For hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, trail difficulty is intermediate to expert, depending upon road surface condition. You will cross the "Camino Real" - the Royal Road. This road is the original highway to Taos used by the Spanish and French settlers and Indians for centuries. Trail/road runs into the Serna Land Grant. This a private land. Please respect this and do not trespass on their land. Picuris Lookout is not open to the public. Picuris Road ascends through ponderosa pine, aspen and into spruce-fir. There are exceptional views of Penasco, Truchas Peaks, Espanola, Jemez and the Sangre de Cristo Range. Motorized traffic may be encountered most of the way in the summer. source: fs.usda.gov
From State Highway 68 in Taos, follow State Highway 518 approximately 14 miles south. The trailhead is on the right (west) side of the highway at U.S. Hill Vista (Forest Road 114). <br /><br />From the Camino Real Ranger Station take State Highway 75 east through Vadito for 5 miles to the junction of State Highway 75 and 518. At the junction turn left onto State Highway 518 and proceed almost 3 miles to U.S. Hill. <br /><br />Parking is available on the east side of the highway. From the trailhead, it is about 4 miles to Serna Land Grant boundary.
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