Cycling
Road Biking – New Mexico is a fantastic place for cycling. The views are spectacular, the sun shines 320 days per year, and there are rolling hills everywhere, as well as mountain passes for the hardy climbers. Rancho Gallina is a great starting point for a number of beautiful rides of varying lengths and difficulties. Here are some of our favorites (click the link to see the ride):
Rancho Gallina to Galisteo – our favorite ride, a 25-mi round trip to the historic town of Galisteo, over the scenic and lightly traveled Camino de los Abuelos. Rolling hills with about 1300 ft of total elevation gain.
Cemetery at Galisteo with the Ortiz mts in the distance
It is easy to extend this ride to the charming little village of Lamy – where the Amtrack Super Chief still passes, loosely following the old Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago – or further on to Eldorado. The Lamy ride adds about 16 miles and 500 ft of elevation.
Rancho Gallina to Golden – a more challenging 43-mile round trip with over 3100 ft of elevation gain, this one follows the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway by the historic mining towns of Cerrillos, Madrid and Golden (purportedly the first place gold was discovered West of the Mississippi). It climbs up Stagecoach Pass, taking you over the Ortiz mountains with gorgeous views of the Santa Fe, Jemez, Sandia, and Sangre de Cristo ranges
View from Stagecoach Pass on the Turquoise Trail
A lovely morning ride on Bonanza Creek Rd.
Bonanza Creek Rd. – an easy 13-mile ride down our road along the North side of the Cerrillos hills, this one takes you on light rollers past the old Tiffany turquoise mine and by the Bonanza Creek Movie ranch, where countless films have been (and continue to be) shot amidst our beautiful southwestern high desert scenery.
Of course if you want to put your bikes on your car (we can loan you a rack and a guide book of rides) your options are nearly limitless. If you like a good organized ride, check out the Santa Fe Century, a May event with numerous routes along beautiful and challenging terrain. You can even join the ride from Rancho Gallina and ride the southern and most scenic part of the route.
Or, if you’d like to check out a professional road race, the Tour of the Gila is a 5 day event that takes off at the end of April in Silver City in the Southern part of the state.
Stay tuned for our Mountain Biking recommendations coming soon!