Ride Details

Taos Enchanted Circle

2 Day ride Taos -Questa-Eagles Nest

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Challenge Hart

Traffic Rate: Auto

Local Weather

Type of Bike: Hybrid , Road Bike
Distance: 89 miles
Terrain:

Rolling to Steep. 4100 ft elevation gain day 1 and 1100 ft elevation gain day 2

Traffic:

Moderate

Highlights:

beautiful Red River canyon with spectacular cliffs,view the spectacular canyon and volcanic formations

Commentary

This ride has spectacular vistas of New Mexico's Enchanted Circle. Gaze at the highest peaks of New Mexico, ride over challenging passes, and awesome downhill runs. Ride through the beautiful Moreno valley, watch for field-dragons.

Directions to Start Ride

Begin and end this ride at the Taos Wal-Mart.

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Mile by Mile

Option1: Arroyo Seco - Arroyo Hondo option north of Taos (10 miles).
Option2: Eagle Nest to the Palisades. (6 miles).
Option3: Ride through the center of Taos on the return.
Option: Ride the entire in one day, in either direction. Another option is to begin in Eagle Nest and ride the circle in one day, counter-clockwise.

Day 1 (53 miles, 4100 feet elevation gain)

0	Taos: Ride N on NM68 past Arroyo Hondo climbing the rolling hills to Questa. (24 miles, 2000 ft elev gain) Enjoy one of the best downhill runs into Questa. At 4 miles - Option: Turn right (E) at the red light intersection to the Gorge bridge to Arroyo Seco, turn left at the Abominable Snowmansion Hostel, then ride through Arroyo Hondo to NM68 then N to Questa.
24	Questa: Turn right (E) on NM38 to Red River (12 miles, 1000 ft elev). Pass the now shut down MolyCorp mine up the beautiful Red River canyon with spectacular cliffs on both sides.
36	Red River: Enjoy lunch at one of the many resturants or grocery store. Continue E through Red River on NM38 up to Bobcat Pass (9800 ft.) (4 miles, 1100 ft elevation gain). (The first 2 miles are the worst) There is water and public bathrooms in the city offices in the middle of town on the north side of the road.
40	Bobcat Pass(9820'): Photo op! Rest, then continue downhill 13 miles on NM38 to Eagle's Nest (watch for the meadow dragon). Then turn left (E) at the intersection with US64 and ride through town about 1/2 mile to the Moore Rest Motel on the east side of town.
	Option: Ride downhill East from Eagles Nest toward Cimarron to the Palisades (6 miles) and back to view the spectacular canyon and volcanic formations.

Day 2 (34 Miles, 1100 Feet Elevation gain)

0	Eagle's Nest: Ride S on NM 38 past the DAV Memorial (Worth a visit if you haven't been there before) then right (W) at the turnoff to Angle Fire. Climb the switchbacks to Palo Flechado Pass (9200 ft) (10 miles, 1100 ft. elevation gain) for a well deserved break.
10	Palo Flechado Pass (9200 ft): Continue W on NM38 downhill to the intersection with NM538. This stretch has no shoulders and has traffic so ride single file.
32	Jct of NM538 & NM38: Turn left (S) onto NM538 (''To Santa Fe'') to the intersection with NM68 (2 miles). Option: Turn right (N) and ride into the center of Taos. Shop, then left (south) back to Wal-Mart.
34	NM68: Turn right (N) for 2 blocks to Wal-Mart.