Tour the Tucumcari to Red River Motorcycle Tour in New Mexico

If you’re looking for a hidden gem of a ride, you might want to try this Tucumcari to Red River, New Mexico motorcycle route. This road trip has it all: breathtaking scenery, delicious Mexican food, bluegrass music, and meandering roads that are delightful to ride on.

It’s an amazing route. Here are more details about the tour and the places you can see along the way.

Take Off from Tucumcari on Old Route 66

Our journey starts in Tucumcari, New Mexico, a small city founded at the turn of the 20th century and a popular stopover for travelers on the interstate formerly known as Route 66. Before you leave town, you might want to check out the vintage Blue Swallow Motel with its retro neon signs fitting for a stop on the historic Route 66.

Highway 104 to Las Vegas, New Mexico

From Tucumcari, you’ll embark on Highway 104 and cruise for 108 miles until you reach Las Vegas, NM (not the famous city in Nevada). On the way, you’ll pass Conchas Lake State Park, a gorgeous lake with secluded coves, sandy beaches, and numerous opportunities for outdoor activities like camping, fishing, and boating.

You should reach Las Vegas in about two hours if you ride without stopping. If you worked up an appetite on the road, you could stop by the family-run El Rialto Restaurant for delicious Mexican food with New Mexico’s famous red and green chiles. Fun fact: ordering both types of chiles is called “Christmas.”

Highway 518 to Mora

After leaving the lesser-known city of Las Vegas, you’ll ride down Highway 518 for about 30 miles to Mora, NM. On the first section of 518, you’ll be surrounded by wide-open fields and hills with sparse shrubs dotting the landscape, which you can get a stunning view of at Hermit’s Peak on the way.

As you get closer to Mora, the road cuts a path through the fir trees and cozy farmland, but you can still spot the hills over the horizon. 

Highway 434 to Angel Fire

Highway 434 is home to herds of deer and elk, so be on guard for animals trying to cross the road as you ride toward Angel Fire. If you’re a history buff, you’ll get a treat out of visiting the historic St. Vrain’s Mill off Highway 434. Built in 1864, the mill supplied flour until it closed down in 1922.

Highway 434 eventually becomes a narrow, one-lane road winding alongside Coyote Creek, offering beautiful scenery and a chance of glimpsing the abundant wildlife in the area. Once you reach Angel Fire, you’ll continue a short way until you get to the scenic byway known as the Enchanted Circle.

The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway (Highway 38)

The Enchanted Circle is the true gem of this motorcycle route from Tucumcari to Red River, New Mexico, providing gorgeous views of the surrounding forests, hills, and mountains. As you wind through the bewitching Moreno Valley, you’ll ascend to Bobcat Pass and then ride down to Red River, NM.

Red River

The end of this route lies at Red River, a picturesque alpine resort town in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Red River is a ski village that attracts skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and other outdoors lovers, featuring various hotels and lodges where you can kick your boots off and relax surrounded by the majestic wilderness. Bluegrass music is often played live at the bars and restaurants in Red River.

Law Tigers Support Riders and Their Families Nationwide

During your ride from Tucumcari to Red River, New Mexico, remember that your safety is always the top priority. If an accident does happen, attorneys at Law Tigers have your back. Law Tigers, attorneys who ride, provide knowledgeable representation so you can receive fair compensation for an injury motorcycle accident.

Call Law Tigers today at 1-888-863-7216 for a free case evaluation.