Amarillo to Red River, NM

[Tiger8r]

Best route possibly without a pass.

[mikefos]

trailertraveler wrote:

Tiger8r wrote:
Thanks for the replies took a look and will go to Raton then 64 to eagle nest and 38 up to red river.

Instead of taking US-64 to Raton, I prefer US-412 from Clayton to Springer, then I-25 North to NM-58 to Cimarron, US-64 to Eagle Nest and NM-38 to Red River. My mapping program shows US-287 from Amarillo to US-385 to US-87 to US-412 to I-25 to NM-58 to US-64 to NM-38 to Red River as 280.1 miles.

The climb from Cimarron to Eagle Nest through Cimarron Canyon doesn't have any really large drop offs as it is following the river. The climb on NM-38 to the summit of Bobcat Pass is more gradual than the descent into Red River. If my memory is correct, the passenger will be on the Mountain side not looking over the guard rail when travelling from Eagle Nest to Red River.

Just as an aside, there may not be a pass on the route through Taos and Questa, but there is a good climb. Questa is 7,461' and Red River is 8.671'. They are only 12.5 miles apart and the climb is not one even grade.

The Cimarron->Eagle Nest->Red River drive is beautiful. We did it last August w/ a 35' TT and long bed crew cab truck. It is curvy but I don't recollect any dangerous turns or dropoffs. We came into Cimarron from Raton, but next trip (in July) we will try the Clayton->Springer route. Hwy 64 in New Mexico was in not real good shape - lots of rough spots and poor transitions from road to bridge surfaces.

Mike

[trailertraveler]

Tiger8r wrote:
Thanks for the replies took a look and will go to Raton then 64 to eagle nest and 38 up to red river.

Instead of taking US-64 to Raton, I prefer US-412 from Clayton to Springer, then I-25 North to NM-58 to Cimarron, US-64 to Eagle Nest and NM-38 to Red River. My mapping program shows US-287 from Amarillo to US-385 to US-87 to US-412 to I-25 to NM-58 to US-64 to NM-38 to Red River as 280.1 miles.

The climb from Cimarron to Eagle Nest through Cimarron Canyon doesn't have any really large drop offs as it is following the river. The climb on NM-38 to the summit of Bobcat Pass is more gradual than the descent into Red River. If my memory is correct, the passenger will be on the Mountain side not looking over the guard rail when travelling from Eagle Nest to Red River.

Just as an aside, there may not be a pass on the route through Taos and Questa, but there is a good climb. Questa is 7,461' and Red River is 8.671'. They are only 12.5 miles apart and the climb is not one even grade.

[Tiger8r]

Thanks for the replies took a look and will go to Raton then 64 to eagle nest and 38 up to red river.

[the2sharps]

Try flattestroute.com

[eubank]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
293 miles - direct over the 10,000 ft pass
337 miles - thru Ruidoso, Cimmaron Canyon, Eagles Nest and Taos
375 miles - the route mentioned above

This route includes Palo Flechado Pass between the Moreno Valley (Eagle Nest and Angel Fire) and Taos.

Bobcat Pass is between the Moreno Valley and RR.

Some people call the Cimarron Canyon (between the Moreno Valley and Cimarron) a pass. It isn't.

There are no passes via the Santa Fe, Espanola, Taos, Questa, RR route. And plenty more miles.

Lynn

[Tiger8r]

Thanks for the info. Wife don't like drop offs, what are the grades on these routs?

[BB_TX]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
..........
337 miles - thru Ruidoso, Cimmaron Canyon, Eagles Nest and Taos
.........

Did you mean Raton rather than Ruidoso?

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

293 miles - direct over the 10,000 ft pass
337 miles - thru Ruidoso, Cimmaron Canyon, Eagles Nest and Taos
375 miles - the route mentioned above

[eubank]

Avoiding passes will be a problem, but if you go out of your way down to Santa Fe, then make your way on through Espanola, Taos, then to Questa and on to RR. Heck of a lot of extra miles just to avoid a pass, though.
Lynn