

For the most part, yes. The trails are very mellow with very little elevation gain or loss. That said, there are some sections that are pretty chunky with loose rocks and rutted areas. There’s also some exposure along the edge of the rim.

There are no steep climbs, but there are definitely a mellow uphill grades along the loop. My ride was 12 miles with 876 feet of climbing.

Not well. There are stretches that look to be clay-based soil. I don’t recommend heading out here right after a rain or if it looks like it’s going to rain. The area is also very exposed, so if lightning looks like a possibility, play it safe and don’t ride.

Very much so. Just keep following the signs for Rift Valley Trail.

There is a pit toilet, but no water.

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

While the Taos Valley Overlook Trails didn’t blow me away, they’re still a solid option for a scenic, low-key ride, especially if you’re looking to spin out the legs after a big day at Angel Fire or just want to take in some classic New Mexico views without the tech or intensity.

The stretch along the Rio Grande rim is the highlight, and the quiet, open landscape offers its own kind of reward. If you find yourself with a free morning or afternoon in Taos, it’s worth checking out— just keep your Scenic and mellow, the Taos Valley Overlook Trails offer a quiet ride above the Rio Grande. Not a must-do, but worth checking out if you’re in the Taos area.expectations in check.

Are these trails you’d like to check out? What questions do you still have? Have you ridden around the Taos area? Leave a comment below!

Taos Valley Overlook Trails: Mountain Biking in Rio Grande Norte National Monument

Quick Tips

TWW Take

What I like about the Taos Valley Overlook Trails

What I don’t