Need some tips for NM trip

[Kross Kountry]

The wife and I are thinking about a road trip to northern NM for a September get away. We are planning stops in Toas and Santa Fe, then maybe heading north to Pagosa Springs CO. If anyone has a favorite road, restaurant, town or hotel we would love to hear your advise or opinions. We will have five or six days to just explore the area and take in all the wonderful scenery.

[LilBeaver]

I've been eying some maps and such for some time now looking to get up there... I am hoping to have a weekend get-a-way in the upcoming couple of weeks... If I do I will let you know what I find!

[Texaskid]

When you get to Santa Fe, plan on at least 2 days there. Old town is great. There is a mission(church) which is a must see. We were there 2 years ago and only for a couple of hours. Wish we had more time, but we had to leave the next day for home which was at that time Sacramento. We moved to Polvadera which is 2 1/2 hours south of Santa Fe about 2 months ago, and we love it here. Lots of places to see in the area. We haven't been back there but are planning on going again, probably when the kids have there next break from school. Wish I could be of more help and info. Have a good trip and be safe.

Bill

[Kross Kountry]

Thanks Bill. I think we will spend a couple of days in the Santa Fe area. I may have to take ride to Madrid for lunch and a picture in front of "Maggie's".

[buddy]

Thanks Bill. I think we will spend a couple of days in the Santa Fe area. I may have to take ride to Madrid for lunch and a picture in front of "Maggie's".

 

Tracy as good as you are with that GPS, You two will have no trouble finding your way around NM. Have fun on your trip. Tell Sis sorry we dint see her on our way home from the Hub on HWY 540.. Any way have fun and take plenty of photos for us.....

See you soon..

Buddy

[craigatcsi]

We just returned from blowing thru there on I-40.

I am jealous of you. We returned this past Saturday and if I had the Vacation time left, I could turn around and head back to NM!!

We went from Omaha, NE to the Washington/Canada border down to the Ca/Mexio border then back to Ok city & Home. - So we saw A LOT of states.

We BOTH said that by far, NM was the prettiest!!

We plan to take a trip back to NM just to spend a week there site seeing.

Take LOTS of pics. Ours came out gorgeous, the colors were very vivid and came thru on the pics fine.

Make sure you post some pics and how the trip was.

AND, of course BE SAFE!!

craigr

[James Ardrey]

While you are in the Taos area Angel Fire and Eagles nest are beautiful. One of my favorite mountain valleys with Eagles Nest lake in the back drop. Also Redriver is a pretty area. You can do the whole circle in just a few hrs. My wife and I went through Madrid on our way to Taos last summer. A quaint little town for sure. The Sagebrush Inn is a great place to stay and have reasonable rates in Taos. It is built like a Spanish Mission with courtyards, a great restaurant and a full breakfast is included in the room costs. They have a great club with live entertainment on the weekends. There is a new Comfort Inn next door and is now owned by them. The rooms are around 70$ a night. Not bad for Taos and order from the menu breakfast included. The Comfort Inn is probably considerably higher without the quaint relaxed atmosphere. They also have a swimming pool and hot tub. Have a great trip!

[Kross Kountry]

Angel Fire, Eagles Nest, Red River Area, Sagebrush Inn, man my list is growing. We can't wait to get on the road now. Thanks for all the good info and keep it coming.

[midnightventure]

Just east of Raton is an extinct volcano. Google Capulin volcano if your interested If you are driving through close it is worth seeing. You can drive to the top. One of the few times that I ever obeyed a speed limit on a motorcycle. The road winds around the volcano. West of Taos there is a bridge over the Rio Grand Gorge that is worth stopping at.

[midnightventure]

If you are going to Co you should ride the road between Durango an Silverton. If you have the time take the train then you can really see the sights and not worry about running off the road while you are gawking. I love the mountains out there and northern N.M.

[Shamue]

I live just South of Santa Fe and wish I could be your guide for the area, but I should be on the East Coast about mid Sept.

Any roads you take in Northern New Mexico will be beautiful. Not being a Santa Fe lover, I would recommend taking the Loop out of Taos to Red River and around to Eagle Nest then back to Taos, couple of hours unless you do some sight seeing, and there is plenty to do. Take the ski chair lift in Red River to the top of the mountain "Beautiful".

 

If you have time and from Pagosa Springs I would go west on hwy 160 to Durango to hwy 550 North. Takes you through Silverton and Quray into Montrose. There take hwy 50 East through the Gunnison to Poncha Springs and take hwy 285 North through the Rocky Mountain National Park. This will bring you out just South of Denver at Interstate 25.

