JEM Trail - Excellent Camping and Mountain Bike Trails

Outside of Hurricane Utah lies some of the most extreme mountain biking trails in the United States.  Fortunately for us Kookz there are also some incredible moderate mesa flow trails out here in the Utah desert right outside of our front door.  

Camping and Trails 

There are two ways to access these trails and the camping one is the easy way from HWY 9 and head south on Sheep Bridge Road to get to the BLM Campsites Head East off HWY 59 to Sheep Bridge Road.  You’ll want to head down the road and camp North of here at the BLM Dispersed Camping Area.  This is a great place to camp because you can access the JEM trail from the bottom so you can ride it up and come down on the trail.  

From your campsite there are many option to get up to the top of JEM trail our favorite was to head up JEM Trail to Dead Ringer and the back down JEM Trail.  Don’t forget to go all the way to the end of JEM Trail past where you camped for an epic ride along the Virgin River Rim.  

From here your only 30 minutes from Zion.  For some fun adventure ideas in Zion check out these hikes.  

Like any other dispersed camping area this is has a 14 night limit and has no services and a drop toilet at Sheep Bridge Trail Head.  

Planning Your Grand Teton National Park Trip - Five Activities to do in the park.

Are you planning a trip to Jackson to visit Grand Teton National Park and wonder what to plan to do inside the park?  Well, luckily for you, this National Park is packed full of activities that wear out any outdoor enthusiast.  

Hike the Tetons

Hiking and climbing in the Tetons is not for the faint of heart.  Most trails in this park have big vertical climbs that vary from never-ending switchbacks to rocky scrambles, but every step is worth its weight when you reach your destinations amongst craggy peaks teeming with wildlife.  There are tons of trails in this park, and they range from easy to difficult.  We have compiled a list of the 5 Best Hikes in Teton National Park here.  You can also plan a multi-day or overnight backpacking journey here.  Just remember to be prepared when heading out into the backcountry or on any trail at this park. We encountered plenty of bears and hazards; so, be prepared and make sure to stay sun-safe, as many of the hikes are exposed.  

Paddle the Tetons

There are plenty of options to take your watercraft out onto the lakes in this park.  We highly recommend getting up for a sunrise paddle on String Lake.  You may find you’re the only person on the lake as you glide across glassy reflections of the Tetons glaciated peaks.  This is a magical experience, and we couldn't recommend it more.  If you get up that early, you can find the best place to park for the day.  There are nice picnic tables and plenty of beaches on the lake to relax and spend the day reading and taking in the splendor of mother nature.  

Bike the Tetons

There’s a pretty nice bike trail through the park that even extends all the way to Jackson, WY.  While there is no mountain biking trails, this is one of the most scenic bike trails we’ve ever been on.  All ages can handle this paved bike path, and it’s very convenient to bring your bicycle if you are camping within the park.  The bike trail goes right through the campsites and you could bike to most Trail Heads if you don't want to lose your spot.  

See Wildlife in the Tetons

This park is teeming with wildlife!  There’s almost some sort of critter at every bend in the trail.  We saw plenty of moose, bear, dear, birds, and marmots, to name a few.  The hotspots to see wildlife is on the Cascade Canyon trail, and Lupine Meadows.  We also saw a bear at the Jenny Lake ferry.  Make sure to follow proper wildlife guidelines provided by the park and carry bear spray, once again.  

Photograph the Tetons

It’s no coincidence that one of Ansel Adams most famous photographs is of the Teton Range form the Snake River Overlook.  These mountains are so beautiful that they take the picture for you.  You could be blindfolded and still take good photos here.  Some of our favorite photo spots are.  String Lake, Snake River Overlook, Taggert Lake, Delta Lake, and Form Shadow Mountain Across the valley.  Don't forget to charge and bring extra camera batteries; you'll thank us later.  

We hope this was helpful if you are looking for more Teton tips and tricks we have more articles with our favorite hikes and campsites!  

Bozeman Mountain Biking

Bozeman Mountain Biking 

Bozeman Montana is an adventure-driven town and a recommended stopover if you want to get on the trails.  We camped in Bozeman for over a week and never had any problems we found it to be a very van friendly town.  There are tons of bike trails in this area, and we narrowed it down to the best rides within 60 miles of Bozeman.  

