Self-Guided Bicycle Tour With Support

If you have only a few days to sample New Mexico by bicycle, we recommend this tour with its variety of mountain and canyon scenery and a potpourri of New Mexico's history.

Day 1: Owing to a long history of turquoise mining, and later gold, silver, copper and coal, Route 14 from Albuquerque to Santa Fe is still known as the Turquoise Trail. We will visit several of the towns which have gone from boom town to ghost town to arts and crafts center. We will visit the ancient Turquoise mine of Cerrillos. Our ride will end today in Santa Fe, "The City Different" with its old town plaza, the Palace of the Governors, and its many shops and art galleries hidden along the narrow streets. Indian, Hispanic and Anglo cultures mingle here. The atmosphere is unique. (56 miles)

Day 2: Heading north out of Santa Fe, we follow the narrow, windy, tree lined road through the artist village of Tesuque. We continue along the Rio Grande Valley. On our way we have the opportunity to visit San Ildefonso Pueblo and see their beautifully crafted pottery and silver-turquoise jewelry. The highlight of the day will be bicycling into Bandelier National Monument and walking amongst the pre-historic cliff dwellings of the ancient Pueblo peoples. We reach the day's destination in the modern-day, historically significant town of Los Alamos. (50 miles)

Day 3: The morning is spent discovering some of the fascinating stories of Los Alamos, the WW II "Secret City". We will have a considerable elevation gain today when we leave Los Alamos at 7,300 ft. elevation and climb to 9,000 ft. This is an alpine bicycling day with picturesque mountain streams, the meadow-carpeted volcanic caldera, wildflowers, and natural hot springs. At the end of a 10 mile descent we arrive at the "1995 All-American City " of Jemez Springs (6,300 ft. elevation). Jemez Springs is a delightful small village where you can relax with a soak in the natural hot springs baths, a massage, or a stroll under a star filled Southwestern sky. (40 miles)

Day 4: After breakfast, our journey follows San Diego Canyon and its stream with spectacular red cliffs towering on both sides of the road. For the adventurous, we offer the option of an additional, unique and beautiful 12 mile (RT) side-trip to the Gilman Tunnels and Guadalupe Canyon. Enjoy a special treat of Indian Fry Bread at Jemez Pueblo before the canyon opens up to the sage-covered Colorado Plateau. (48 miles)

Tour Reservations: For a tour reservation, please fill out a Tour Application (pdf) or contact us for more information.

The Turquoise Trail Start / Finish Albuquerque NM / Albuquerque Details 4 days, 3 nights all breakfasts and lunches 194 miles/312 kilometers Dates & Rate Dates: Your choice, self-guided tour Rate: $995 per person + NM CRS Tax Overnights Santa Fe Los Alamos Jemez Springs

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