more stats
1.5 miles
Distance
850 ft
Climb
00:29:14
Avg time
850 ft
Altitude change
7,208 ft
Altitude min
8,059 ft
Altitude max
7,208 ft
Altitude start
8,058 ft
Altitude end
10.6%
Grade
-0.6%
Grade max
65.9%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
220 ft
Distance flat
00:29:14
Avg time

Hotshots Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Rio Fernando Watershed
    Taos, New Mexico
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 60 in Trail Running
    • 70 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #33253 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #135789 in Trail Running
    • #122155 in Hiking
    • #25903 in Horseback
  • State Ranking
    #250 in Mountain Biking · New Mexico [+]
    • #1,009 in Trail Running
    • #1,143 in Hiking
    • #646 in Horseback
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    USFS

No community description for Hotshots trail has been added yet!

AI Generated Description

Hotshots is a 2 mile popular black diamond difficulty singletrack trail located near Taos New Mexico. This multi-use trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating with a 850 ft blue climb. On average it takes 29 minutes to complete this trail.

This trail is unsanctioned.

Tags
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 6 rides
  • 10 miles avg distance
All
  • 20 rides
  • Last: Oct 16, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Hotshots Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jul 15, 2026 @ 1:21pm (America/Denver)
Jul 15, 2026
Jul 13, 2026 @ 8:30am (America/Denver)
Jul 13, 2026
 Fire crew been busy on lower section with significant thinning. Looks like a fire break south of the Pueblo. Trail loose and arid in many sections.
Mar 31, 2026 @ 3:11pm (America/Denver)
Mar 31, 2026
Jul 26, 2025 @ 7:41am
Jul 26, 2025
 Best before sun rises over the mountains so you're not riding directly into it. Punchy climbs, mostly all rideable except the last pitch which is...
Jul 12, 2022 @ 11:25am
Jul 12, 2022
 Trail Open
more »
Status:
on Jul 15, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.13 (1 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to hotshots trailhead (36.398120, -105.548570)
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      5.0 ★★★★★
      1 Ratings
      5 ★ 100%
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      1 ★

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      Nearby Trails

      Rio Fernando Watershed

      • #210686 - 1,304 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Hotshots located?
      Hotshots is located in Rio Fernando Watershed, Taos, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Rio Fernando Watershed trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 36.39812, -105.54857.
      ▼ How hard is Hotshots?
      Hotshots is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 10.6%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Hotshots?
      Hotshots has 850 ft of elevation gain. The elevation ranges from 7,208 ft to 8,059 ft.
      ▼ Is Hotshots a point to point trail?
      Hotshots is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Hotshots?
      Hotshots is 1.5 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Hotshots?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Hotshots. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Hotshots?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Hotshots are:
      • July (5 activities)
      • May (3 activities)
      • August (2 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Hotshots? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Hotshots are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Hotshots?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 29 minutes to ride Hotshots. The trail is 1.5 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Hotshots?
      Hotshots is a very popular trail. There have been 171 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 190 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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