Trails, Routes, and Ride Options
Santa Fe has year round riding that vary from gravel rides to double-black diamond downhill descents. Below are some of our favorite routes for you to enjoy.
Choose Your Ride
Dragon Slayer Loop
The Dragon Slayer Loop is a scenic and fun cross country loop ideal for a winter escape. Located on BLM land near the San Ysidro
Galisteo Basin Fun Loop
Located in the scenic Galisteo Basin Preserve, this loop is a great sampling of trails on the southern half of the preserve. Ideal for beginner
Dale Ball Central Lunch Loop
Got an hour lunch and need to get in some singletrack? This loop is easily accessible from downtown Santa Fe and provides a great option
Rio en Medio Discounted
PLEASE NOTE: Rio En Medio has been impacted by a wildfire in August 2020. Currently, the status of this trail is CLOSED. Big day on
Atalaya with Dorothy
If you only have only an hour or two and want to get some elevation, views, and chunk squeezed in, this is a great route.
La Tierra Figure 8
This route is one of our classics combining both sides of La Tierra and enjoying some of our favorite segments. The Figure 8 goes clockwise
Big Mountain Enduro Course
Really want to see what it takes to ride a Big Mountain Enduro? This route contains the classics: the big ridge from the top of
Rancho Viejo Backcountry Loop
PLEASE NOTE: Rio En Medio has been impacted by a wildfire in August 2020. Currently, the status of this trail is CLOSED. Love riding remote
Glorieta Blues
Yes the stories are true: trails at Glorieta Adventure Camps are hard! This route, though, encompasses some of the more accessible and fun routes inside
Winsor Special Selection
Likely Santa Fe’s most well-known trail, the Winsor Trail starts in the village of Tesuque and continues deep into the Pecos Wilderness. For riders, most
Tesuque Peak Loop
The Tesuque Peak Loop is a high altitude up-then-down reminiscent of Pacific Northwest Style rides. You climb a forest service road for 2,000′ with little
South Boundary Trail
Experience one of New Mexico’s premier sections of singletrack: the South Boundary Trail.
Weather by Season
Spring
Windy and volatile, but also warm and beautiful. Snow possible well into May. Foothills thaw early. Usually, April and May start to get warm. Check trail conditions before heading up high.
Summer
Low 80s, cool nights, afternoon monsoons keep trails tacky and fast. Best riding weather in the Southwest. Always be prepared for sudden downpours and possible mud, however, typically brief. Summer in the Sangres is magic.
Fall
Golden time. The best season. Dry trails, cool days, aspens turning, and the smell of green chile in the air. Plan your trip around this.
Winter
Real Rocky Mountain winters with snow and cold. Desert trails like Galisteo and La Tierra often stay rideable. Upper mountain will be closed.
After the Ride
Breweries
Second Street (steps from the shop), Tumbleroot (trail-accessible, family-friendly), Santa Fe Brewing taproom in Eldorado after Galisteo.
Places to Stay
Pecos Trail Inn loves cyclists on your way into town, Hotel Santa Fe (Railyards), Inn on the Alameda (Dale Ball access). ~1,200 Airbnb/VRBO options in town.
Getting Here
65 miles north of ABQ airport via I-25 — about 1 hour. Or take the Rail Runner train from Albuquerque straight to Santa Fe Depot, just a hop from our front door.
Campgrounds & RV Sites
Hyde Park & Black Canyon
8 miles from downtown at 8,000′. Tents & RVs welcome. Close to Borrego and Bear Wallow trailheads. We recommend reservations.
Rancheros de Santa Fe
Full hookups, pool, showers, just off I-25. Open March 15 – Nov 1. Great base for Glorieta and Galisteo. Reservations recommended.
KOA Santa Fe
Full hookups off I-25, open year-round. Convenient base for Glorieta, Galisteo, and Arroyo Hondo riding.
Dispersed Camping
Pacheco Canyon
Forest Road 102 near the Ski Basin. Free camping along the creek in Santa Fe National Forest. High elevation — expect cold nights and possible snow.
Caja del Rio
BLM land west of town. Big desert views, clear skies, warmer temps. Roads are impassable when wet.
SUPPORT OUR TRAILS
Without our trails our mountain bikes are worthless. We are fortunate to have amazing trails and diverse riding areas in Santa Fe and a huge contributor to that is our local IMBA Chapter, the Santa Fe Fat Tire Society.
The Santa Fe Fat Tire Society act as not only our advocates but also trail crews doing the yearly clearing of deadfall and maintenance. On top of that, they also have cut nearly all the trails at Galisteo Basin Preserve, helped get historic and pirate trails adopted into the official Forest Service inventory, stood alongside Glorieta Adventure Camps during their challenges from the county (also helped build some of those trails!), and continue to be our voice with our land managers.
If you can, please support the club that makes Santa Fe such a great place to be a rider.
