Written Directions
Starting in Taos, take 585 East to meet up woth 64 if you are in the South side of Taos or just get to Rt 64. 64 takes you east and then turn north. Then it open up into a huge valley. Eagles Nest Lake is worth a stop to stretch legs and take a few pics. Then a little stint though town. Now you have a choice. You can stay on 64 and take a meander through brand new pavement as of July 2014 on a perfect road (a few sharp turns so keep alert) and beautiful scenery through Cimarron Canyon (a 15 mile round trip but worth it) or you can take a left at the begging of town onto 38 north. Then you get to meander through mountains and more amazing scenery. I took the Cimarron Canyon route east and then turned around and did it again to then take 38 North and head home. When you get to Questa you could head south back to Taos on 522 South or North on 522 toward Colorado. Also a GREAT ride. It is a no loose situation in that whole area.
Scenery
Lush Forest at the beginning of the ride with a road that will snake you through a dappled sunlight forest (best before 8am) with "Shire" like meadows and beautiful scenery. Then you break out into a huge basin with mountain ranges on both sides as you approach Eagles Nest Lake. Open skies and great roads. (Any other questions?). Cimarron Canyon has a beautiful stream and amazing rock formations, but the road is SMOOOOOOTTTHHHHH as it is new pavement as of July 2014. The ride on 38 West is also amazing. You ride through this massive basin as you have this seemingly never ending mountain range to your left. Peak after peak and back range views of really rugged rocks. Then as it turns west, more mountains and the kind of road that winds through small hills so that you get to see just small sections of it as it rises over the tops of some of the hills and ducks behind others. AMAZING view of the mountains open up around on of the corners. Be prepared because you may just gasp as I did.
Added by "wadenelson" in Aug of 2014: "A wonderful climb up Taos Canyon through forest with twisties and turns, alongside a creek, through the pastoral Moreno Valley, up to the ski area and back to Taos."
Drive Enjoyment
Some areas of new pavement or fairly new chip seal that has been driven on and swept so that there is no tar/stones at all. Two lane road, minimum traffic, easy and plentiful passing opportunities. these are roads that you can open 'er up a little and get some twisties in too. great combo.
Tourism Opportunities
You are riding through some areas where you are in the middle of nowhere. now that being said, in the towns you run across...fill up... Just for peace of mind more than anything. Restaurants are available in every town so stopping for a pit stop or a bite is easily done. I give this aspect a 2 only because there are areas where you will barely see a house, so just be prepared. Met some really nice people at every stop I made...
Motorcycle Road Additional info
This was part of a trip from Boulder, CO to Taos and Back. 900 miles in two days. I hit some great roads many of which are already on this site, but this was a great way to start off my return trip. If you are down in Taos, make this ride.