Big Sky’s Mountain to Meadow 

There’s no need to buy a lift ticket to ride Big Sky Resort, thanks to the town shuttle that drives you back to the top after a screamer of a run down some premier downhill.  You’ll start by climbing next to the Ramcharger lift.  You’ll climb up for about 1.5 miles before you start a long flowy descent with berms and jumps all the way down to the town of Big Sky.  From here, you'll want to head to Fire Pit Park, where you can catch the free mountain shuttle back up to the Ski Area Base where you started.  You can lap this a few times since the uphill is fairly easy.  Make sure to grab a shuttle schedule or check it out here!   

Leverich Canyon

Just a few miles outside of Bozeman is one of the more popular trails in the area.  Leverich Canyon is a short drive from Bozeman.  The road up had been claimed to have been repaired lately but is pretty rutted out and is a sign of things to come.  If you are in a large camper van, you can make it, but it will be a bumpy ride up.  The climb up Leverich Canyon is pretty intense, but it’s worth every chain length.  Once you top out on this ride, get your seat belt fashioned because this is a fast and fun downhill section.  It will be over so fast you’ll want to ride it twice.  

Bridger Range

Just North of Bozeman is the Bridger Range.  There are quite a bit of out and back trails here where you can really gain some vertical and get a nice sweat going.  We rode a few fun trails out here and were even able to camp overnight at some trailheads.  These trails see much less use than the previously mentioned trails, and some of them have been recently built in the last few years, so they are in great condition.  

Big Sky Country - Free Camping, Mountain Biking and Fun Easy Hikes!

Montana has some amazing open spaces and offers plenty of opportunity for Overlanding and getting lost on a forest road.  Or,  You could park up at Big Sky Ski Area for a few days and enjoy some flush toilets and mountain activities.  We were told by an employee at Big Sky Ski Area that we could camp up to four days in the parking lot. So we did a nice parking lot shuffle for a few days and found some nice things to do to keep us entertained.  

Beehive Basin

Beehive Basin is a 7.1 Mile Moderately Trafficked Out and Back through some pretty cool terrain and has a really cool alpine lake at the end of the trail.  It has some pretty sweet views up here as well.  It’s one of the more busy trails in the area so hit the trail early to ensure a parking spot.   

Mountain to Meadow Mountain Biking

From your campsite in the parking lot, you will be able to ride your bike over to the lifts.  However, there’s no need to buy a lift ticket to ride Big Sky Resort, thanks to the town shuttle that drives you back to the top after a screamer of a run down some premier downhill.  You’ll start by climbing next to the Ramcharger lift.  You’ll climb up for about 1.5 miles before you start a long flowy descent with berms and jumps all the way down to the town of Big Sky.  From here, you'll want to head to Fire Pit Park, where you can catch the free mountain shuttle back up to the Ski Area Base where you started.  You can lap this a few times since the uphill is fairly easy.  Make sure to grab a shuttle schedule or check it out here!  

Lake Levinsky 

On your down days you can bring your van a stone’s throw away from your previous parking lot down to Lake Levinsky for a relaxing day by the lake.  If you have a SUP this is a good place to take it out there is also portable toilets at the lake.  

Three Activities to do in and Around Bend, Oregon

Bend has endless activities, but if you are struggling to narrow some down. Here are three activities to do in and around Bend area that won’t break the bank while keeping the stoke level high.

Phil’s Trail Head

If you mountain bike, this is area is a haven for endless flow and fun system of smooth trails right outside you van, car or RV. 

If you are just visiting for a day ride, you can park at the main parking lot, where most of the trails start and finish. 

There is a sweet little pump track to the right of the trailhead sign. Be sure to check it out, it was pretty fun. 

If you are trying to have an epic mountain bike camp out, then you will want to park off 4610 in free dispersed camping. You will be near the upper parts of most of the trail complex. We were able to connect on to Ben’s to the top, then we connected that with upper whoops, Phil’s, then Kent’s back to our campsite off 4610. 

