South of Taos, in the quiet expanse of northern New Mexico, Picuris Pueblo has transformed its rugged landscape into a mountain biker’s adrenaline playground. This is no modest local park. It’s a bold statement, built with pro-level dirt jumps and Crankworx-style features that challenge riders from intermediate skill to expert aerialists.

Henry Lanman, founder of Rocket Ramps, almost blinked when the Pueblo requested jumps measuring up to 50 feet long and lips towering 15 feet high. “They wanted to jump the road,” he recalls. This wasn’t typical for a bike park serving a town of just 300, but the vision was clear — create a space where local youth can thrive, inspired by sport, away from the pitfalls that sometimes face rural communities.

Spearheaded by Craig Quanchello, former Tribal Governor of Picuris Pueblo, the project aimed to provide more than just recreation. Education and career paths aren’t one-size-fits-all, and biking offered an alternative with purpose — professional sports, entrepreneurship, or digital influence. But infrastructure was needed, and it had to be exceptional to compete with more established mountain biking hubs in the Southwest.

Funded in part by a $500,000 New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant, the bike park breaks new ground. It’s the first facility of this caliber within 300 miles, and it fits into an ambitious statewide strategy to boost outdoor recreation economies. New Mexico is investing $15 million annually in trail development, signaling a commitment to keep riders local and lure new visitors seeking high-caliber mountain biking.

The park itself merges intense technical riding with thoughtful progression. A world-championship pump track kicks off the bike-handling warmup. From there, riders can tackle three jump lines: medium, large, and pro. The medium line focuses on rugged, rollable tablets with lips four feet tall and berms to maintain speed—perfect for gauging confidence. Larger lines introduce technical features like hips, drops, and mandatory lines, demanding control and aerial finesse.

The pro line is where the true magic happens, packed with mini Crankworx-style elements: massive cannon logs, step-downs, wall rides, and jaw-dropping slopestyle lips soaring nine feet or more. Rocket Ramps even built mirrored practice jumps leading to airbags and mulch piles, allowing safe progression into tricks like backflips and cashrolls.

Open to all during daylight hours, the park is free for now, though fees may arrive as visitor demand grows. Visitors must respect that Picuris Pueblo is sovereign land with deep cultural significance. Riders are encouraged to look out for others, promote a positive, ego-free environment, and help maintain the grounds.

Yet, the park’s greatest challenge isn’t the dirt—it’s access. Local kids, eager but often bike-less, highlight a gap in gear availability. Partnerships and grants are being explored to close this divide and ensure the park fulfills its potential as a community catalyst.

For riders craving a mix of raw adrenaline and cultural richness, Picuris Pueblo’s bike park delivers a rare offering—extreme mountain biking framed by purpose and pride. Whether you’re a seasoned slopestyle rider or a committed local looking to progress, this Southwest gem will push your limits and invite you to be part of something bigger.