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Once the climb is finished... they could charge admission to this trail...its that much fun... groomed single track through the aspen and pine a majority of which is downhill. Watch out for the turns, someone has stolen most of the signs, I believe the trail number is 164... Trail gets vague at Garcia Park, ride the dirt road through the park, the trail takes off to the left over some high dirt mounds... If you miss the new left turn at El Negal you are in for a rough ride down to Taos. Get or arrange a shuttle from Taos to Angel Fire
From Angel Fire Ski Area take Dirt Road 76 to top of hill to trail head on the right, be prepared for a 4-5 mile climb at that point... You can go past the trail head off 76 to the top of the mountain and turn right on 153 and continue 2 miles up a rock infested jeep road both routes will get you to the same point
Summary: OMG, this is a fantastic trail that everyone needs to experience. It has everything. Steep loose uphill, flowing smooth singletrack, diverse ecosystems, awesome views, wonderful pine and aspen forest, delightful smooth long uphill on easy grade, technical steep downhill at the end, and easy to navigate. In these days of GPS if you are going to travel to ride epic trails and don't have a local guide then get a portable bike GPS unit. Except for finding your way through Garcia Park and then one sharp turn off of fast downhill fire road, you should not have a lot of problem following this trail. Go to Garmin Connect and download my track, my user name is franks664. Except for the last 3-4 miles of tech downhill, this trail can be ridden by a rider in reasonably good shape that does not possess excellent technical skills. Much of this trail is easy technically but at the same time beautiful. Come prepared because there is nothing out there.
Recommended Route: My son drove 2 of us up Forest Service Road 76 in our 2 wheel drive Expedition without a big problem. The road does get a bit bumpy and rutted at times. We started at the SBT trailhead off of FR 76 which then leaves 700 feet of loose fairly steep climbing that is a good challenge but mostly rideable. We then followed the trail all the way to the Taos Central Plaza. We checked out the Ojitas Canyon Trail at mile 18 but turned around after about 1/4 of a mile due to a high boring factor. Don't take Ojitas. SBT from the 18 until the 22 mile point is some of the most fun, technical downhill that I have ridden.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Windsor, Dale Ball, Angel fire Downhill park
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Summary: Incredible doesn't begin to describe this ride. You definitely want to be prepared. It's a long push up, across, and just when you are toast from the effort, you have a really appealing downhill section that (in a few places) depressed me as I hike-a-biked out of exhausted self-preservation. Bring lots of water (3L is enough) and plenty of snacks along with your regular repair stuff. Some loose baby-head filled climbs, some rolling single-track through aspen forests, fun roller-whoops, and amazing views worthy of bringing your camera. Long descents are common, with swoopy corners in the shade of the forest that looms high above the single-track. Best is to have your GPS steer you along, as yes, there are missing signs and a lot of paths intersecting with 164.
Recommended Route: Leave one car just E of 585 on 64. There is a parking lot there at the "end" of the trail. We did this, then took another vehicle to the start off of Osha Pass road (FR76). While climbing a bunch to earn it is respectable, we cut out a handful of miles by starting on trail 153 (marker 74? Just a few miles farther from 164's start) and intersecting with 164. Even with that, the climbing was enough to feel I'd earned all the sweet downhill and flowy singleness through the trees. Follow it across through Garcia Park, and keep to the GPS on your bars because the trail can get confusing. Was told that the signs keep getting stolen by idiots that want folks to get lost. Be aware!
Other recommended trails in the same area: first time up in these parts, but will ride more in the future. Down in SF Dale Ball network is fun, in E of Albq, all sorts of stuff in the East Mountains.
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Summary: Unbelievable experience. I was surprised to see anybody badmouth this trail. With the shuttle this is an incredible ride. One of the best I've done. It has length and quality some steep uphill, but not too much, some steep downhill, but not too much, some ledge drops at the end but none too big. This is mostly a rippin smooth singletrack track ride through beatiful high alpine forest, aspen groves and meadows and then drops down to Taos through pinon pine. Gorgeous!
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Summary: This trail rocks. I have been on alot of trails in Moab and Fruita and this is still a favorite. It is always ranked as one of the best trails in the country. Yes, it is a pain in the rear to move your cars to both ends and the small climbs are very hard. The downhill is well worth it. I love that there is almost no one else on the trail and I love seeing the high alpine forest change into the desert forest.
Recommended Route: Get a map at local bike shops. It is a hard trail to follow for the non-locals.
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Summary: Wow, so I drove six hours to ride this trail because of all the hype and it was just that hype! I rode the rode from Taos to Angle Fire luckily someone picked me and took me to the top, once on the trail I was very disappointed. Lacking trail signs first off, which is a nightmere for non-locals, than the trail is neither fast or technical, though it is epic if you like rolling hills for a long, long time! The very end is nice and rocky with some good drops! Other than that I would say most rides that have national rec are indeed over rated! Cannan Valley in WV sucked, if you want some serious fun head to Asheville, NC ride Pisgah National Forest and do not be suprised to have a smile all day with some bloody knees and elbows. I have rode all that Moab has to offer, almost all of what Taos, has to offer, 90% of CO front range, and by far Aville is the best, fastest, most technical and smile inducing!
Recommended Route: Angel Fire-Taos
Other recommended trails in the same area: Gold Hill much better ride!
Sorry you were so disappointed. It's true that signs are a problem in northern New Mexico for several reasons. Anyway, by traveling the "road" to Angel Fire you actually passed three entrances to the South Boundary via the Eliot Barker Trail. Thus, you would have had more trail riding and less road work. Also, you say someone took you to the top. I find this unlikely as it's extremely difficult to get to the "top" by forest road, requiring four wheel drive through some very tough terrain. That said, it could be you weren't on the trail at all. I assure you that this trail is very fast in sections and technical at the end. It also requires some pedaling which is why it appeals to all around riders, not just descenders. Gold Hill is a great ride but short by Taos standards at just over an hour. Next time get a little local advice and a map. Especially after investing so much drive time.
To each his own, i guess. I visited a good buddy there in Ashville and rode the trails with him. They were very OK. The roots and rocks were slippery, too numerous, and usually slanted on a hill. I suppose you could get used to it, but why? The places we rode were not unlike rain forests. The humidity was oppressive after awhile. I enjoyed the experience for its uniqueness, but Moab and the South Boundary would get the nod from most bikers, I believe as most reviews suggest.
Well then, I guess you don't know great trails as this trail is one of the best. Maybe you just had a bad day and are looking for an excuse to complain.
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