Upper whoops was our favorite. There were jumps, berms and down hill flow. It was so much fun. We had to go back and do it again! It really is a central Oregon gem.  

Standing Wave at McKay River Park

McKay River Park is pretty awesome. It is a man-built white water rafting course. There is a beginner side with mellow white water “drops.” And then, down the center, is where all the experienced white water rafters send it.
Further down the second section, in the middle, is the standing wave. You really can’t miss it. There are river rats surfing there from sunrise till sunset. 

Bend Rock Climbing Gym

This place was awesome on the one rainy day we had in Bend. 

There are showers, a nearby food truck, and if you get there before noon or on a Thursday, you can climb for $16, which is $2 cheaper. There are about 9 Auto Belay’s in just one of the rooms. With difficulties ranging from 5.7 to 5.12-, there was something for everyone to climb on in the same room, including heaps of bouldering from V0-V9. There was also a weight lifting area in there as well. 

In the front room, there was about 7 tall-wall auto-belay’s and the rest of the room was lead belay climbing and the rest was bouldering. 

If you buy a day pass, it also gives you access to the Yoga classes. So be sure to check that out.

5 Awesome Outdoor Activities to do in and Around Boulder, Colorado

This summer we were fortunate enough to spend some quality time in Boulder, Colorado, soaking up the sun and enjoying the Rocky Mountains.  The front range of the Rockies are plentiful with outdoor activities.  Here are some of our favorite things to do while in and around Boulder, Colorado.  

Day Hike

South Arapaho Peak - Less than an hour drive from Boulder is the 4th of July Campground, in the Indian Peaks National Forest.  From here, the Arapaho Pass trail will take you to a number of different destinations.  We have hiked quite a few of these trails and feel that it is safe to say that the South Arapaho Peak is the most bang for the buck.  The trail is 8.6 miles out and back and has 3,213 feet elevation gain to the summit at 13,356 feet.  The summit rewards you with views of the the Arapaho Glacier and the Rocky Mountains.  On a day with high visibility, you can even see Pikes Peak.  You’ll see plenty of Marmots and they might even try to take your lunch, so be on the lookout.  This hike offers amazing views, wildlife, wild flowers and lakes.  

Overnight Backpacking

Crater Lake - Just on the other side of the 4th of July Campground is Monarch Lake unfortunately it’s a 2 hour and 30 minute drive from Boulder, but it’s worth it.  The trailhead for Crater Lake (Monarch Lake, and Cascade Trail) is located near the Monarch Lake parking lot. The hike isn’t a short hike either at just about 15 miles round trip and a little over 2,000 feet vertical. It’s a big hike for an overnighter, but 100% worth the effort.  The hike is packed with wildflowers, wildlife, and waterfalls.  You’ll want to set out for Mirror Lake the smaller lake before Crater Lake. Mirror Lake will be your best bet for views and photos of Lone Eagle Peak.  This was our first experience backpacking with a hammock and we loved it. This was one of the most scenic places I’ve ever been to in Colorado it was an amazing night of stargazing and hanging with new friends.  

Summer Fun

Take a plunge down the Boulder Creek. You’ll need to head to McGuckin’s Hardware to grab a $11 River Rat tube or come prepared and order online. Once you have the tube, head over to Eben G. Fine and get ready to send it down the Creek.  This is one of my favorite activities to do on those sweltering Boulder days.  You’ll want to start about a half mile up the bike path from Even G. before the path curves to HWY 119, you’ll see a bunch of people hanging out around the launch spot.  From here, it’s a series of small rapid drops to pools and nothing is too extreme. I would say ages 10 and up can hang on this mellow course when the water is lower. The course is some some good ol’ fashion fun!  Remember to keep your butt up or you will slam a rock or two. 

Mountain Biking

We always talk about how great the Valmont Bike Park is in Boulder.  We came here at least twice a week it’s a great place to work on skills and progress for the trails, without the drive or having to ride 10+ miles with tons of uphill.  You can find tons of lines in this park. There is a 2 mile Hot Lap, to get the blood flowing, as well as, a slope stye course for all levels.  

