Help a Texas Boy Out

[hlothery]

I'm planning a trip from San Antonio, through New Mexico, to Colorado Springs in June. Any suggestions for an interesting route through New Mexico would be appreciated. I plan on taking I 10 to Van Horn, Texas, then 285 into New Mexico. TIA.

[From MARS]

Hugh, I found the Western side of NM to be much more fun than the Eastern side using I-25 as the dividing line. Hwy 152 from Truth Or Consequences to Silver City was especially fun. If you have the time, I'd suggest coming into CO Springs from the West.

Have fun.

Tom

[PMonk]

I will be at my mountain cabin first 3 weeks of june.
Located about 10 miles south of Angel Fire NM on NM434.
Am bringing my airhead so I will have something to ride.

[PMonk]

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww332/dpmonk/Clip_2-1.jpg


this is too dang small to see, will pm you tomorrow

[RTRandy]

Not quite where you seem to be heading and makes more sense when coming up from Dallas through Amarillo, but a favorite of mine is Route 104 from Tucumcari to Las Vegas, NM. ( Fill up first in Tucumcari cause there's nothing out there) From Las Vegas, I take 518 into Taos. Worth a day if you have it to ride the "Enchanted circle" while there. From Taos take 64 over to 285. When heading north on 285 and you get to Alamosa, take 17 "The Gun Barrel" which is faster and will run back into 285 at Mineral Hot Springs. Upside: much faster, an absolute 50 miles of the straightest road you'll ever ride on with a horizon which never seems to get closer, no traffic to speak of, you can tuck behind the windshield and do a land speed record on that road. Downside: Unless you have a radar detector, don't push it with any cars in site and if you do have a radar detector, don't push it since the troopers use instant on radar. Put it this way, you can make good time on that stretch.

Once you hit Mineral Hot Springs back on 285, the terrain and scenery changes drastically and you are suddenly in the mountains. It's all good before and after. If you get a chance, ride Independence Pass from Buena Vista to Aspen. Incredible!

[hlothery]

thanks for the help. We have ammended our plans a little, our Colorado friends have a committment, so we are probably going to stay in the Red River area and do some day tours. Appreciate all the suggestions for roads, will hit as many of them as I can.

[podsobinski]

Good recommendations all, the Enchanted Circle is one of my favorites. Let me add, after the "Enchanted Circle" you head east to Raton NM, then over Raton Pass to Trinidad CO. From there go NW over Colorado 12 "Highway of Legends" to LaVeta. You'll go over Cuchara Pass down to a town called LaVeta. Great motorcycle road and not much traffic. Your options open up from there but I recommend Colorado 69 just outside of Walsenburg heading NW. Again a great open highway with not any traffic. You have the San de Cristo mtns. on the west and the Wet Mtns. on the east. Then US-50 to Canon City then 115 to Colo. Springs.

gpodzo