Petaca Point / West Rim South Trail

Trail Description

This little extension of the more popular West Rim trail barely ever gets ridden, but is a fun way to add miles if you just can’t get enough of the easy cruising mostly two-track and epic scenery of the Rio Grande Gorge. The out and back starts at the southern end of the West Rim trail, right where NM 567 turns to dirt and begins to snake down from the rim towards the river and the Taos Junction Bridge below. After exploring Petaca Point and returning to the trailhead, it’s also possible to descend on the road, cross the bridge, go up what’s known as the “Slide Trail” and connect to the Rift Valley complex on the other side of the Gorge.