Outside of Boulder, there are plenty of bike trials all around table mesa and in the front range.  A trail we really enjoyed and found at the end of our stay was the Betasso Preserve, a 7.4 mile loop that’s rated intermediate, but has some challenging technical sections that we struggled on. But over all, this was our favorite trail near Boulder.

Paddling

We just recently bought the Intex Challenger K1 for $50 on Amazon Prime Day and we love them.  While in Boulder, we went down the creek plenty of times on the K1’s as well as paddled at lakes and down rivers.  One of our favorite spots was the Gross Reservoir just an hour from Boulder.  This is a no wake lake and has calm glassy water and is great for paddling.  Another option that you can convert into a camping trip is heading to Lake Grandby on the other end of the Indian Peaks. 

Free Camping in Sedona, Arizona

Free Camping in Sedona 

We park and camp at the same spot every time we come to Sedona. There are no free camping areas inside Sedona, but there are some scattered just outside, with a stay allowance of 14 days. There is free camping on Schnebily Hill, but I’ve heard that it is difficult to get to, but worth the views. The Free Dispersed Camping just off Arizona SR 89A and Forest 525 road is the only one I can speak for. Apparently this is an alternate launch site for a Sedona balloon tour company, so breakfast views sometimes come with some nearby balloon landings.  

Be prepared to share this site. The first couple pull offs are usually occupied by quite a bit of trailers and motor homes every time we come. You can drive further down the road for quieter more solo sites, we’ve done that for tent camping. And when we were sick of camping with the cavemen and their loud ass generators, we went as far as we could down Forest Road 525. The views get better the further down 525 you go. Some spots are right up in the red hills below Bear Mountain and they are totally secluded and actually feels like camping or quiet off the grid living. 

Mountain Biking in Sedona

In the morning after you’ve cooked up a breakfast, head in towards Sedona for some mountain biking or hiking. There are heaps of trails just off Dry Creek Rd. 

We hoped on the 7.6 mile Chuck Wagon loop. It is a hike/bike trail. For us, it was walk-a-bike in a few sections, but it was an overall really fun ride. There was enough flow-y, fun, and technical sections to make you forget any bumpy technical climb you may have just endured. It is definitely one of my favorite trails. The views are all time. 

We took in the views from our pull off parking spot and snacked in the van. Since we had not been around wi-fi, we headed into the restaurant area to find a Starbucks or some place with free wifi. We hung outside of a pizza place to send some emails and make contact with the outside world. 

Once we were up to speed and wi-fi’d out, we headed back towards Forest 525 Road to cook some food and catch some z’s. 

Aeire Trail/Cockscomb trail - After being pumped about the Chuck Wagon trail, we wanted to try some others, although we were really tempted to do it again. 

We decided to try the Aeire Trail linked with the Cockscomb trail to creat the Aeire Loop, it does a 5.4 mile loop around around Doe Mountain. It was pretty chunky, but makes a nice short loop if you are short on time or if you are a eager beginner that wants a trail with some rewarding reviews. We saw people doing this trail with bike lamps at night. They were flying thru there.  Made me want to get some bright ass lights and try some night biking!

After the loop around Doe Mountain, we made some food in the van and looked for a hiking trail to cap off the afternoon. We checked out our REI Hiking app and saw two nearby that looked interesting: Bear Mountain and Boyton Canyon. They were both about 2.4-2.6 miles, one-way. Since the Boyton Canyon hike seemed to just hike gradually up thru the canyon, instead of straight up a mountain, we decided to do that one, since we weren’t really mentally prepared or ready to hike down a crumbly mountain in the dark. We would leave that hike for the next day.

Boyton Canyon Hike - Boyton Canyon was beautiful. At the beginning of the trail, it looked like you were hiking into a secret city. There were mind blowing houses and vacation properties, with stucco to match the hill sides they were so efficiently nestled into. There were views of the canyons for about the first 1.5 miles, then the tree canopy kind of takes away the views of the hill sides pretty much until you reach the End of Trail sign. The hike was more like a stroll, and where the “end of trail” sign is, it kind of invites you to find your own view. If you follow a little goat path to the right of that sign, it leads you up to a ledge where you can over look the canyon valley you just hiked thru. You return the same way you came in. 

