Are you a motorcycle rider with a passion for giving back and supporting education? If so, gear up and get ready to ride in the inaugural Easy Ride in the Pines in Santa Clara, N.M., sponsored by the Law Tigers and the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association 47-1 (CVMA 47-1).
This self-guided tour benefits the CVMA 47-1 Auxiliary Scholarship Fund and includes a scenic ride through southwest New Mexico, starting and ending at the Fort Bayard Theater, 26 Calle El Cento, Santa Clara N.M. Registration begins at 10 a.m., with the last bike in at 4 p.m.
Cost to participate is $20 per motorcycle rider and $10 per passenger; those embarking by a vehicle other than a motorcycle will pay $30 for each vehicle and $5 for each passenger. Event organizer Eileen Ambriz said riders from all over the Southwest have registered to ride.
“I have riders coming from all over New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Texas and Nevada,” Ambriz said. “I am excited and hope this turns out to be a successful event.”
In addition to the epic motorcycle ride through the surrounding forests, the after-ride events include:
- Music
- Food
- Silent and Live Auction
- 50/50 Raffle
Not sure where to start on your adventure during the Easy Ride in the Pines? Check out this scenic ride!
Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway | Approximately 5 hours/93 miles roundtrip
Fort Bayard | Silver City | Pinos Altos | Lake Roberts | Gila Cliff Dwellings| Mimbres
This 93-mile Scenic Byway crisscrosses the Continental Divide and travels through the nation’s first national wilderness area and is known affectionately by the locals as
the “Inner Loop.” Enjoy six distinct climate zones on this tour of the Old West and the people who settled in the area.
Head south from Fort Bayard and hit US 180 for a quick trip to the historic mining town of Silver City, known for its outlaws (Billy the Kid’s mother is buried in the local cemetery, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid frequented the saloons in the late 1800s) and the surrounding hills filled with silver, copper and gold ore deposits. The Silver City Museum gives a fascinating look into the history of the area.
Pinos Altos is the next stop, traveling north from US 180 to New Mexico 15, taking you from the base of the Mogollon Mountains and high desert to the cool pines. Another mining town rich in history and ore, Pinos Altos saw its share of conflict as miners and settlers fought Apache Indians who were opposed to the non-natives occupying their lands. Many of the historic, original buildings are still standing from the heyday mining years: the old opera house was turned into a restaurant and the Buckhorn Saloon, a great place to grab a drink and lunch before heading out to Lake Roberts.
The ride from Pinos Altos to Lake Roberts along NM 15 then to NM 35 winds through some challenging and narrow sections of highway, with steep grades of 10-12 percent. Lush foliage lines the road leading to the idyllic lake situated among stands of ponderosa pines and deciduous hardwoods like cottonwoods and oaks. Although there are limited services here such as a general store, picnic tables and restrooms, it is an ideal place to hop off your bike and enjoy nature and take a quick walk around the lake.
Ready to discover the Native America history of the area? Take NM 15 north to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, ancestral home of the Mogollon Indians, who used the stone rooms nestled into the side of the steep cliffs above Cliff Dweller Creek in the late 1200s. The area is free to explore and includes hiking trails, picnic areas and a park store.
Hop back on your motorcycle and head south along NM 15 to NM 35 and wind your way down the mountain to the town of Mimbres, N.M. Stop by the Mimbres Cultural Heritage Site, which documents the settlement history of the Mimbres and Salado Native American tribes and Anglo and Spanish settlers.
The short 20-mile drive from Mimbres to Fort Bayard completes your day – now go have fun at the after-ride party at Fort Bayard!
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