This ride utilizes Amtrak’s SurfLiner train, which you can take from the Santa Fe Station (downtown), or the Old Town station. You need to make a bike reservation because there are a limited number of bike slots. The total ticket cost is $13. The spaces on the weekends can fill up quickly, so make your reservation in advance! Last, the mobile app was not working properly to reserve the bike last time we checked, so we recommend you use a computer to make the reservation.

When you deboard the train, you’ll ride toward the beach and get on the road parallel to the shore. Ride south and eventually cross a bridge. On the other side, cross the road and begin the Coast to Crest Trail (CCT). You’ll go on and off the CCT, dodging some of the larger roads with heavy car traffic. You will transition between the flat gravel trail to pavement, and then begin to climb into another dirt section.

The next few trails are windy and fun singletrack, which take you further up the canyon to pass under two automobile bridges. The trails are relatively flat until the steep switchbacks take you to the top of the ridge. 

When you reach the top, you’ll have the pleasure of sending an amazing downhill section called “tunnel trail #4.” This singletrack feels like a tunnel with the low trees and fun berms. Enjoy! At the bottom, pause to enjoy being starstruck and then meander further out of this canyon. 

The route transitions to roads and multi-use paths, but then reverts back to Los Peñasquito canyon. These pleasant trails will take you through the oak forest a little and then to the north side trail. It’s all slightly downhill! 🌄 

At the end of the canyon, you’ll ride on roads for a food stop option, but there’s another one in eight miles (worth the ⌚👌🌯). The route continues through industrial areas until another dirt section. This trail climbs out of a canyon and back onto roads, which then leads into another dirt trail behind a school. Yet again, you’ll climb and ride on residential streets until the second food stop option, which has a delicious shrimp quesadilla, if that’s your thing. 

After a little more pavement, you’ll enter your final canyon of Tecolote. You’ll again be riding on a slight downhill pretty much the whole way. There are some rocky creek crossings, so be safe. There’s also a culvert crossing with a small amount of moving water, which you can typically walk on. But, it’s slippery for sure! Otherwise, Tecolote canyon is marvelous. 

The last section climbs out of the canyon, and will require you to climb one final mesa into the Hillcrest neighborhood for a post-ride beverage.