Twin Buttes Loop - At this point our stoke level is high with Sedona, we want to do everything. So we figure we need to get on our bikes to see things faster. Even if we have to walk-a-bike in sections, if we can ride partial parts of the trail, we are into it. So we hoped on the Twin Buttes loop. This was a hike/bike trail. It was pretty epic, like every part of it was up until Chicken Point. Then, it was just alright. Parts of the trail go thru neighborhoods on the pavement. It is just kind of bizarre that it is part of the same loop as the first couple epic miles of Broken Arrow. 

The only lame part about this loop was all the pink jeeps EVERYWHERE, at every single vista. I found them to be very annoying. I didn’t mind the Duck tours in Seattle or other big cities, because it was chaos everywhere in cities and when one of those things comes squawking by with their obnoxious blab pointing out stuff, it just blended in with all the city noise, but bloody hell, they are just obnoxious out in nature. 

They would come one right after the other. As soon as you thought, “oh this is the time I can go and sneak a picture before anyone else is around,” or just take a breath and enjoy the silence I was trying to escape to, here comes another over-enthusiastic dude romping over some hillside to turn his jeep around, precisely where you are standing. Even when the Pink Jeep tours weren’t around giving tours, they were giving instruction to new members of the team. Letting them practice on the obstacles before they bring paying customers aboard. I wonder if this bothers the hell out of the locals. I really can’t imagine this place during busy season, if that is the way it is in February. 

All my personal annoyances aside, the views are worth the hike, bike, or hike-a-bike. When we were done with the loop, we cooked some food, strapped on our hiking boots, grabbed some head torches and hiked the Broken Arrow section again. That is how awesome the views were. This time, we had it all to ourselves, as we saw the last Pink Jeep Roll out past the mostly empty parking lot. It was so quiet, I felt I could hear the static of silence. 

Bear Mountain -On this day, we got a late start. We couldn’t decide if we wanted to take the day off or go enjoy Sedona before the weekend hit and the Phoenix weekend warriors come up. We decided we better get out there. So we cooked a nice brunch, packed up camp, and parked up at the Bear Mountain trail head. We got on the trail about 2:45pm, just enough time to chill, see the sunset and probably hike the last part out in the dark. 

Most people don’t like hiking in the dark, but we find it to be a great trade-off to have the spot to yourself. We leave enough time for the easiest part of the walk to be mostly in the dark. The hike estimated time is 4.5 hours. It took us 1:35 to get to the top and about the same to get down. If we didn’t stop to take pictures every 5 steps, we may have been able to do it faster. 

The hike starts out pretty easy as it slowly starts to get crumblier. Then, you start to climb to get up top of that plateau, and then climb, dip down and then climb some more. It flattens out enough after each hard climb to catch your breath before the next climb. Sometimes you have to use your hands to pull yourself over some sections. It is exactly 2.4 miles from entry to end of trail sign. 

At the top, we hung out and tried to place where we were from our usual campsite. We spotted many RVs and campers so close to the rocks, we were curious as to what road they were parked, because those spots looked epic, secluded, and so far from those noisy ass generators we had been camping next to. From up on Bear Mountain, we realized you could take that same road all the way to the end and we would hit Forest Road 525, the road you can camp on for up to 14 days, free. So we started our hike down, with plans on finding our own secluded campsite. Although we found our spot in the dark, we woke up to a pretty epic views. 

Because you are hiking with your back to most of the views as you are climbing the trail, the entire way down is so picturesque. We literally stopped so often, just to take in the views. The view from any summit is rewarding, when you make the effort to get to the top, but I felt like the summit views weren’t as amazing as the rest of the hikes views. I am only mentioning this because if you were tired, and didn’t feel like you could finish the entire hike then, any of the vistas that you pass on the trail will make up for not making it to the top. So don’t beat yourself up if you can’t make it to the top. Just take in the views.

