Forest Road 114 (Picuris Peak Trail)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Allowed

From NM 68 in Taos, follow NM 518 approximately 14 miles south, the trailhead is on the right (west) side of the highway at U.S. Hill Vista, across from Forest Road 442 and the Woodpile route.

From the Camino Real Ranger Station in Vadito, take NM 75 east for 5 miles to the junction of NM 75 and 518, turn left onto NM 518 and proceed almost 3 miles to U.S. Hill.

Parking is available on the east side of the highway. From the trailhead it's about 3.5 miles to the Cristoval de la Serna Land Grant boundary. You'll cross the "Camino Real" – the Royal Road, one of the original trails to Taos used by indigenous people then Spanish and French settlers.

The route ascends through ponderosa pine, aspen, and into spruce-fir forests with some rolling meadows and a few side trails, and ends at a junction with Forest Road 469 which continues onto private land on the Cristoval de la Serna Land Grant—please respect this and do not trespass as Picuris Lookout is not open to the public.

Along the way are exceptional views of Penasco, Truchas Peaks, Espanola, Jemez and the Sangre de Cristo Range. Motorized traffic may be encountered during the Summer.