Northern New Mexico Classic Cycling Tour

Transportation is provided from Albuquerque to our starting location in Santa Fe. We will be sure that your bike is ready to ride and have and orientation dinner this night.

Accommodation: Sagebrush Inn

Distance: 43 miles

Elevation Gain: 3,760 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 800 feet

Day 2 will start with a short shuttle to Cordova to jump on the High Road and ride to Truchas, gateway to the Carson National Forest. Ojo Sarco, Las Trampas, Chamisal, Penasco—these are the villages that we’ll visit along the High Road—they are the essence of northern New Mexico. We’ll spend the evening in Taos at the Sagebrush Inn, with its welcome pool and hot tub and incredible northern New Mexican cuisine.

Distance: 48 miles

Elevation Gain: 4,460 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 1,200 feet

Today we ride the Enchanted Circle and its stunning scenery of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. We start our ride in beautiful Taos Canyon and climb gently along Taos Creek to the crest of Palo Flechado Pass (9,101′) and then descend into the ethereal Merino Valley for a visit to the DAV Vietnam War Memorial at Angel Fire. It’s then up and over Bobcat Pass (9,820′) on the way to Red River for the evening at The River’s Edge and a delicious western meal at Texas Red’s.

Accommodation: Branding Iron Motel

Distance: 55 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,950 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 900 feet

We’ll want to benefit from yesterday’s climbing, so on Day 4 we’ll leave Red River to enjoy the downhill along Red River as it plunges toward its confluence with the Rio Grande. In Questa we’ll jump in the van to get across the mostly flat Rio Grand Rift and into the San Luis Basin to reach the San Juan Mountains. From here it is a beautiful and moderate climb up to La Manga Pass (10,230′), and then across to Cumbres Pass (10,022′), before descending into Chama, where we’ll spend the evening at the Branding Iron.

Accommodation: Abiquiui Inn

Distance: 58 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,320 feet

We’re headed to Georgia O’Keefe country with a ride past Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu. We start with a lovely descent along the Rio Chama, then ride some ups and downs before the final descent by Abiquiu Reservoir and Aibiqui shere we’ll overnight.

Distance: 40 miles

On Day 6, we’ll return briefly to the Rio Grande Valley and then climb to Los Alamos and a visit to the renowned Bradbury Science Museum.

Distance: 40 miles

The brooding Jemez Mountains dominate the skyline to the west as we ride to Bandelier National Monument early morning of Day 7. We’ll tour the Anasazi cliff dwellings in Frijoles Canyon before climbing to the crest of the Jemez. A long descent follows through the vastness of the Grand Valle as we trace the Jemez River in its plunge to Jemez Springs. We’ll conclude this extraordinary day with a soak in the natural hot springs of the Jemez River and spend our final evening in the colorful and picturesque village.

Distance: 55 miles

Our descent continues into the Rio Grande River Valley on our final Day 8 as we return to Albuquerque, where our Northern New Mexico Classic Cycling Tour concludes.