It’s often said Europe has too much history, while America simply has space. Yet, trekking along the Rio Grande and New Mexico’s highest peak, Mount Wheeler brings the vestiges of 700-year old civilizations into sharp relief. In addition to exploring ancient adobe and cliff-dwelling settlements, we drop into Old Spanish colonias, more modern art colonies, and smart mountain resorts.
This area is a confluence of ecological zones: the Great Plains in the East, the Chihuahuan Desert South, and the Colorado Plateau to the West. With that kind of variety, the land is naturally perfect for multi-sport touring: outstanding road cycling and hiking options beckon at each compass point. While the nearby Rio Grande offers excellent whitewater rafting.
Along the way we savor a diverse tapestry of culture, architecture, and art that represent each of the state’s three distinct traditions: Indian, Spanish and Anglo. We can take as much time as we need to drink it all in! While the state bird is the Roadrunner, don’t expect that kind of pacing on this trek.
High Desert to high Alpine, admiring rock paintings and petroglyphs. From squeezing through slot canyons to admiring expansive mesas, our Land of Enchantment trip truly has something for everyone.
Day 1-2: Meet-up in Santa Fe. Shuttle to the village of Vadito. At 7400-ft, we ride the High Road Scenic Byway. Our tempo allows us to truly revel in the winding road through the Sangre de Cristo range, through badlands and wind-etched hoodoos. Arriving in Taos, we visit frontiersman Kit Carson’s home, as well as the unique shops and smart galleries that line the historic town center. The following day, raft the mighty Rio Grande through the Box – a scenic, deep cut canyon in the vast New Mexico desert.
Day 3-4: Departing Taos, we ride southwest towards the settlement of Pilar: an old Hispanic pueblo and camp for Jicarilla Apache. Cross the Rio Grande before turning into the Rio Grand Gorge. Inside the gorge we trend north through the National forest to Ojo Caliente mineral springs – our residence for the next two nights. Ride to Ghost Ranch. A 21,000-acre retreat/fine arts campus amidst soaring red cliffs, Ghost Ranch was originally part of a 1766 land grant to Pedro Martin Serrano from the King of Spain. The grant was initially called Piedra Lumbre (shining rock). The subsequent Ghost Ranch designation or the more local Rancho de los Brujos owes to persistent paranormal activity plus accounts of hangings throughout the Ranch’s history. A hike to Ghost Ranch crowns our afternoon followed with a shuttle back to our base at the Ojo Caliente hot springs.
Day 5-6: Trek to the Tsankawi Ruins: an isolated-detached section of 33,677-acre Bandelier National Monument. After exploring the ruins, an ancestral Pueblo site/archeological preserve we saddle up. Pedaling 11-miles through the town of White Rock, then into the main section of Bandelier, we stop for lunch in the canyon, lorded over by soaring cliffs and mesas. After lunch we hike along the river, through the impressively preserved ruins. After a stop in the visitors’ center we commence our day with a short stop in Chimayo’s historic Church and a shuttle to Santa Fe. Our last day, stroll through Santa Fe Plaza or join a finale ride down Artist Drive from the top of Aspen Basin Ski Area.
Escape Adventures operates under a special use permit on the Carson National Forest. Escape Adventures is an equal opportunity provider.
*ebike available for this tour
Escape Adventures
For those who have yet to tour with us, we appreciate the opportunity to introduce you to our family-run company and guiding principles of sustainability and adventure. Our portfolio specializes in Western North America and is rapidly growing internationally. Building on over 100 destinations, we cater to the full spectrum of active traveler, respective to fitness level and activity type. From road cyclist to mountain biker to electric biker, hiker, and multi-sport enthusiast, and from first-timer to friends and family groups of all ability levels, on behalf of our Escape Adventures family, we look forward to many new and exciting adventures with you.
With much gratitude, and happy trails,
Jared and Heather Fisher
Founders and Owner-Operators
Escape Adventures
