Your Virtual Guide to Adventure Outdoors!
Your Virtual Guide to Adventure Outdoors!
New Mexico
Mtn. Biking Maps & Trails
Maps & Trails
Rating the
Los Alamos Trails
Carson
National Forest Amole Canyon
Carson National Forest
Devisadero Loop Trail 108
Los Alamos Ride Summary
Carson National Forest Amole Canyon
Location: A
detailed map of the area is available at the trailhead or Camino Real Ranger District
offices.
Trail Beginning: 8,150 feet (2485m) Junction of Sate Highway 518 and
Amole Canyon Road.
Trail Ending: 8,150 feet (2485m) Junction of State Highway 518 and Amole
Canyon Road.
Access: From Taos, follow State Highway 518 approximately 15 miles south of the junction of State Highway 68 and 518, approximately 2 miles past the U.S. Hill Vista (on the left). Parking is available on the left side (east) of the highway (Forest Road 4 entrance).
From the Camino Real Ranger Station take State Highway 75 north through Vadito for 5 miles to the junction of Sate Highway 518 and proceed 1.5 miles tot he Amole Canyon Road. Parking lot on the right side of the highway.
Attractions and Considerations: Amole Canyon has been a favorite cross-country skiing area for many years. Taos Sports Associates-Nordic (758-9292) constructed a 3.1 mile (5km) trail which is groomed as people and equipment permit.
The upper and lower loops are located on old logging roads. These 2 trails are not groomed on a regular basis. The Amole Loop is closed to snowmobiles. A portion of the upper and lower loops are open to snowmobiles.
Winter: Snowshoe & Cross-country skiing. The Amole Loop is an excellent beginner trail with its gentle slopes and open ponderosa pine stands and meadows. There is only a 300 foot elevation gradient from start to finish. The trail was designed with all skill levels in mind and there are detours around the steeper slopes to accommodate the novice.
The Lower Loop and Upper Loop are old existing logging roads and historic Comales Sheep Driveway. The Driveway was used for many years by local sheepmen driving their stock from winter range near Taos to summer range in the high country.
The Lower Loop is rated as most difficult due to the 1/4 mile of 20% grade. This portion is narrow and not recommended unless one has mastered steep, narrow courses.
The Upper Loop has a more gentle nature although it is approximately 1 mile longer. It is rated as more difficult. Near the head of Amole Canyon there are approximately 200 yards of 20% grade.
Recommended direction of travel for both the Upper and Lower Loops is up Amole Canyon. There are signs at intersections and blue diamonds designate the courses. For the adventurous, there are many unmarked logging roads in the area. Please don't travel alone. There is no patrol.
Length:
Use: Moderate to
Heavy
Recommended Season: Winter: Cross country Skiing, Snowshoeing
Difficulty: Beginner to Expert (because of the grades and road surface).
Elevation: Gains 400'
USGS QUADS: Tres Ritos
Carson National Forest Devisadero Loop Trail 108
Location: Camino
Real Ranger District
Trail Beginning: 7,200 feet El Nogal Picnic Area
Trail Ending: 7,200 feet El Nogal Picnic Area
Access: From Taos, follow US Highway 64 approximately 3 miles east of
Taos.
Attractions and Considerations: This trail begins across the highway from the El Nogal Picnic Area. The Devisadero Loop Trail will pass through two very different forest types. On the south facing slope the trail travels through pinons, juniper and some gambel oak. As the trail drops over to the north side of the mountain the environment is much darker and cooler with tall Douglas firs and white firs replacing the smaller drought resistant pinon/juniper forest.
Approximately 1/4 mile from the trailhead you will encounter a fork in the trail. The right-hand fork goes directly up to he Devisadero Peak, elevation 8,304 feet. The left-hand fork has switchbacks which will take you up to the ridgeline. Once on the ridgeline you can follow the trail eastward to Devisadero Peak.
Devisadero means a "lookout" point or place. The peak had once been used by the Taos Pueblo Indians to stand guard against the Apaches who would come down Taos Canyon in raid the pueblo.
In summer, there is quite an array of beautiful wildflowers. There are several vista overlook points along this trail. Looking westward are beautiful views of the town of Taos, the Rio Grande Gorge and San Antonio Mountain. Looking northward you will see the Taos Pueblo and the Wheeler Peak Wilderness area.
Length: 5 miles
Use: Heavy. This trail is heavily used by hikers, mountain bikers and
horseback riders, so caution is needed.
