Hikes in Taos, New Mexico abound! In fact, you and your family could easily explore Taos and the surrounding areas for a lifetime, and you’ll likely still not experience all this fascinating area has to offer.
So…
To help you and your family have a fun, safe, and memorable outdoor adventure in Taos, New Mexico, we’ve hiked a bunch of the trails in the area and selected four of the best family-friendly hikes in the area.
Before you hike these trails, check out our day hike packing guide for all the essentials we recommend for this hike and more!
Last but not least…
Without a doubt, there are other family-friendly hiking trails in Taos, so if you know of any that you think should be added to this list, leave us a comment below, and we’ll make sure to update this post ASAP.
Hikes in Taos #1 – Big Arsenic Trail – Descend Down A Deep Canyon
Fast Facts – Big Arsenic Trail
Length
2.4 mi (3.9 km) round-trip
Difficulty
Intermediate
Duration
2.5 hours (without breaks)
This 2.4-mile out-and-back trail, located within the BLM’s Wild Rivers Recreation Area, might have 800+ feet of elevation gain, but the views and rest areas located at the turn around point (at the bottom of the canyon), make it a full-day family outing with space to picnic in a shelter at the bottom to gear up for the climb to the rim. Our three-year-old did this trail completely on his own and he loved the dramatic views and informational signposts along the way.
Hikes in Taos #2 – Rio Grande Gorge West Rim Trail – Peer Over The Rim Of A Gorge
Fast Facts – Rio Grande Gorge West Rim Trail
Length
3.7 mi (5.9 km) out and back
Difficulty
Easy
Duration
2 hours (without breaks)
This 3.7-mile out-and-back trail, located within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, is relatively flat and easy as you skirt the rim of the Rio Grande Gorge. You could easily bring a jogging stroller to this trail for the inevitability of your toddler’s tired feet. This trail can easily be done in under 2 hrs, which makes it a nice option for people who want to do more in a day than just hike. 😄
Hikes in Taos #3 – Las Vistas De Questa / Punta De Coyote Trail – Take In Valley And Mountain Views
Fast Facts – Las Vistas De Questa / Punta De Coyote Trail
Length
3.8 mi (6.1 km)
Difficulty
Intermediate
Duration
2-3 hours (without breaks)
This 3.8-mile loop, again located within the BLM’s Wild Rivers Recreation Area, gives you a lovely view of the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the beautiful high desert scape. We saw a few tarantulas on this hike which made it even more exciting for the kids!
Hikes in Taos #4 – Rift Valley Trail – Panoramic View Of Taos And Beyond
Fast Facts – Rift Valley Trail
Length
10.1 mi (16.2 km)
Difficulty
Intermediate
Duration
5-6 hours
The Rift Valley Trail, located 6 miles south of Ranchos de Taos, can either be an out-and-back (to the rim of the gorge and back) or a loop.
The loop is more than 10 miles though, so unless you are going to bike it, we don’t recommend doing the whole loop with hiking toddlers, as they will inevitably want to be carried.
It is, however, a trail you could take a jogging stroller on. So, if that interests you, it is a gorgeous place for a nice stroll to the Rio Grande Gorge rim.
Hikes In Taos Map
If you and your family are keen to experience these hikes in Taos for yourself, all the trailheads are on the map below. Don’t forget to click the 
button to open the map menu.
Experience These Hikes In Taos For Yourself
Well, there ya have it – four of the best family-friendly hikes in Taos, New Mexico. Again, we realize this list is NOT exhaustive, so leave us a comment below to let us know other family-friendly hikes in Taos that we should add here! And in the meantime…Happy hiking!
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