more stats
4,255 ft
Distance
2 ft
Climb
-561 ft
Descent
00:07:37
Avg time
-560 ft
Altitude change
9,669 ft
Altitude min
10,229 ft
Altitude max
10,229 ft
Altitude start
9,669 ft
Altitude end
-13.154%
Grade
-23.042%
Grade max
2.562%
Grade min
62 ft
Distance climb
4,161 ft
Distance down
31 ft
Distance flat
00:07:37
Avg time

Upper Big Tesuque Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Santa Fe Mountains
    Santa Fe, New Mexico
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    60 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 45 in Trail Running
    • 95 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #103486 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #118745 in Trail Running
    • #42542 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Season
    May-November
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes

Beginning at the Big Tesuque parking lot, Big Tesuque trail is a bi-directional multi-use trail that connects the Lower Big Tesuque Trail and the Winsor Trail to the Aspen Vista Trail. It is a strenuous climb (including a short wood stair section that would be incredibly difficult to ride) but generally doable if you are in good aerobic shape. Descending, the trail is very fast and fun, but keeping speed in check would generally be wise, as the trail is very popular with hikers, particularly when the aspens are changing in the fall. Again, the most difficult section is the short section of wood stairs, which gives this trail a black diamond rating, otherwise the trail would be a doable intermediate trail heading downhill.

Access Info

Multiple Trailheads

Trail Supporters

  • USFS
    Land Manager
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 6 rides
  • 13 miles avg distance
All
  • 67 rides
  • Last: Aug 23, 2026
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Upper Big Tesuque Trail Reports

Status:
on Jul 5, 2025
Ideal
Avg: 4.29 (4 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to upper-big-tesuque trailhead (35.778834, -105.801534)

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      4.8
      4 Ratings
      5 75%
      4 25%
      3
      2
      1

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      • By aldousfilcherTF Pro & contributors
      • #75203 - 1,706 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Where is Upper Big Tesuque located?
      Upper Big Tesuque is located in Santa Fe Mountains, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe Mountains trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.77883, -105.80153.
      How hard is Upper Big Tesuque?
      Upper Big Tesuque is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 13.154%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
      What is the elevation gain for Upper Big Tesuque?
      Upper Big Tesuque has 2 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 561 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 9,669 ft to 10,229 ft.
      Is Upper Big Tesuque a point to point trail?
      Upper Big Tesuque is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
      How long is Upper Big Tesuque?
      Upper Big Tesuque is 4,255 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      Are dogs allowed on Upper Big Tesuque?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Upper Big Tesuque. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      When is the best time of year to ride Upper Big Tesuque?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Upper Big Tesuque are:
      • September (9 activities)
      • June (6 activities)
      • July (4 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      How do I access Upper Big Tesuque? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Upper Big Tesuque are: View all parking locations in the area.
      How long does it take to ride Upper Big Tesuque?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 8 minutes to ride Upper Big Tesuque. The trail is 4,255 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      How busy is Upper Big Tesuque?
      Upper Big Tesuque is a moderately popular trail. There have been 535 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 512 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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