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New Mexico is known as "The Land of Enchantment" for good reason. New Mexico offers a unique blend of culture and geography that creates an air of mystery and wonder for its visitors.
New Mexico has many great rides. The State features open vistas and uncontested highways with natural wonders and historical markers along the way. The State has a deep cultural heritage beginning with Native Americans, the Spanish dominion and finally the American Old West. Terrain is varied with roads crossing over high mountains and rolling out onto desert high plains. Roads can be twisty or run perfectly straight for miles. A deep sense of freedom pervades your being while riding in the State because of the easy pace and open spaces.
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North Central New Mexico
This is the second article on riding in New Mexico and focuses on the area north of Sante Fe and just south of the Colorado border. The Enchanted Circle is an 85 mile touring loop in the southern Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) mountains. The Enchanted Circle will take you to Taos and then around to Questa. On the west side of the Enchanted Circle a variety of great riding excursions include the Taos Pueblo, Taos Ski Valley, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and the Wild Rivers National Recreation Area. The round trip begins on US Hwy 64 West from Exit 446 on I-25 to Taos and continues on State Road 522 North to Questa. You have an option to turn back east on State Road 38 East as part of the Enchanted Circle or continue north on Colorado State Road 159 to encounter the Sangre de Cristo mountains in Colorado. There are many options traveling in Colorado including a trip to Durango via Wolf Creek Pass or to Westcliffe at the heart of the Sangre de Cristos. |
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Doing the Loop
A good approach for many will be the I-25 corridor leading to US Hwy 64 West just a few miles south of Raton New Mexico. This route is the famous Sante Fe Trail and takes you into the Cimarron Canyon a better ride coming from the east. About 32 miles down US 64 you will arrive in the village of Cimarron your last stop for fuel and food before heading into the canyon. Cimarron is where "the plains meets the Rockies" at an elevation of 6,430 ft. There are several shops with western artistry and goods that may interest you. These shops are in the oldest buildings along the main street.
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Take the plunge riding deep into canyon country and emerging on the other side to summit high country with snow crested peaks and deep mountain lakes. Cimarron Canyon is a "7+" on a scale of 10 because it has nice sweeping curves that allow time to view the scenery. Try fishing and camping along a gold medal trout river and then head into Taos for great southwestern soul food and artistry. Cimarron Canyon State Park is a temperate spot in summer or winter. The high canyon walls provide shade and solitude for visitors. Cimarron River running along the canyon floor is a lovely stream with many spots along the way to stop and enjoy the trees, rocks and running water. There are some tight curves at the bottom of the canyon along the river so be alert.
The river is a premier trout stream worth investigating if for no other reason than the size of trout established there. Sportsmen are allowed to keep trout 16 inches or larger! One of the most scenic natural features in the canyon is the Palisades wall that runs along the Cimarron River.
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Climbing out of the canyon you will arrive at Eagle Nest Lake on the west side of Cimarron Canyon. It sits at an elevation of approximately 8,200 ft. The lake has reputation for premier trout fishing. The town of Eagle Nest is small but has a variety of accommodations for visitors including campgrounds, cabins and motels. The town sits in a picturesque alpine valley at the intersection of US64 and State Road 38 on the Enchanted Circle and is another fueling stop for before heading onto Taos. |
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| Several miles further on US 64 headed towards Angel Fire is the Vietnam War Memorial. It is located on a hill looking south and provides a good scenic viewpoint. The memorial includes a chopper that will probably bring back some vivid memories if you were infantry in the war and otherwise provides an educational reminder for all Americans. Angel Fire is named for the fantastic sunrises and sunsets in the area and boasts a ski resort by that name. Be sure and check the calendar of events at www.enchantedcircle.org. There are concerts, fairs and rallies scheduled during the warmer months so enjoy. |
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Continuing on to Taos about 24 miles from Angel Fire, US 64 begins to look like a secondary highway as it twists through Taos canyon. I rate the tight curves as an "8" on the difficulty scale given the challenge to stay in the pocket with the density of traffic near Taos. It's a great ride but the curves are tight and oncoming traffic is a concern especially when rocks roll out onto the inside curve lane. Potters and other artists have taken up residence along the canyon highway so be prepared to pullover and take a look. |
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Taos
If you haven't already found what you are looking for then Taos will provide the shopping you or your partner may crave. You may decide to stay overnight in Taos in order to fully enjoy the artistry, food and shopping. There are some easy side trips for the restless including a run through Arroyo Seco into Taos Ski Valley, the Taos Pueblo, Lawrence Ranch or the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Most of these destinations are north of Taos and within an hour's ride. Arroyo Seco is a good first stop beyond Taos with artisan shops, eateries and coffee. The Taos Ski Resort is located further up the road in a rocky narrow canyon. It's a fun little ride and worth the cooling temperatures further back on the mountain. There are condominiums and lodges available. The locale provides a great starting point for hikes into the Carson National Forest.
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You may choose to continue along the Enchanted Circle which becomes New Mexico SR 522 past Taos. Other towns like Questa provide a good alternative for lodging and eateries in the Enchanted Circle especially during the high tourist season. Since the Enchanted Circle runs approximately 50 miles on the west side it is easy to backtrack to Taos or ride to some of the nearby points of interest like the Rio Grande Gorge. |
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Colorado Bound
If you continue north on State Road 522 it becomes State Road 159 upon entering Colorado. I rate this road a "9" on the pleasure scale because the Colorado speed limit is 75 mph stepped up from New Mexico's 55 mph speed limit. The road is wide open and the vistas are huge. There is a nice lake on the west side just before San Luis that provides a spot for lunch or fishing. You will be rewarded by views of the Sangre de Cristos to the north. Further along is San Luis a beautiful little town considered to be one of the oldest in Colorado. I'm not sure how they figure this because some of the pueblos are so old but it's a picture perfect spot. After San Luis continue on to Fort Garland where SR 159 ends and US Hwy160 takes you east or west. Get ready to enjoy as you ride into Colorado's motorcycle paradise. |
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| Safe travels. Life is best just cruisin'.
Matthew Allan is a moto-journalist living in Colorado and West Virginia. He keeps a ride in both places to placate the road demons that haunt him. He is the author of The Zen Guide to Motorcycle Riding and Iron Daze.
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| http://www.motorcycletraveler.com/just_cruisin/Enchanted Circle--- updated 05-26-07 |
