The ride follows a dirt road up Capulin Canyon along the Rio Capulin. The ride then climbs through aspen and pine forests to Palo Encebado Peak on good tread with fantastic views out to Taos Canyon and Garcia Park. The first part of the ride is on a well-maintained forest road that takes an easy uphill grade through Capulin Canyon with the Rio Capulin on the right.At the 1.8-mile mark the road forks and the ride climbs up and into beautiful forests of aspen and pine.This is where you really feel like you are high in the mountains. You are surrounded by steep forest slopes and small, clear mountain streams. At the 3.5-mile mark the road opens up into a flat area. Look left for the start of Forest Road 494 and the upper-loop portion of the ride. Here’s where the real fun begins. The trail starts out as doubletrack, then turns to narrow, tight singletrack as you climb to Palo Encebado Peak and close to the boundary of Taos Pueblo Indian Land. Trail surface: Dirt road, doubletrack and singletrack trails.
Mountain Biking Taos Area provided by Bob D'Antonio, "Mountain Biking Northern New Mexico," Falcon Publishing
USGS Taos County
Moderate with a good climb to start the ride. The upper loop has a moderate climb on loose tread.
Carson National Forest Ranger Station
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