| | | Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, NM | | | |
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Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, NM
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Scenic Drive | 150.00 Miles |
1,000 AEG |
| Scenic Drive | 150.00 Miles | | | |
1,000 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Decided to do a triplog and photoset encompassing my driving and just dinking around on The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway that goes all the way around Wheeler Peak. With the driving, dinking around, camping and hiking, it took me pretty much 4 days and it still wasn't enough time. The Byway itself was only 84 miles long, but I took side trips and sometimes doubled back to places along the way. I probably did around 150 miles of actual driving and at times it was a bit exciting with the weather. For any Hikes that I did along or near the Byway, I'll do separate triplogs and Photosets for.
Day 1
I started heading that way the day after my raft trip, but first I wanted to get some more pics of the Rio Grande before I left, so I traveled the river road back to Pilar, stopping now and again to look at parts of the river I hadn't seen. The Visitor's Center was open in Pilar, so I stopped in and asked a few questions, finding out about a back road that takes you to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and then into Taos from there. I followed their directions and went back upstream on the river road and crossed the Rio Grande at the Taos Junction Bridge, which turned out to be the same place of our rafting takeout. It's a recreation area there with swimmers, fisherman, kayakers, paddle boarders and a bathroom. People were actually jumping into the river off the bridge. Crossing the river, the pavement ends and you take dirt road up a bunch of switchbacks to get out of the Gorge. While the Gorge views were nice along the road, the Gorge is so deep, you rarely saw the river itself. Got up on top and suddenly the dirt road turns to pavement which was nice. And a nice surprise awaited down the road. 4 Bighorn Sheep, 3 large rams and an ewe, were busy grazing on the grass shoulder of the road. They weren't really the least bit fazed when I stopped on the other side and started up the camera.
Then it was on to join the highway that crosses the Rio Grande again via the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Lots of people there, including vendors in the parking lot and a county sheriff's deputy watching people hike out to and onto the bridge. Apparently, people jumping from it to end things is a common occurrance.The views from the bridge were pretty cool and the timing was pretty good in that I caught the outfit that I had rafted with the day before going under the bridge.
And then it was on towards Taos. I detoured a bit and visited a little town called Arroyo Seco, which has some shops and such. Dinked around a bit and then headed up to the Taos Ski Resort. While I wasn't going to try to hike anything up there this time around, I wanted to see it. Pretty drive for sure. Then back down through Taos to start the southern leg of the Byway, electing to do it counterclockwise, since I had reservations at a campground 25 miles south of the SE corner. The southern stretch went quickly and before long I was turning off the Byway to go through the town of Angel Fire, another ski resort town. I stopped for an early dinner and then preceded to keep going south to my campground, Coyote Creek State Park, one of the few places I had made reservations for. Beautiful drive to the Park and I arrived and got checked in. Dinked around a bit that evening and the next morning. (Separate triplog).
Day 2
After doing the only Hike in the park, it was time to go. The day was gray with overcast mostly and the skies only got grayer and darker as I progressed back up to drive some of the east side of the byway. My first stop was part of Eagle Nest Lake State Park. Before you hit the main park, there are a couple of day use places to drive into. By the time I got to the 2nd, the Six Mile Day Use area, the rain started. I waited a bit in the truck and was keeping the camera busy with some pretty cool birds hanging out nearby. The rain stopped for a bit, so I took a walk down to the lake and the views, with more oncoming storms, were pretty dramatic. Some cool birds down there too. After staying for a bit, I walked back up and drove over to the main part of the park, with the intent of hiking at least one of the trails around the lake. Yeah, well, that wasn't going to happen. By the time I got out of the Visitor's Center, the skies had turned pretty black and ominous, so I decided to check out the tiny town of Eagle Nest instead. I hadn't even turned back on the highway to get there, when the skies pretty much burst wide open with some pretty intense lightning. Fortunately, some of the shops in town were open, so I checked them out. Decided to try to eat, but all 3 of the eating places in town were closed for some reason, and I had a decision to make.
Still had some day left, but where I was going to camp wasn't anywhere near food, so I made the 16 mile drive in the weather to the town of Red River at the NE corner of the Byway. Very pretty drive over Bobcat Pass to get there and once there, I dinked around some more shops and then ate at the Red River Brewery, which was really good. There was a fudge shop across the street, so decided to run in there for dessert and just wow. Wasn't just fudge, but nostalgia. Candy that was common in the 60's and 70's was sold there. Pretty cool little shop.
Then it was back over Bobcat Pass, through Eagle Nest, and into Cimarron Canyon State Park. Not a park with like an entrance per se, the whole canyon and highway WERE the Park. I stopped at a pullout along the way and just marveled at the canyon walls and the Cimarron River running through it all. I spent some time there and then headed for what was my first choice for a campground and hoped they had a space for me. They did and it was turned out to be a pretty cool campground. Maverick Campground was set along a series of small ponds that had been built and supplied with diverted Cimarron River water and you could fish the ponds. Had about enough time to walk around the one main pond and watch fly fishermen reel in some rainbow trout before dark. I would do a small hike in the morning exploring the area. (Separate triplog)
Day 3
After spending most of the morning hiking along the Cimarron River from the campground, I checked out and drove down canyon for a few miles more. Lots of fishing pullouts along the way and then the canyon opened up into a valley. I turned around and headed for my next Hike and the main reason for this eastern foray off the Byway. (Separate triplog)
After the hike, I was pretty exhausted and the daily deluge from the skies had started again. I drove through rain and hail out of the canyon, through Eagle Nest, and back onto the Byway. Arrived in Red River again, had a very late lunch and decided to try to find a campground for the night. My first choice just west of Red River was a small NFS Campground called Fawn Lakes and they had an opening. It was perfect. My camp was right along the Red River and I could see the attraction for fly fishermen, as it's a premier trout river in the state. Beautiful water and I spent the remaining daylight with the camera, photographing the flow and also the camp visitor. I fell asleep to the sound of the river, always a favorite.
Day 4
After spending a little more time along the river at the campground, I checked out and headed back to Red River and went for a quick horseback ride. Well, actually a Mule Ride, which was a first for me, but apparently they like Mules better in the mountain terrains. A little disappointed where they took us for the short trip, but I liked the outfitter company. Will go for a longer ride next time to where you actually really get into the mountains. I had a pretty spicy mount. Combine a Mule, naturally stubborn, and add some spice and I had my hands pretty full, but I stayed in the saddle and managed to keep him fairly under control, although at times it was a real test. After I was done with that, it was time for another hike. (Separate triplog).
After the hike, it was time to finish the Byway. The skies opened up again and I drove through some more hail before coming into the town of Questa in the NW corner of the Byway loop. I was out of time. While I had wanted to dink around Questa and spend some more time in the Wild and Scenic River area and the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument, it just wasn't going to happen on this trip. I had reservations back up in the Jemez Mountains that night, so it was time to keep on driving. Grabbed a quick bite in Taos on the way back through and didn't hit the Fenton Lake State Park campground until well after dark.
And that is the conclusion of my 4 day "Scenic Drive". 4 triplogs/Photosets to follow for the Hikes that I did along the way. |
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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!" |
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