 

Being off season you should not have any trouble finding places to stay, Cabins or Motels. Don't have a favorite place to eat, haven't had a bad meal in these areas.

 

Be careful in Santa Fe, crowded narrow roads.

If you have any thing you want to ask send it to me PM. Like to help out.

[midnightventure]

I live just South of Santa Fe and wish I could be your guide for the area, but I should be on the East Coast about mid Sept.

Any roads you take in Northern New Mexico will be beautiful. Not being a Santa Fe lover, I would recommend taking the Loop out of Taos to Red River and around to Eagle Nest then back to Taos, couple of hours unless you do some sight seeing, and there is plenty to do. Take the ski chair lift in Red River to the top of the mountain "Beautiful".

 

If you have time and from Pagosa Springs I would go west on hwy 160 to Durango to hwy 550 North. Takes you through Silverton and Quray into Montrose. There take hwy 50 East through the Gunnison to Poncha Springs and take hwy 285 North through the Rocky Mountain National Park. This will bring you out just South of Denver at Interstate 25.

 

Being off season you should not have any trouble finding places to stay, Cabins or Motels. Don't have a favorite place to eat, haven't had a bad meal in these areas.

 

Be careful in Santa Fe, crowded narrow roads.

If you have any thing you want to ask send it to me PM. Like to help out.

I'll second this route. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is pretty neat. As is the Rocky Mountain National park. I think I could go back out to that area every year. If I ever win the lottery I will have a home there.

[Jethroish]

Great little, friendly motel in Eagles Nest, across street from Subway. Used to know the owners, but they sold it.

Great steak place in Red River. Wish I could remember the name.

Been way too long since we have been out there.

Guess I was a lot of help.

[SteveB]

We recently went to Pagosa Springs, CO. A great place to eat was the Branding Iron Bar-B-Que. Great food & great service. It's located along US 160 at the edge of town. Worth going to eat! Parking is limited but other than that we highly recommend it.

 

Steve

[midnightventure]

If you go through that part of Co you need to get an old CW McCall tape and listen to it at the same time . His songs reference a lot of towns in the area.

[Kross Kountry]

Ask and you shall receive. Coloado Hwys 50, 550, 160 and the Black Canyon are now on my list. And I won't forget the BBQ at Pagosa Springs. You are making our trip a breeze to plan. I think I'll keep my route south of I-70 for this trip just so I can have plenty of time to sight see. Thanks again for all the great information.

 

Tracy and Laurie,

[Tom]

Ask and you shall receive. Coloado Hwys 50, 550, 160 and the Black Canyon are now on my list. And I won't forget the BBQ at Pagosa Springs. You are making our trip a breeze to plan. I think I'll keep my route south of I-70 for this trip just so I can have plenty of time to sight see. Thanks again for all the great information.

 

Tracy and Laurie,

US 550 will be a breathtaking ride!

[midnightventure]

If you go very far east on 50 you just as well see the Royal Gorge and if you are into it you can float it. I think it has some class 5 rapids.

[Schlepporello]

Great little, friendly motel in Eagles Nest, across street from Subway. Used to know the owners, but they sold it.

Great steak place in Red River. Wish I could remember the name.

Been way too long since we have been out there.

Guess I was a lot of help.

If you're talking about the Horseshoe Cabins, it ain't so friendly any more. The new owners have focused their efforts on replacing the store with a bar and grill. The cabins have not been upgraded in 10 years and are currentlly being poorly maintained. That along with the new owners not being very danged friendly can make for a regrettable visit. We visited Eagle Nest last July 4. We had made reservations at the Horseshoe Cabins. We caught wind through the other locals about how neglected the cabins had been, so we secured lodging at the Comfort Inn. We went back to the Horseshoe to cancel our reservation there, only to find out that the owners never intended to honor our reservations in the first place. Needless to say, the new owners didn't make a very good impression on us. Maybe this explains why they aren't listed on the Chamber of Commerce website for Eagle Nest.

 

If you're near Taos, you've gotta visit the Arroyo Hondo Bridge just west of Taos.

[Kross Kountry]

We will definitly make a stop at the Royal Gorge. Thanks for the advise on the places to avoid, ie rotten hotels, tourist traps and rotten roads. I think we will take US Hwy 50 east across Kansas for our return route. Is there anything to see in Dodge City Kansas? We will most likely stop there for the night.

 

[Schlepporello]

The Royal Gorge is purty neat too. It's just a tad higher than the Arroyo Hondo bridge at Taos. The Royal Gorge bridge is a suspension bridge though, whereas the Arroyo Hondo is not. The Arroyo Hondo bridge is what Tim Allen and his gang rode across in the movie "Wild Hogs".