| Motorcycle riding in New Mexico is
particularly enjoyable because of the tremendous landscape, and the scenic and challenging
mountain roads.
The rides listed here were selected from
a wide variety of roads traveled by the TexMoto staff. Other ride guides
include Texas
and South Florida.
By providing this ride guide, we'd like to share our
knowledge of the best rides in the area with others that are new to motorcycling, or
simply have not had the chance to ride in New Mexico.
Many of the featured rides originate in the vicinity of Taos, as we made it our base. The rides are
about 200 to 300 miles in length and include an interesting destination. Roads are
selected according to their twistiness, surface conditions, and lack of traffic. No
attempt is made to select the shortest route between 2 or more points.
Included are the following rides: Enchanted
Circle, Taos
High Road, Abiquiu,
Ruidoso to
Santa Fe, White
Sands, Ruidoso
to Capitan, Albuquerque,
Around Taos,
and Miscellaneous
Roads.
 (Angel
Fire/Red River) 100 miles
The ride out of Taos is a pleasant, very twisty, tight road
up into the Kit Carson National Forest and up the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Although, it
can be crowded on weekends and holidays, the ride in to the mountains is very pleasant.
Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico, can be seen from Eagle Nest. The road into
and out of Red River becomes twistier and steeper than around Eagle Nest, providing
excellent thrill potential.
- From Taos, take US 64 east towards Eagle Nest.
- Turn left at SR 38 towards Red River.
- Turn left at SR 522 towards Taos.
(Las Vegas/Santa
Fe/Espanola) 200 miles
 The
High Road to Taos section of this ride will be one of the most memorable
rides you'll ever take. The High Road to Taos is definitely one of the
best rides anywhere; the scenic, constantly changing, background, the
old-time towns, the twisty road, the pure air and the beauty of it all
will take your breath away.
Caution: While in the High Road, if you need to pull over on the side of the Road, watch
out for the numerous broken glass bottles and other debris.
- From Taos, take SR 68 south.
- Turn left at SR 518 towards Las Vegas.
- Turn right on to I-25 towards Santa Fe.
- Take SR 68 towards Espanola.
- At Pojoaque, turn right at SR 503.
- Turn right at SR 76.
- Turn right at SR 75.
- Turn left at SR 518 towards Taos.
- Turn right at SR 68.
300 miles
 This
very interesting ride will take you through numerous landscape changes,
from desert lands, up to high mountain meadows, down to red rock areas,
and back up the Rio Grande Gorge. New Mexico's motto, the Land of Enchantment,
will prove its appropriateness after this gorgeous ride. Georgia O'Keefe's
home, Abiquiu, and surrounding areas are captivating. If in the Abiquiu
area around lunch time, visit the El Farolito restaurant in El Rito.
This restaurant has won numerous awards for his green chili. To get
to El Rito, turn left onto SR 554 just south of Abiquiu..
- From Taos, take US 64 West towards the Rio Grande
Gorge.
- Continue on US 64 past Tres Piedras, towards Tierra
Amarilla.
- Turn left at US 84 towards Abiquiu.
- Turn left at SR 68 towards Taos.
 (Capitan,Madrid)
300 miles
Some of the roads in these ride are very desolate and
towns, and gas stations, are very far apart. Make sure you have everything you need to
make it between towns.
- From Roswell, head west on US 70.
- At Hondo, stay on US 380.
- Turn right at US 54.
- Turn left at SR 55
- Turn left at SR 337.
- Turn right at I-40.
- Immediately, turn left at SR 14. towards Madrid.
- Turn left at I-25 towards Santa
Fe.
This ride takes you from Ruidoso
to White Sands National Monument. The roads in this very mountainous
area, perfect for skiers and
snowboarders and other outdoor activities, present excellent riding
opportunities for motorcycle riders, as evidenced by the area's popularity
with New Mexican riders.
The ride to and around Cloudcroft, on the backroads, is
very enjoyable.
- Head West on US 70.
- Turn left onto NM 244.
- Turn left onto US 82, towards Mayhill
- Turn right onto NM 24.
- Turn left onto NM 130, towards Cloudcroft.
- Turn left onto US 82, towards Alamogordo.
- White Sands is a few miles west of Alamogordo on US 82, aka
US 70.
- Return on US 70 to Ruidoso.
The roads in this very mountainous area, perfect
for skiers and snowboarders
and other outdoor activities, present excellent riding opportunities
for motorcycle riders, as evidenced by the area's popularity with New
Mexican riders.
The ride to and around Capitan will take you on very
scenic, fun roads. The ride to the Ski Apache resort, a 22 mile round-trip optional side
trip, offers unique scenic views but the road is in terrible condition and it dead end at
the top of the mountain.
- Head North on NM 48.
- Turn right onto US 380.
- Turn left onto NM 246, towards Roswell
- Turn right onto US 285.
- Turn right onto US 380, aka US 70, towards Ruidoso.
(Gila National Forest) 300 miles
This ride will take you up mountains, through lush valleys,
New Mexico desert and other landscape you'll never find anywhere else.
- Start from El Paso, TX or Las Cruces, NM.
- Take I-25 north to NM 152 towards Silver City.
- Turn right at US 180. Continue for about 150 miles.
- Turn right at NM 12.
- Turn left at NM 32.
- At the intersection with US 60, continue on NM 36.
- Turn right at NM 117.
- Turn right at I-40 towards Albuquerque.
- The Taos Ski Valley road. Even though it is only 9 miles
long, this is one of the nicest, twistiest road you'll ever find anywhere. Excellent
pavement, lack of traffic in the summer time, absence of straight sections and blind
curves, constant radius turns, and a mild incline make for an exhilarating ride.
- SR 1152 from Central to Caballo.
- Santa Fe Ski basin road.
- Road to Sandia Peak.
- SR 434 from Mora to Angel Fire.
Miscellaneous of
Interest to Motorcyclists |
Restaurants
- Favorite restaurants:
- The Italian restaurant in Taos.
- El Farolito, an adobe-covered house trailer, in El
Rito(call first).
- El Embudo Station, by the Rio Grande, on Rd 64 between
Taos and Espanola has great atmosphere as you seat down by the Rio Grande.
- Restaurants to avoid:
- , in Ruidoso. The food is mediocre, at
best, and the management is rude and discourteous. You've been warned.
Events and rides
Lodging and other
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