Recommended Season: Late Spring, Summer and early Fall
Difficulty: Expert
Elevation: Gains 1,125 feet
USGS QUADS: Taos
The rating system:
A "Difficult" rating does not necessarily mean you'll find that trail difficult, nor does "Easy" mean you'll find them so, its all relative to your personal skill level. All Trails are rated both Technically and Physically. These ratings are, for the most part, independent, and we felt this itemization was necessary. To clarify for those that do not understand how these two qualities can be separate: riding up stairs is technically difficult but physically easy, Yet, riding 200 miles on a flat road is physically difficult yet technically easy.
Pipeline Road :Physically:
difficult / Gonzo Abusive, -- Technically: moderate -- Type: Point to Point, 3 miles
Lower Quemazon :Physically: moderate / difficult, -- Technically:
difficult -- Type: Point to Point, 3 miles
Perimeter Trail: Physically: easy -- Technically: moderate -- Type: Point
to Point 3 miles
Upper Quemazon/Canada Bonita: Physically: moderate -- Technically:
moderate -- Type: Point to Point 2 miles
The Berth-Kanal :Physically: moderate, -- Technically: difficult -- Type:
Loop 3.5 miles
Juracid Canyon :Physically: moderate, -- Technically: difficult / Gonzo
Abusive -- Type: Point to Point, 2 miles
Guaje Ridge :Physically: moderate, -- Technically: difficult -- Type:
Point to Point, DH 3.5 miles
Water "Free Lunch" Canyon :Physically: easy, -- Technically:
moderate -- Type: Point to Point, DH 2? miles
Cabra/Rendija Canyon: Physically: moderate -- Technically: difficult --
Type: Point-to-Point 4 miles
If you need someone to ride with in Los Alamos hook up with the Tuff Riders mountain bike club. They meet around 5:15 PM on Thursdays in the parking lot at the corner of Diamond and Canyon; across Diamond from the high school. For more Info. about Los Alamos visit Virtual Los Alamos.
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The Berth Kanal, Cabra, Juracid Canyon, Guaje Ridge, Pipeline Road,
Upper Quemazon, Lower Quemazon, Perimeter Trail, Water Canyon
Trailhead is across W. Jemez from the outlet of the fit trail. Enter the dirt road and bear right, past the gate and right again onto the single track through the creek. Also known as the nail trail, because of Trapper John who made his home several paces from the trail was tired of hearing that ratchety sound in his "front yard" and had the great idea of foiling all mtn. bikers once and for all. Little did he realize we carry pumps! (excepts us eh?)
The trail itself consists of a wicked initial uphill that is a joy to clean. The climb is only about 1.5 miles long but its nothing to shake a rubber spoon at. At the top of the climb you will enter a meadowy area where a jeep road splits off to the left, take this road for about 100 yards and look for an overgrown single track on the right. Once on this single track you are in the Kanal, there's no turning back. The terrain rolls for maybe another mile and then takes a steep dive into the canyon. The rest is all twisted down hill with many a creek crossing and several really gnarly sections! Best time to ride this trail is while its raining, thundering, and hailing!
map of the Berth-Kanal. (right-most dotted line is the end of the trail)
A good ride down Guaje is always best finished up by hitting Cabra. The trail comes off of the Cemetery Road. After intersecting with Guaje, the road heads downhill. Cabra leaves right at a very sharp downhill hairpin turn. Taking a hard right takes you down the right fork of the trail, which is a little easier than the left. To get to the left fork (which we still can't sort out from the Pajarito Trail), make a softer right at the hairpin turn, go over the little ridge, and up and down two dips. If you don't go through those dips, you aren't on the trail. Most of this trail is pretty technical downhill, although it smoothes out into fast singletrack in some places. The early sections of the left fork have some sandy downhills which have been WORKED by rain, motobikes, and mountain bikers. This fork also features a section of tennis ball sized loose rock interspersed with big boulders. The debate rages on and on about whether this badboy is cleanable. The right fork has a few kind of funky turns where you go from downhill to uphill, but this side of the trail is without a doubt cleanable. Both forks continue down into Rendija canyon, there to meet SPD killing mud. The catch about riding Cabra is here - now you've gotta climb out of the canyon. The most often taken route is straight out towards the Sportsmen's club, although it's possible to ride along the Rendija trail back to the Cemetery Rd. All way's out are good finesse climbing, and they're all definitely rideable, though difficult. Our recommendation: Take the road back to town and stop and get a drink at the Conoco.
