Santa Fe & Taos Biking
New Mexico's Land of Enchantment
Vast cloudless skies. Piñon-scented air. Roads made for biking. Stark high desert beauty. You won't want to get out of the saddle until you see your accommodations. Rancho de San Juan, for example, incredible luxury, amazing views and the promise of another memorable ride in the morning. Will it be as stellar as the Enchanted Circle towering above Taos? Or the high road to Chimayó? Absolutely - it's the route to Ghost Ranch, where Georgia O'Keeffe once lived and painted. Santa Fe and Taos offer a ride, a destination and a vastness you won't easily forget.
- Bike iconic routes like the Enchanted Circle
- Rancho de San Juan, combining European elegance with Southwestern style
- Artsy Santa Fe and authentic Taos
- Ride along the edge of the stunning Colorado Plateau to amazing Ghost Ranch
- A cultural weave of Spanish, Mexican, Anglo and indigenous traditions
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Days 1-2 A cultural weave of Spanish, Mexican, Anglo and indigenous traditions 
Check out the Millicent Rogers Museum's fine collection of Southwest art Spin along a ridgeline overlooking Taos or enjoy a leisurely stroll around the Taos Plaza Bike the iconic Enchanted Circle, a scenic byway that curves around the base of 13,161-foot Wheeler Peak.
Day 3 Rancho de San Juan, combining European elegance with Southwest style Pedal through the mesas and copper-colored hills of the High Road desert to the tiny village of Chimayó, established in 1680 Stop by the revered El Santuario church, where the soil is believed to have miraculous healing powers.
Day 4 Pedal from amazing Ghost Ranch along the edge of the stunning Colorado Plateau Georgia O'Keeffe's famous homestead is ideal for exploration on foot Bike past Abiquiu Lake in the Charma River Valley A delectable candlelit dinner at the nationally acclaimed Three Forks awaits.
Days 5-6 Artsy Santa Fe Cycle a rolling loop in the Los Alamos foothills At Tsankawi Prehistoric Ruins in Bandelier National Monument, view fascinating Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings and petroglyphs hidden atop a mesa A leisurely Santa Fe spin swings you past cafes, galleries and boutiques - feel free to stop in!
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
I have only been on two Backroads trips so far, but you distinguish yourself with the quality of your trip leaders. They far exceed your competition. The other benefit for us is that my husband is a stronger cyclist so the van support allows us to go on more challenging trips and both enjoy our vacation.- Encinitas, CA More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 32 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. To see all our biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning multisport tours click here.
Santa Fe & Taos Biking
Premiere Inns*
Casa Benavides
Taos (2 nights) With a name meaning "house of the good life," this 1930s former artist's residence is located less than a block from the Taos Plaza.
* Casual Inn
Rancho de San Juan
Española (2 nights) Selected for Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List, this luxurious hacienda is described by Andrew Harper as an "enchantingly sited 225-acre desert retreat in the foothills of the Black Mesa."
The Inn of the Five Graces
Santa Fe (1 night) With a Thousand and One Nights aesthetic, this sumptuous Travel + Leisure favorite is steps from the plaza on one of the city's oldest streets. A Relais & Châteaux member.
Santa Fe & Taos Biking
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 14 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 4 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- 45, 62, 85 miles
- 2000 - 5000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 3 to 5 2 Route Options Available
- 33, 51 miles
- 2420 - 3860 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 4 4 Route Options Available
- Biking 14, 33 miles
- 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
- Hiking 3, 5 miles
- 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- Biking 31 miles
- 1810 feet elevation gain
- Hiking 1.6 miles
- 200 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Levels 1 1 Route Options Available
- 14 miles
- 500 - 3400 feet elevation gain