I was going to run right to Pie Town from Roswell, however I read about City of Rocks here yesterday and it looks like an interesting stop. So I'm thinking of going to the City of Rocks first then head to Pie Town. I see Rt 180 runs through Gila National Forest then either Rt 36 or Rt 12 at Apache Creek. I did a search and didn't find anything so my question is which route is the best for scenery and good road conditions. It will be mid July and have plenty of time. We will be traveling in our 25 foot class C.

I would take RT 36 at Apache Creek up to Quemado, then 60 to Pie Town. I believe if you take 12 you have to go to Datil and come back west on 60 to get to Pie Town. Coming up 36 is pretty scenic, Quemado lake is a nice place to stop and visit, they also have a campground there with W/E and a dump as well as some dry camping areas too. We'll be at Datil Well campground around the 14th of July for a family reunion and usually run all over the area visiting homesteads and stuff, always stop in Quemado at Grovers grocery for an ice cream bar or snacks. Enjoy your trip!

I have gone both ways and think 12 is a little flatter, but both have good scenery, depending on what you call scenery. In July it will likely be all brown. Drive time is about the same at RV speeds and Quemado is a nice coolish camp ground in July while the options on 12 are fewer.City of Rocks is interesting and may take 2 hours at most to drive over, visit the visitor center, drive the loop, take some pictures, and get back to 180. In July you may be the only visitors there. They have some W/E camp sites if you wanted to spend the night there.

Thanks for this information. In the last 3 weeks the folks on this forum have mentioned 3 interesting locations in the general area we will be visiting. Cedar Break, the Grand Canyon Caverns and The City of Rocks. Add these to the other places discussed here and to me that is what makes this forum so important when planning a trip. I never would have found spots like these on my own. Again Thanks. We know the weather is going to be hot, but if it gets to unbearable we have an escape plan ready..

Always neat when you got some time on your hands and just wander around somewhere hehe...I got off of I40 in NM one time looking for some of the old RT-66 off-shoots and ran into a town sign that said YAH-TA-HEY.Being a John Wayne follower I had to go see this town. In John wayne's movies that was about all of the Indian talk he would say...YAH-TA-HEY turned out to be small town of 400-500 populations but I can say now I have been there...Back in the day used to run the APACHE TRAIL runs from Apache Junction up to I40 and East alot. All kinds of OFF-TRAIL camping back in those area... Kinda all started after you went through Payson. Love waking up to see the morning sun light up all the Red Rock canyons... This was all in the TONTO NATL FOREST in AZ... Don't think we made it into NM and the GILA NATL FOREST areas for any camping. Did get to visit the Very Large Arrays just off US60 that was interesting. We were NAVY DOD Contractors so got a first class visit. We were in NAVY Vehicles and run across another Navy Vehicle along the way so followed him in their complex haha... Used to run US60 from Socorro NM to the Phoenix areas in my working days... First time I ever saw black rattle snakes was in that area. Guess eating the volcano ash small rocks from that area changed their natural color haha...Bringing back old memories..Roy Ken

Another interesting (to me) spot on that route is Fort Bayard Nat. Cemetery https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftbayard.asp and Historic District https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bayard_Historic_District . Not to be confused with the town of Bayard which is on 180 before Santa Clara the town nearest Fort Bayard. The Chino open pit mine is also close by if you have not seen one before they are impressive. "The Chino mine, an open-pit porphyry copper mine, is 15 miles east of Silver City near the village of Hanover in southwestern New Mexico. An overlook of the pit, complete with educational displays, is located on the south side of New Mexico Highway 152 east of Hanover."

Gila National Forest to Pie Town New Mexico | Good Sam Community

doxiemom11
Explorer II
May 02, 2018
Pie town is on 60 west of I-25
seagrace
Explorer
May 02, 2018
Sorry, apparently I'm not allowed to post relevant content.
Vette_Racer
Explorer
May 02, 2018
Off Pavement wrote:
seagrace wrote:
Look for a VLBA antenna (dish) just east of Pie Town. You can drive up to within a hundred yards or so - cool picture opportunities.

The antennas can be stretched out 23 miles or grouped together for different observations. There is one of the worlds most powerful supercomputers onsite, and you can even take a tour at the visitor center. When you are at the visitor center, you are in the middle of the worlds largest radio telescope.
You are talking about the VLA just East of Datil on highway 60, great place to visit. Think the other post was about the individual dish just outside Pietown, part of a different group.
Off_Pavement
Explorer II
May 02, 2018
seagrace wrote:
Look for a VLBA antenna (dish) just east of Pie Town. You can drive up to within a hundred yards or so - cool picture opportunities.

The antennas can be stretched out 23 miles or grouped together for different observations. There is one of the worlds most powerful supercomputers onsite, and you can even take a tour at the visitor center. When you are at the visitor center, you are in the middle of the worlds largest radio telescope.
rocmoc
Explorer
May 02, 2018
The Green Ice Cave South of Grants, NM is worth a stop. In fact there is so much in the area you could spend you entire time in Western New Mexico. Lots of BLM & National CG to stay in!

rocmoc n AZ
frizzen
Explorer
May 01, 2018
Trekkar wrote:
frizzen wrote:
Trekkar wrote:
If you're already that far south, the Gila Cliff Dwelling Monument is roughly 75 miles away at the end of 15. Nice area to explore.

75 miles and two hours to get there.

Yup. But the drive is not boring!

I want to ride 15 on my motorcycle.
seagrace
Explorer
May 01, 2018
Sorry, apparently I'm not allowed to post relevant content.
jolooote
Explorer
May 01, 2018
Been up and down 180 several times. Plz advise; what is Pie Town? Can't find it on my maps.
seagrace
Explorer
May 01, 2018
Sorry, apparently I'm not allowed to post relevant content.
Trekkar
Explorer
May 01, 2018
frizzen wrote:
Trekkar wrote:
If you're already that far south, the Gila Cliff Dwelling Monument is roughly 75 miles away at the end of 15. Nice area to explore.

75 miles and two hours to get there.

Yup. But the drive is not boring!