Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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forest on the rim of the Taos Gorge in
the north. See the “Biking” sections in
each New Mexico chapter, especially
chapter 8.
In Arizona, among the red rocks of
Sedona, you can pedal through awe-
some scenery on some of the most
memorable single-track trails in the
Southwest. There's even plenty of slick-
rock. See “Getting Outside,” under
“Sedona & Oak Creek Canyon,” in
chapter 15.
•
River Rafting
(NM and AZ): Whether
you go for 3 days or 2 weeks, no other
active vacation in the region comes
close to matching the excitement of a
raft trip. In Arizona, nothing beats a
Colorado River rafting trip through the
Grand Canyon. Sure, the river is
crowded with groups in the summer,
but the grandeur of the canyon more
than makes up for it. See “Other Ways
of Seeing the Canyon,” under “The
Grand Canyon South Rim,” in chapter
16. In New Mexico, the wild
Taos Box,
a steep-sided canyon south of the Wild
Rivers Recreation Area, offers a series of
Class IV rapids that rarely lets up for
some 17 miles, providing one of the
most exciting 1-day white-water tours
in the West. See “Other Outdoor Activ-
ities,” in chapter 8.
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THE BEST SCENIC DRIVES
•
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
(UT and AZ): This valley of sandstone
buttes and mesas is one of the most
photographed spots in America and,
due to appearances in countless movies,
TV shows, and commercials, is familiar
to people all over the world. A 17-mile
dirt road winds through the park, giv-
ing visitors close-up views of such land-
marks as Elephant Butte, the Mittens,
and Totem Pole. See “Monument Valley
Navajo Tribal Park,” in chapter 6.
•
High Road to Taos
(Santa Fe, NM):
One of New Mexico's primo experi-
ences, this road traverses the mountains
from Santa Fe to Taos, passing by chili
and apple farms in old Hispanic vil-
lages. Stop in Chimayo to see unique
wool weaving, in Cordova to find lovely
woodcarvings, and in renegade Truchas,
where life remains much as it did a
century ago. Most important, the route
crosses the base of New Mexico's grand-
est peaks. See “Taking the High Road
to Taos,” in chapter 7.
•
Turquoise Trail
(Albuquerque, NM):
Meandering through the broad Galisteo
basin, this scenic route winds from
Albuquerque to Santa Fe. The two-lane
road runs through piñon-studded hills
and old mining towns, such as Madrid
and Cerrillos, where 2,000 years ago
Native Americans hammered turquoise
and silver from the hills. Today artists
and craftspeople have revived the towns.
See “En Route to Santa Fe: Along the
Turquoise Trail,” in chapter 9.
•
Lincoln Loop
(Ruidoso, NM): Elegant
art, ancient petroglyphs, and Billy the
Kid memorabilia draw road warriors to
this 162-mile loop in southeastern New
Mexico. It begins in the mountain
resort town of Ruidoso and cruises to
Lincoln, where travelers can “walk in
the footsteps” of the notorious punk
Billy the Kid. Next it passes imaginative
petroglyphs, through the Mescalero
Apache Reservation, and back to Rui-
doso. See “A Scenic Drive Around the
Lincoln Loop,” in chapter 11.
•
Mount Lemmon
(Tucson, AZ): The
views of Tucson from the city's northern
foothills are great, but the vistas from
Mount Lemmon are even better. With
a ski area at its summit, Mount Lem-
mon rises from the desert like an island
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