The Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway takes riders between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM. Motorcycle riding The Turquoise Trail will take you through the ghost town of Los Cerrillos and the biker hot spot of Madrid, NM.
The Route
Starting in Albuquerque, take Route 66 east to NM-14 in Tijeras. Continue through the small towns of Cedar Crest, San Antonito, Golden, Madrid, Los Cerrillos, and more along the 46-mile ride on NM-14. Merge onto I-25 toward Santa Fe if you want to visit the city, or loop back onto NM-14 to head south again toward Albuquerque.
The route has grown to include several small artist communities, offering hiking trails, kitschy roadway stands, art galleries, and several places to stop and take photos of natural desert and mountain views.
The Sights
Enjoy long stretches of desert and hills sprinkled with several small towns when motorcycle riding the Turquoise Trail. If you leave the main route to explore the nearby attractions, you might find Cedar Mountain, several hiking trails, farms, and permanent environmental art installations.
Along the way, you’ll see several roadside stands by artists in the smaller towns, many of which only feature populations of around 200 residents.
The Attractions
Stop in Madrid to check out several small art stores along the main street. Find different art styles and works, including handmade jewelry, paintings, crafts, pottery, metalworks, and more.
Madrid was the site for filming several scenes in the 2007 movie Wild Hogs, and Maggie’s Diner still stands as a souvenir and merchandise shop for biker gear, t-shirts, and more novelty items.
Stop at the Visitor Center for Cerrillos Hills State Park for information about the town history and local trails. The town center in Los Cerrillos offers a modern look at the former ghost town, with some small local art galleries and walking tours of the classic Old West architecture.
Head out of town and visit any of the local hiking trails in Cerrillos Hills State Park. Informational plaques describe the history of mines, cultivation, Native American life, and more.
Along the main route, you’ll find other attractions like the Encaustic Museum for wax artwork, the Origami in the Garden sculpture garden, the Hat Ranch Gallery, and more.
The Grub
When planning your day trip on The Turquoise Trail, you’ll want to stop and grab a bite along the way.
In Cedar Crest, check out the Rumor Brewing Company for pizza, sandwiches, and a pint. Yours, Mine & Ours offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, including house-made breads and tortillas, burgers, melts, and local New Mexican favorites. Don’t miss the Grill at Cedar Crest Shell for burritos, chicken tenders, burgers, and more.
Stop by the Mine Shaft Tavern & Cantina in Madrid for a popular biker bar and saloon offering an award-winning green chile burger. Enjoy appetizers, pizza, and burgers made with locally sourced meats. The Tavern also serves several local brews on tap, as well as an assortment of cocktails and margaritas.
While in Madrid, stop at Shugarman’s Little Shop to sample handmade chocolate treats in various flavors. Just be sure to insulate your chocolate from the heat if you want to take some home from your ride!
In Los Cerrillos, check out the Black Bird Saloon for upscale classic sandwiches and burritos, like the bone marrow toast, elk burger, or classic Angus burger. Wash it down with a local New Mexico beer on tap.
Call Us at Law Tigers for Motorcycle Lawyers in New Mexico
We hope you’ll check out these spots when biking The Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway. At Law Tigers, we’re lawyers who ride and represent victims in motorcycle accidents across the United States. Call us today at 1-888-863-7216 for a free case evaluation.
