2.6 miles
Distance
6 ft
Climb
-1,697 ft
Descent
00:28:35
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of South Boundary - El Nogal Section Trail

  • USFS
    Land Manager

Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Rio Fernando Watershed
    Taos, New Mexico
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (1 vote)
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular direction shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Alpine Trail
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Global Ranking
    #11678 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #68526 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in Trail Running
    • 80 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Land Owner
    USFS

First: THIS IS A MULTI-USE TRAIL. Watch for hikers and horses, yield the trail, and please be polite when passing.

This is also the exclamation point at the end of the South Boundary Trail.

It's loose at times, rocky, and pretty steep punctuated with a few stair steps and washouts that provide plenty of technical puzzle solving. There are several sections of gnarly rocks covered in loose pebbles, and some sections drop off to the side, not some place you want to eat it.

That being said, anything over your head is easily walked around.

You'll hit a T-junction after almost a mile and a half of descent. Head straight/right to gain a really nice overlook of the valley. Head back and take the left to keep going downhill.

As you ride across the side of the hill, the trail can drop off to the right.
Keep an eye out for high lines on the left. They tend to be way easier.
Several nasty rocks will catch you by surprise, so be ready.

Almost a mile after the overlook, the trail is getting close to the road again.
This is where it meets with the trail listed as Water Tank. The rest of the El Nogal Section makes a hard right switchback and contours back down to the Rio Fernando via a technical, rocky section with a few tight turns. This section is extremely popular with hikers and dog-walkers, so check your speed, and be courteous.

Disclaimer

El Nogal is popular with hikers and other users, please check your speed and ride courteously!

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for South Boundary Trail - El Nogal Section multi-use trail trail
  • Altitude change
    -1,691 ft
  • Altitude min
    7,473 ft
  • Altitude max
    9,164 ft
  • Altitude start
    9,164 ft
  • Altitude end
    7,474 ft
  • Grade
    -12.4%
  • Grade max
    -66.6%
  • Grade min
    3.5%
  • Distance climb
    338 ft
  • Distance down
    2 miles
  • Distance flat
    236 ft
  • Avg time
    00:28:35
  • Avg reverse time
    00:41:42
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Apr 23, 2025
Avg: 4.35 (8 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to south-boundary-trail-el-nogal-section trailhead (36.362280, -105.518480)
      update trails status or condition

      South Boundary... Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Apr 23, 2025 @ 2:50pm
      Apr 23, 2025
      Jul 2, 2024 @ 3:24pm
      Jul 2, 2024
      Jun 10, 2023 @ 12:10pm
      Jun 10, 2023
      Sep 19, 2022 @ 9:37am
      Sep 19, 2022
      Sep 15, 2022 @ 7:38am
      Sep 15, 2022
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 0 rides
      •  
      6 Months
      • 4 rides
      • 17 miles avg distance
      All
      • 135 rides
      • Last: Apr 26, 2025

      Photos

      more »
      53 |
      Aug 5, 2023 @ 1:25pm
      Aug 5, 2023
      107 |
      Aug 15, 2021 @ 7:35pm
      Aug 15, 2021
      125 |
      Aug 15, 2021 @ 7:34pm
      Aug 15, 2021
      249 |
      Sep 15, 2020 @ 3:56pm
      Sep 15, 2020

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      South Boundary Trail Shuttle from FR76 to El Nogal featured21 miles
      South Boundary Trail Self-Served to Garcia Park33 miles
      South Boundary Upper Shuttle20 miles
      South Boundary Max50 miles

      5 Reviews & Comments


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      Videos

      more »
      The South Boundary Trail earns its IMBA Epic...
      11:31 | 38 | Oct 4, 2024 , Taos
      Rock-ey & Root-ey - South Boundary Section...
      17:27 | 766 | Jul 17, 2019 , Taos
      Macky Franklin | South Boundary Trail
      0:52 | 9045 | Nov 6, 2015 , Taos
      South Boundary Trail
      0:07 | 289 | Dec 31, 2012 , Taos

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