Route 117 New Mexico

[Wally_Walleye]

Does anyone have information on Route 117 in New Mexico heading north to Interstate 40. I have Google mapped it. There is one area called the Narrows. We have a 38 foot motorhome towing a 150 Ford truck with 2-4 wheelers on a rack above the bed. Just concerned about the Narrows part of the road. I couldn't find anything about restrictions and it is part of the old Route 66. Thanks in advance for your help.

[trailertraveler]

If you do choose to visit the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano, Inscription Rock at El Moro National Monument is close by.

[Wally_Walleye]

Thanks we are leaving in the AM looking forward to the trip. Really like out of the way travel.

[BillMFl]

Ya if a person like rocks and cliff that are lovely its a great drive. Made many stops along the way.

[paulj]

Looking more closely at Google Maps, this is the closest the lava flow gets to the cliff.
https://maps.google.com/?ll=34.842162,-107.918057&spn=0.018351,0.03459&t=h&z=15&layer=c&cbll=34.8425...

The roadway does not narrow down, nor is it particularly twisty.

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/documents/El_Malpais.pdf

On GM I see various segments marked 'hwy 66' along I40. Its destination was Kingman, so it did not run south along 117.

[Supercharged]

BillMFl wrote:
I have made the drive on 117 south from the Grants area to Quemado and then on down to Silver City on 32/12/180. Loved it all the way. Almost no traffic, lots of scenery and good two lane roads. Fill up on fuel, etc. before you head out. There isn't much out there besides cattle and old wild west scenery. On the northern end you will pass the ancient El Malpais lava fields and near Grants, Bluewater State Park is a nice RV campground and Bandera Crater and ice cave are a fun side trip. Its a trip back in time thru "old" New Mexico ranch land and rugged wild west scenery.

I have been there a dozen times, didn't think anyone else new about it. Saw 5 bull elk late one day south of Quemado. You are following part of the old Santa Fe Trial from Mex. Stop in Reserve and eat next to the court house in the little Mexican food place. Best taco in the world. At the why west of Reserve go north west for about 10 or so miles to see the look than turn around at the top and south to Glen Wood. Than at Glen Wood go to the Cat Walks great to see for part of a day.

[BillMFl]

I have made the drive on 117 south from the Grants area to Quemado and then on down to Silver City on 32/12/180. Loved it all the way. Almost no traffic, lots of scenery and good two lane roads. Fill up on fuel, etc. before you head out. There isn't much out there besides cattle and old wild west scenery. On the northern end you will pass the ancient El Malpais lava fields and near Grants, Bluewater State Park is a nice RV campground and Bandera Crater and ice cave are a fun side trip. Its a trip back in time thru "old" New Mexico ranch land and rugged wild west scenery.

[eubank]

The part of 117 from its intersection with I40 into Grants probably is a section of the old highway, though the part south of the intersection with I40 is not.

Route 66 was realigned along around 1937. Prior to that date, the highway ran north from near Santa Rosa (on current I40) up to Santa Fe. From there, old 66 ran parallel to the river through Albuquerque down to Los Lunas. And from Los Lunas, the highway turned west/northwest along what is current called Hwy 6, where it connects with current I40/Rt. 66. (Within Albuquerque, pre-realignment Route 66 is, I believe, current-day Fourth Street.)

Of course, after 1937, the highway ran directly from Santa Rosa west into Albuquerque and further west. This is more or less I40. Within current-day Albuquerque, Central Avenue is old, post-realignment Route 66.

🙂
Lynn