Amarillo to Red River, NM

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