Featured Ride: White Ridge Trail System, New Mexico

While not particularly technical, the White Ridge Trail System stands out in the Albuquerque area for vertical exposure and stunning views. It is ranked the number 2 ride in New Mexico on MTB Project. The main loop is 8.4 miles, mostly singletrack and hovers around 6,000 feet of elevation without a tremendous amount of climbing.

This trail was developed with mountain biking in mind and is sure to please. Fast sections of singletrack follow the ridge lines across gypsum formations; descents incorporate some of the most fun terrain; and beautiful rocky desert scenery is everywhere you look. While much of the trail is not too technical, it’s narrow enough to hold your attention and people with a fear of heights might have to walk in a few spots.

Make sure to stop and ride if you’re roadtripping since wayfinding is easy. There is a good trail map at the trailhead. The trail junctions are numbered and out on the trail each junction has a numbered post with a downsized version of the map. According to some of the comments, there are great post-ride tacos to be had in town, too.

Photos courtesy of mtbproject.com