Known by some as Acid canyon, the recent sightings of T-rex in this area have spawned the new name. Turn right into the small trailhead just west of the Aquatic center. A fast ride down a somewhat rutted double track leads you to dry stream. Cross it and follow the trail to the left towards the canyon. When you think you're gonna fall off a big ol' cliff, you've hit the best part of the ride. The trail, which is about 1/10th track at this point, continues down into the canyon. Cross the creek, follow the trail right, and bear left up a super steep, rutted hill. Turn the corner and continue climbing until you ride through a gate. Continue straight along the jeep road, through another gate and onto Diamond at the golf course.
This trail begins near the top of pipeline road. While climbing, about a mile from the top take a right onto a single track leading into the woods. The entire trail is downhill! The first half is pretty hairball. Its narrow, winding, rocky, and off camber. Beware: many a rider has bonked a tree here, and they are notoriously stubborn creatures. Eventually, the trail leaves the canyon wall and begins winding down a valley floor, This is a blast! The trail at some points is one big rut from drainage, riding it is like bob sledding! FAST! The trail ends at the top of Cemetery (Guaje Canyon) Road. Shake out those hands!
This is where George Lucas filmed the speederbike scenes in Starwars. It is a mellow grade single-track descent through a lush green canyon, full of tall green grass, and flora galore. Not much too say, except that its a blast, and look out for the occasional root in the trail. This trail ends on the west side of W. Jemez rd., 'bout a mile south of the water tanks. Probably the easiest way to find it is to simply ride up it, but it can also be ridden by entering at the Berth-Kanal trail head and working ones way, on a series of singletrack and jeep roads, south.
Pipeline is burl. It puts the punishment in the Pajarito Punishment. Pipeline is a jeep road which runs from town up towards the ski hill, gaining about 2000 ft as it does. To get to the trailhead, take Diamond to North Rd (the second left after the Texaco station). Pipeline leaves North about 1/4 mile away from Diamond. The road is a relentless uphill - about 6 or 7 miles of it. It is pretty loose in some sections, but a good tire will get you through all of it. The first 4 miles are uphill in all but a few sections. When the road reaches the Guaje Ridge trail, the terrain starts to roll more. At the very end is a steep loose downhill, which is completely gnarly coming the other way. The road ends at Upper Quemazon. We definitely recommend downhilling this one - you can create sonic booms.
Lower Quemazon starts in town. Follow Trinity road across Diamond. Take a left onto the residential street where trinity curves to the right (about 1/2 mile past Diamond). Then IMMEDIATELY take another left onto what looks like a grey gravel driveway. About 100 yards up on the right is the trailhead. Take a left, through the gate at the water tank. This trail is a real challenge. Only reason its shy of the Gonzo-Abusive rating is that there is no immediate danger of death. But cleaning this bad-boy uphill is a real challenge, as well as a true test of bike handling skills. The first half of the trail is a consistent struggle over boulders, and around roots. After the steep loose water bar section the trail lets up a bit, into a plain old thigh burning single track climb. Luckily its short. The trail ends at the junction with Pipeline rd, about half way to the top. Tip: stay out of the ruts, the best line on Quemazon rarely is the obvious one.
This trail runs from the end of Pipeline Road to the base of the Ski Hill. The trailhead starts at the ski hill parking lot. There are small waterbars here that you can get nice air off of. Good landings, too! After about 1/2 mile, you come to a gate. Continue straight through it. The trail climbs about a half mile, then drops into Canada Bonita, a large meadow. After a mile of fast singletrack in the meadow, it climbs back into the woods, and then descends towards Pipeline Rd. This part of the trail appears to be jeep road, but its not. There are large water bars on alternating sides of the trails. Be careful on these - during a race a rider hit a waterbar the wrong way, and did some soil sampling. Fun, except if you've just climbed Pipeline, in which case nothing is fun.
This trail is fast! The trail is so hard to find its almost not worth writing it up, but its so fun it'll just get a review, not directions (if ANYONE can give decent directions on this one mail em to us!!!). It runs from Pipeline to the Cemetery Rd along the boundary of Santa Fe National Forest. The first section of trail is pretty tight singletrack through the woods. The next section is singletrack with some ups, some downs, some loose stuff, and some burly stuff. There's only one unridable steep spot, and its 10 ft long. After the second water tank, the trail drops into a creek bed, and stays essentially downhill until you reach the Cemetery Rd. Every patch of roots is followed by a flat smooth spot, and many of the turns have berms. A few cool creek crossings, too!
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