Explore the best rated trails in Espanola, NM, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the River Trail and Arroyo De Los Chamisos Trail . With more than 13 trails covering 46 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
We came to the trail from Pennsylvania and our GPS got us close to a trail head at the end of a dead end street in the southern section around mile marker 9. We had to ask a person riding on the road where the trail was. Not well marked where we started and we just parked at the dead end. This was the most scenic trail I have even been on and it was absolutely beautiful. Other reviews warned that a part of the trail (that I was on) was a trail that followed "along side" railroad tracks and was not really a level Rails to Trails. They were absolutely correct. The trail followed level and straight railroad tracks but the entire ride for me was up and down hills following the terrain. I had a mountain bike and if I was on a hybrid I would have given up. There are some loose dirt portions and a lot of ups and downs. So much so that these were the hardest 10 miles (up and back) that I ever did. Could do with a hybrid but recommend mountain bike on this part of the trail. Be prepared for a workout.
Great trail. I rode the whole thing. Started at South end. Trail in that part is more sketchy, but it soon smooths out to basically a dirt road. There are lots of short climbs, so don't expect a flat rail trail. Like others have said, it is a trail, next to a railroad. It does NOT follow the railroad grade. That was perfect for me, as it was one of the best gravel rides I have done! Nice views. Some geocaches along the way if that is your thing. Not busy, but more hikers and bikers than I expected for a Monday.
We had a great ride on this trail today. We had planned to go the entire way and back but when we got close the end, at the last road crossing, we lost the trail. It just disappeared. So we turned around and headed back. 30+ miles round trip from our Airbnb which is a 15 minute walk from the rail yard starting point. Loved the dirt portion of this trail especially!! Very much an up and down rollercoaster feel that is fun to ride.
We only rode a part of this trail, but the view beautiful. It was definitely worth our time to stop on our drive to check it out. We parked at the small lot on the east end. We were the only cyclists, but it seemed popular with walkers and runners.
This is not really a rail trail; it is a trail beside a rail. If you prefer level or steady grades like rail trails, this one will be a disappointment. The dirt trail portion is in good condition although there are several washes with deep sand. It is picturesque and the roller coaster nature of it keeps it exciting, but I can't say that it was an above average experience.
Rode here last week down to Eldorado. Had to turn around due to time constraints but really enjoyed the rolling nature of the dirt pack to the east. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a leisurely desert ride. Least favorite part was paved and concrete sections in town with the sizable cracks but not unpleasant, more so inconvenient. great ride in and out of the train depot.
Rode this trail on 22 April 2021. The trail is part of a network of trails in a newer neighborhood south of Santa Fe, near the Santa Fe Community College. There are number of feeder trails, and signage is lacking. Be alert for short steep climbs, sections with broken asphalt, a section of broken rock gravel on either side of a road crossing, and dog walkers. If you run off the trail beware of cholla cactus. The high desert with pinion pines with views of distance mountains make for an interesting trail. Parking was closed, we found parking in the neighborhood.
We ride from near the plaza downtown Santa Fe. It was a great ride. We have cruisers with 7 speeds and it was fine. We turned around about 6 miles from Lamy. The only downside was having to cross a couple of busy 4 lane rouses.
Very superb concrete for rollerskating - beautiful views for decent stretches! Approachable versatile and fun
This is a good trail for beginners or those who want a leisurely pedal in the mountain town of Los Alamos, NM. The west end of the trail starts at the giant parking lot for the Smith's Marketplace (groceries, Starbucks, deli and hotbar, and wine & cheese tasting bar) and winds along the Los Alamos Canyon rim through ponderosa and pinon pine and juniper forest, with great views of Los Alamos Canyon, the Rio Grande Valle, the Jemez Mtns to the west and the Sangre de Cristo Mtns to the east. There is a smaller parking lot with a nice clean indoor pit toilet at the east end of the trail, and if you would like to pedal a little further for some healthy refreshments, you can continue east on NM502 about 1/4 mi., then turn left (twice) and go to the end of Entrada Dr. (past Holiday Inn Express) to the Los Alamos Coop Market (organic and local groceries, soup and salad bar, deli, custom made sandwiches and fresh squeezed juices, and on Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. you can get and awesome omelet breakfast for $10!). This is one of the few bike routes in Los Alamos that requires no major hill climbing and boasts 2 separate "million dollar bridges" - one spanning a narrow deep canyon. This trail is a wide, asphalt multi-user trail so there are walkers, joggers, baby strollers and dogs, as well as the gamut of non-motorized cyclists. Great way to be introduced to outdoors Los Alamos!
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