Albuquerque's Best Mountain Biking

Hills - The Sandia Mountain foothills and the Cibola National Forest extend down through Albuquerque, giving the city some incredible open space.  There are plenty of options for riding in both the north and south foothills.  We found that our personal favorite tails are all found in Placitas and the Elena Gallegos Open Space.  We usually like to start at the “free” Bear Canyon  parking lot and ride the Elena Gallegos Main Loop up to the trailhead of the Pino Trail.  The trail system here is pretty extensive bikes are allowed on all the trails in the open space but not in the National Forest Trails.  I highly recommend the REI MTB Project app for this area, as it will really help you stay on course for the loop.  There’s is endless ways you can ride here and the majority of the riding is intermediate with some technical chunky sections along 230A which we most times skip for a faster smoother downhill.  

Just a short drive from Abq on I-25 is the small town of Placitas.  This is home to our favorite bike trail in the area.  The Bobsled is a 2 mile downhill section with jumps, bumps, and burms it's really the only trail in the Abq area with multiple small built features throughout.  There are other trails in the Placitas area but we just prefer to lap the Bobsled a few times.  If your rig can handle a little bit of off roading you can drive the Forest Road 445 and park here and begin the Bobsled descent or you can head to the Piedra Lisa Canyon trail head for some serenity at the end of FR445.  Take into account in the warm months that you can. and will come encounter Rattlesnakes we've seen our fair share out here and for some reason they love to be in the middle of the trail.  So ride and hike with caution especially in the cooler parts of the day. 

On another note both areas are great areas to post up in the van for the day while in Albuquerque.  Elena G is the only place that you have to pay but it's only $1 on weekdays and $2 on weekends for entry.  There are BBQs and picnic areas throughout and the views of the Sandia Mountains are a nice treat.  There are tons of hiking trails in the open spaces and in the National Forest that neighbors them.  I recommend Domingo Baca Canyon or the Pino Trail for a nice day hike from Elena G.  In our opinion this is your best bet for biking, hiking, and a good place to post up for the day in Albuquerque, I’m not sure what would happen if they locked your car in overnight but the space does close at dusk.  

Mountains - Just a short drive up Interstate 40 will bring you to more advanced riding.  There are a few options but in my mind there’s really only two.  The Sandia Ski Area trails or the Cedro Peak trails.  On some summers the ski area does run the lift for downhill mountain biking but I would check before heading up.  If the lifts are not running you can do a challenging climb up the King of the Mountain Trail and enjoy a well earned fast and flowy descent down Golden Eagle.  On south side of I-40 is the the Cedro Peak trails which are  closer to Albuquerque than heading to the Ski Area, but they are not our favorite trails.  This is a very chunky and bumpy area and the descents to me aren’t very exciting.  I’ve ridden a few trails out here and the best is Otero Canyon, but it is short and sweet.  If you are looking for a work out try the West Figure 8.  We aren’t the best bikers and we like to stay in the intermediate realm and some of the trails here were a bit too challenging and chunky for our hardtails.  

River - The Rio Grande Bosque is another anice open space in Albuquerque along the Rio Grande River.  However off road trails in this area are not the best.  There is a good amount of short flat single tracks through here, but nothing to write home about.  In my opinion this area is very underdeveloped and I wished the city of Abq would develop a nice open space park like the Valmont Bikepark in Boulder here in this area.  The trails in the Bosque are sandy and not my first option or my last.  These trails are more for family rides with kids on the paved Bosque bike trail.  There are some fast flowy sections but they don't last too long.  Hopefully in the future this area will be developed better for outdoor recreation.  

4 Outdoor Activities to Enjoy in and Around Boulder, Colorado

After shooting the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail.  We headed down to Boulder for a visit with one of our best friends.  We just had a few days and really wanted to get after it while we were in Colorado.  

Bear Peak

We wanted to get used to the altitude and get in better hiking shape before we headed to Rocky Mountain National Park later in the week.  We went with Bear Peak a 7.7 mile out and back hike to the highest point in the Flat Irons.  This hike is rated difficult and is a climb all the way to the top, and was a great warm up to the high country and getting adjusted to the altitude.  

