The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Taos County, Taos County

December 17, 2021 Almeta Stockton

Looking for skiing, hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, turquoise and silver crafts, world-renowned art museums, literary history, and a thousand-year old Native American adobe pueblo? Not just anywhere. But near Georgia O’Keeffe landscapes, the Enchanted Circle, and the rivers, gorges, rolling mesas, and Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico? Choose a Taos area vacation.
Restaurants in Taos County

1. U.S. Hill in Carson National Forest

NM
Excellent
100%
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

U.S. Hill in Carson National Forest

An area about 10 miles from Taos that is fun for family sledding.

2. Al's Run

Taos Ski Valley, NM
Excellent
89%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
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5.0 based on 9 reviews

Challenging downhill ski trail in Taos.

Reviewed By Drodman4184 - Sunnyvale, United States

Wow once in any skier's life should include a run down Al's Run and I DO MEAN down hill! Wish I could go the world championship in April!

3. Horseshoe Lake

Red River, NM http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/carson/recreation/ohv/recarea/
Excellent
100%
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5.0 based on 5 reviews

Horseshoe Lake

Rated as a difficult trail, hike is eight miles one way.

4. El Nogal Loop

U.s 64, NM
Excellent
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

El Nogal Loop

This 9.5-mile mountain biking trail climbs for almost seven miles and offers great views of the Rio Grande Gorge and Sangre del Cristo Mountains.

5. Hunziger Bowl

Taos Ski Valley, NM
Excellent
83%
Good
17%
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5.0 based on 12 reviews

Hunziger Bowl

Ski trail in Taos.

Reviewed By jamesmH6152WP - Wichita, United States

This is a run we kept coming back to throughout last ski season, at least until they opened the Kachina Peak Lift, from which you can access the upper part of Hunziger. Hunziger bowl can be accessed by riding up lift 4, going to the left, and then climbing a slight pitch to your right, just above the Kachina Lift. Hunziger Bowl is a fairly steep bowl, wide at the top, narrowing towards the bottom. At the end, you can head off to the right, hugging the slope towards some tree runs (and continue further right to El Funko, which is also excellent), or simply go straight down, veering to the left, and back down to the base of lift 4. Hunziger is a great place to go when things are crowded elsewhere, and is well worth the slight climb to get there.

6. Latir Peak Wilderness Area

Questa, NM
Excellent
100%
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Latir Peak Wilderness Area

This 20,000-acre remote area in New Mexico's high country features three peaks exceeding 12,500 feet in elevation.

7. Columbine Trail

Red River, NM
Excellent
82%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 45 reviews

Columbine Trail

Approximately five miles one-way, this is a scenic and moderate-rated trail that leads hikers along a river and through meadows.

Reviewed By Missing-mountains - Joplin, United States

We got to explore this beautiful trail with old and young hikers (age range 8-50 years). It was a great trail will some slope and loose rock, but not a problem for our family. The water crossings were all either log bridges (so exciting for the kids) or well spaced, dry, solid stepping stones. In 1.5 hours we had seen numerous waterfalls, 2 meadows full of wild flowers and were tired enough to turn around. You can easily hike as far as you want or keep on pushing to the further trails. We took the easy going short hike. Enjoy.

8. Lost Lake

Red River, NM
Excellent
92%
Good
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Satisfactory
8%
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5.0 based on 13 reviews

Lost Lake

Challenging, five miles, one way hiking trail.

Reviewed By lowell01 - Bentonville, United States

A beautiful well travelled trail. The trail has a slow manageable elevation gain of almost 2000'. Much of the hike is in the woods and then it opens up with huge views. The lake itself is a lovely alpine lake. Just a great place to take a break and enjoy the beauty. You can hike on to Horseshoe lake to reach higher elevation but for me Lost Lake is prettier and the addtition nearly adds to the difficulty of the hike.

9. Wheeler Peak

Red River, NM
Excellent
79%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
2%
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5.0 based on 61 reviews

Wheeler Peak

An extremely challenging, eight to ten mile hike (one way).

Reviewed By 2gonesomewhere - Marathon, United States

New Mexico's highest peak at 13167 (13161?13159? anyway it's the tallest). Shortest trail is up the Williams Lake side - about 1/4 mile before the lake hang a left. Well marked. I measured about 9.5 miles round trip from trail head at Williams Lake parking area, including a short detour to Mt. Walter which shares saddle to Wheeler and as second highest (13141) should easily be honored with a visit. Great views of Williams Lake area, and Red River area on the other side. Another trail leaves from the Taos Ski Valley parking lot and is much longer via Bull-of-the Woods Trail. This is a nice hike too - we went part way to visit Fraser (Frazer) Mountain at 12163'. Nice hike too, bighorns around. If you go to Wheeler this way it is more like 13-14 miles round trip.

10. Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area

NM
Excellent
90%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
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5.0 based on 70 reviews

Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area

Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range, this wilderness area includes Wheeler Peak, which is the highest point in New Mexico at 13,161 feet in height.

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