Moutain Biking in Taos

After a relaxed morning in Pilar with John Jo and I headed north to the Carson National Forest in south end of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. The previous day we met Jake, a local rider in town, who said the best trail around was the South Boundary Trail. He showed us a good loop starting from Garcia Park and invited us to ride with him, but by the time we got rolling we were hours later than he had planned to ride.

Garcia Park is an open alpine meadow 10 miles off the nearest paved road at the intersection of two forest roads and the South Boundary Trail. At about 9500 feet, the pines were deep in lush green undergrowth, but the aspens were still bare of leaves. We parked next to a marshy pond and set up shop.

Garcia Park

When Doug and I converted Jo's Superfly to a single speed the 32 / 19 gearing was the perfect combination to keep the chain tensioned, but we feared that as it stretched it would become too slack. The week before we left this turned into a reality. Jo's chain was jumping more and more with each ride, but I didn't have time to fix it. I packed my tools and the Yess Labs chain tensioner I got for the conversion and hoped I'd be able to fix it on the road. The quiet alpine meadow must have helped my concentration because even though I had no idea what I was doing, I had the chain tensioner installed in under 30 minutes.

Installing the Chain Tensioner

We were clipped in and rolling by 2 O’clock. The route Jake showed us took out of Garcia Park on a forest road that followed a pine covered ridge to the east. We started on forest roads, but I wanted to find a piece of singletrack he recommended lower down on the ridge. After trailblazing a few circles on grassy swathes through the forest I gave up and we went back to the fire road.

Headed Out

A few canyons later the route turned off the road onto a piece of singletrack that climbed along a creek. Where the creek crossed the road there was no sign of any singletrack, just a heavily overgrown fire road. We rode in circles again looking for any sign of a trail, but there was none. It was beginning to get frustrating; we'd already been riding an hour and only covered a few miles. Then as we turned back to explore the other side of the creek I spotted a red colored jersey moving through the trees, it was another rider. I sprinted to catch them while Jo was simultaneously attacked by a butterfly trying to make a home in her helmet. I decided that route finding was the priority and left her to fend off the fluttery beast!

When I rounded the corner I recognized a friendly face. It was Jake and two of his friends. They had got a late start, which was perfect timing for us. Jo rolled up shortly after, having slayed her attacker. We exchanged smiles and laughter then Jake led the way to the singletrack. I might have found it, but I doubt we would have followed it long. Fresh from a winter’s worth of snow, the off camber narrow single track varied from fresh cut to virtually no trail at all. High green grass had over grown the sides of the trail making it almost indistinguishable. The climb was grueling and long as we followed the creek up above 10,000 feet. At times I was stalling out in my granny gear, but that was nothing compared to Jo pushing her 19 tooth cog. She killed it the entire climb!

The Creek Climb

At the top of the climb the trail dumped us out on the flat overgrown remnants of another fire road. It was filled with fallen logs and was riddled with little landmine-like stumps that lurked in the tall grass. Hitting one at speed was a guaranteed trip over the handle bars and bad wheel damage too. We stopped and cleared the logs that were moveable and I built up a rideable log pile on one that wasn’t.

Clearing Logs

Riding Logs

After a few miles the fire road made a sharp left and climbed up to the top of the ridge. At the top we were treated to views of vast horizons on both sides. To the north and west you could see Angle Fire and Eagles Nest, to the south Taos and the distant humps of extinct volcanos. We all stopped for some pictures then followed the crest of the ridge to the South Boundary Trail. After a super rocky technical climb we all stopped for a bite to eat. Jo and I were completely out of water and low on food, but Jake and his friends came to the rescue. After filling up our bottles from their Camelbacs, someone pulled out a foot long sub. I thought I was hallucinating at first, but the taste of fresh bread and ham confirmed it was real. Who were these people? Complete strangers, who showed us the way, hydrated us, fed us, and even took pictures (all the trail ones are from Jake’s)! Taos is good people.

On Top of the Ridge

Jake the Man

Taos Crew

Everyone

The South Boundary Trail was epic, it started as super rocky climb and descent then broke off into alpine singletrack that rivals the best in Colorado. The snow had melted enough for the trail to be rideable, making the dirt tacky, fresh, and fast. A net descent, we started at tree line and followed the snaking singletrack down the mountain through thick pines, open meadows, and leafless aspen groves. It was pure bliss!

Upper South Boundry Trail

In the Aspens

We bottomed out at Quinana Pass then started a gentle climb back up to Garcia Park. We made it back to the truck just as the sun was dipping below trees. Jake and crew pondered continuing down to Taos, but decided there wasn't enough light to make it. Instead we set up some chairs and enjoyed a post ride Izzie.

An Epic Ride

Our total time from start to finish was 4:20, but we only covered 20 miles. The fact that it took so long was a good measure of how epic the trails were and how good the company was. Jake and his friends turned what was destined to be one of Captain Alex’s death rides into an epic experience of what the trails of Taos have to offer. It was definitely a highlight of the trip.