Valmont Bike Park and Antelope Trail

We discovered the Valmout Mountain Bikepark on this day and fell in love.  We went in the morning before the summer camps showed up.  This is an amazing place for beginners, and advanced riders to develop skills we rode about 5 miles in the park alone.  Later we headed out to ride a few trails out near Lyons.  We rode the Antelope Trail and connected with Nelson Loop for some flowy single track with amazing views.  This was a fun ride with some big climbs and descents.  

Chasm Lake

We woke up feeling a bit sore but it was a great day to head up to Rocky Mountain National Park.  It’s a short scenic cruise from Boulder.  Since it was summer the was very busy.  We didn’t want to deal with the crowds plus the day before the NPS was saying that all the parking was full and they weren't letting people in the park.  Knowing this we headed to the lesser used and free (if you don't have a parks pass) Longs Peak Trailhead, near Estes Park.  Earlier in the week we were considering Longs Peak but we decided to do a more mellow hike.  We went with the Chasm Lake Trail.  This is a 8.2 mile out and back trail that is rated moderate to difficult.  We really enjoyed this trail and this was the highlight of the trip.  After we finished the hike we headed down for a night in the Subaru.  I would tell you where but it was so  out there I don't even know where it was.  With this being said there is plenty of camping available on Forest Roads in the area.  

National Forest Camping

We woke up and took it easy ate breakfast and enjoyed the sunshine for a bit before heading back down to boulder.  We just took it easy this day visited a few dispensaries and rode the Valmont Bikepark again that evening.  We later biked over to Avery Brewery for a few of the local selections before calling it a night.

On the last day we spent a majority of this day on our bikes.  We headed over to the bikepark, in the morning.  Then spent the rest of the day checking out boulder and its large array of bike trails and headed up to the top of the Boulder Creek Trail.  If we were more prepared and had known we would have brought our tubes and wetsuits for what looked like a wild tube ride down the Boulder Creek.  Later that night we headed to Fresh Thymes for some vegan cuisine.  

Boulder is an incredible little town that has a lot to offer.  We will definitely be back. 

Jemez to Taos, Hot Springs and Mountain Bike Tour

White Mesa - Mountain Biking

We packed up the newly remodeled road-trip-ready Subaru and headed out for a northern New Mexican adventure.  Our first stop was Jemez, just about an hour and thirty minute drive from Albuquerque.  If the weather was cooler and it wasn't the peak of summer, I recommend stopping at White Mesa (photos below) for a very unique mountain bike experience. 

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Jemez Hot Springs

Our first stop in Jemez was Spence Hot Springs, while we waited for a friend.  The pools at Spence aren’t incredibly warm, but they are worth the short hike and they have an amazing view from the pool.  Our next stop was San Antonio Hot Springs, off of Highway 126.  We arrived to a closed gate and had to walk over five miles, one way to the hot springs, but it was well worth the walk.  These are some of the best hot springs I’ve been to in New Mexico.  It consists of about 5 pools with a high pressure source pumping out into the top pool.  We left in the late afternoon and were soaked on the hike out and slept in the Jemez Falls parking lot that night.  

Taos - Mountain Biking and Hot Spring

The next day, we drove highway 4, easily one of the New Mexico’s most scenic roads, passing through the Valles Caldera and then through Los Alamos, where there is more mountain biking.  The next stop was Taos Ski Valley to ride the Northside Trails.  With a climb of over 2,100 feet, this trail is a big climb and the only alpine riding in New Mexico.  The Climb is worth the effort and the views of the Carson National Forest are epic.  Get ready for a steep ride down.  I don't know if you've ever been to TSV, but they say Taos is a four letter word for steep.  

After the ride we had a beer and snack at the Stray Dog Cantina and headed down the valley to Taos Mesa Brewery.  We stayed a few days out on the mesa with a good friend and relaxed and explored Manby and John Dunn hot springs in the Rio Grande Gorge.  One afternoon we headed back up to TSV to hike to Willams Lake. The lake sits below New Mexico’s tallest point, Wheeler Peak.  Later that week, we rode Horse Thief Mesa and the Rift Valley Trail before heading back to Albuquerque.  Before arriving to Albuquerque, we stopped at our favorite trail, Bobsled, in Palcitias.  Upon Arrival, we were really stoked with our spur of the moment trip and another trip in the Subaru.  

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