Question,

My wife and I are going to Santa Fe for a few days (on the LT) and I HATE riding superslabs. My map program says Colorado highway 17 off 285 to NM anyone have any suggestions to AVOID the Interstate and do it in one day????

radar

I would take 25 south over Raton Pass then get on to 64 and go through Taos. Then get on 285 to Sante Fe of continue on 64 to 84 and back track a little and go south to Sante Fe. Hwy 64 is a beautiful road.

BobOdenweller wrote:
I would take 25 south over Raton Pass then get on to 64 and go through Taos. Then get on 285 to Sante Fe of continue on 64 to 84 and back track a little and go south to Sante Fe. Hwy 64 is a beautiful road.

Bob,

Thanks for the info, we did take some of those roads, awesome riding country!!! We really enjoyed the trip, didn't enjoy the return in the sleet, snow, and rain!! But life isn't always filled with sunny days

radar

I sometimes ride down to Sante Fe for work from Denver (and now the GSA mileage rate for bikes is the same as cars!) - as with you, the only TRUE road has two lanes, one in each direction (aka 'Blue Highways')....

I love going down via Wolf Creek Pass on 160, then on down 64/84 into NM... lots of options to get to 160... if you have the time, 149 from Gunnison is a blast!

Coming back out of Sante Fe, I like to sidetrack

off

285/68 to Taos - and instead head up along 503/76/75 through the mountains (Chimayo, Truchas, Penasco, etc)

Be sure to stop in Eagle Nest and visit the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial. Returning northbound: NM 522 north from Taos to Ft. Garland is a good ride. Then west to CO 17 north to US 285 back to Denver area. Great northbound with sun at your back.