New Mexico's Best Cycle/Trike Rides

The Enchanted Circle - New Mexico

     A popular day trip in Northern New Mexico is the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. Circling Wheeler Peak, this 84-mile loop connects Eagle Nest, Red River, Questa, Taos, and Angel Fire. Mt. Wheeler is the tallest mountain in New Mexico, rising to an altitude of 13,161 feet. This ride offers spectacular scenery, with rugged mountains, beautiful valleys, streams, lakes, a peek at New Mexico's history and of course those wonderful curvy roads we love to ride. You should plan on spending the day exploring this loop, there are lots of things to stop and see.

     Stay on Hwy. 64 traveling through Raton and Cimarron. Highway 64 from Cimarron to Eagles Nest is a gorgeous, 23-mile drive through the deep canyon of the Cimarron River. This drive follows the Cimarron River upstream through the deep canyon it has cut through the Cimarron Range, which is a southern extension of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. There are several campgrounds along the road and Cimarron Canyon State Park. The road twists and turns it's way up the canyon, then the next thing you know, you come around the corner and are greeted by the Eagles Nest Lake. You drop down into the small mountain village of Eagles Nest, which is in beautiful Moreno valley.   Main St. is less than a mile long with small shops, old-fashioned streetlights, park benches and flowerboxes.   We stopped there for the night and enjoyed a peaceful stay at the Mountain View Cabins. Next morning we were up and off with the rising of the sun, headed to the town of Red River, which is 30 minutes away, for the start of our journey around the enchanted circle. As we were leaving the valley, headed up into the mountains, there was a large heard of elk alongside the road.

     The road up to Red River, Highway 38, is a wonderful climbing, twisting ride with cliffs on one side and drop offs on the other. You need to pay attention and be sure to watch out for deer and falling rocks, both of which weencountered on our trip up. As the road rises sharply it reveals a fantastic view of the valley below. There are several turnouts to give you a chance to enjoy the view and get pictures.

     Red River is a touristy ski resort town. It's a little old mining town, with a wild-west theme. There are dozens of shops and restaurants along Main Street. Red River is also host to a big bike rally every Memorial Day weekend. It's a good stop for a bite to eat and to walk around and stretch your legs a bit. Next stop on the circle is Questa, about 12 miles away. Heading out from Red River, going west, the trip is almost completely downhill. Lots of great rock along the way with a few side roads and forest service campgrounds. You'll pass Molycorp mine that is working over a pretty large chunk of rock to the north of the road. In the midst of all this wild and crazy granite those smooth slopes seem out of place, never mind the large conveyor systems that reach way up the hill. Once you get past Molycorp, the ruggedness of the granite reasserts itself. It's pretty wild and beautiful countryside for a few miles, and then the mountains open up into the valley that leads into Questa.

     Questa is an older Hispanic settlement in a beautiful valley. The oldest building still standing is the San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church built by the community in 1841. The church resembles a fortress and was more than likely built that way to offer protection for the settlers. Questa is welcoming to visitors and offers cafes, motels, restaurants, a grocery store and gas station to service a wide variety of needs. At Questa make a left onto Highway 522 and head towards Taos. Here the road is more open with rolling hills and beautiful vistas of the mountains in the distance. On the morning we made this run, we got to enjoy hot air balloons in the morning sky.

      Once you arrive in Taos be sure to check out the plaza. There are restaurants, shops, art galleries, and a very interesting antique store called Maison Faurie Antiquities. The shop is filled with old quack machines, and medical instruments, and just weird junk. It makes you grateful for the advances in medical technology. Other interesting attractions are The San Geronimo Church, the Taos Pueblo and the home of Kit Carson.

     To continue the circle leave Taos on Hwy 64 toward Angel Fire. You will be entering the Carson National Forrest and the road gets great again with lots of twists and turns as you ride through the trees. Make a stop at the Vietnam Veterans National Memorial in Angel Fire. Whether you're a vet or not, it's worth a moment to pay your respects at this lovely park. Just up the road you have returned to Eagle Nest. If you stay on Highway 64 you leave through the Cimarron canyon, which is a beautiful ride.

      When we did the loop we decided to return to Taos, on 64 and ride through the fun twists and turns again of the forest, then we continued on 64 out of TAOS to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. This is also worth a stop to walk out on the bridge and look down into the beautiful gorge 650 feet below. From there we continued to Tres Piedras and through the Tusas Mountains and Brazos Mountains . Stop at the Brazos Overlook for an inspiring view of the Brazos Cliffs, then continue down into the Chama Valley. After Chama we got onto Hwy 84 to Pagosa Springs then to Hyw 160 to Durango. One word of caution if taking this route, Gas up in Taos. There are not many options for gas on the way to the mountains and no gas in the mountains. We were on reserve and coasting down the mountains on the other side. Once out of the mountains we found a small gas station with very high prices.

     Another great option after completing the enchanted circle is to head to Santa Fe. Instead of taking highway 68 to Espanola, take the exciting "High Rode" to Santa Fe -a scenic route through beautiful old Spanish villages and gorgeous Georgia O'Keeffe-esque landscape vistas. Leave Taos by highway 68. Once you reach the outskirts of town, the plains open up. The Rio Grande Gorge is in the distance. Take a left onto route 518. The first stretch is 16 miles of mountain riding. Everything is very scenic and natural. Head toward Route 76 going through the Carson National Forest. Take the road past Vadito six more miles to Penasco, which is a major town compared to everything you've just been past. There are a few restaurants and gas stations here to stop for a break if needed. From here, take Route 76 South toward the town of Las Trampas and then Truchas. The road is great and the landscape is inspiring. Not much out here but a good ride for 35 miles until you reach Chimayo. You are now about 24 miles North east of Santa Fe. In Chimayo the highways aren't always marked and it can get confusing. Look for the entrance to highway 98 (aka Juan Medina Road) and head south. After the sporadic craft shops, haciendas, and restaurants comes a wild road. Watch out for curves when you don't expect it and turns that switch directions when you crest a hill. The road mellows out into graceful bends as it gets closer toward U.S. 84/285 north of Santa Fe.

     This is a very beautiful area of northern New Mexico and worth checking out on your next road trip. A good time of year to go is late summer or early fall. You'll have great riding weather and relatively quiet road ways. As you ride these roads you'll understand why New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment.