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Getting There:
Rides:
Notes: The Kowboy Kafe is located in the Shaffer Hotel south of the intersection of NM55 and US60 in Mountainair. There are a few motels and groceries in Mountainair. There is a grocery store in Tajique. Books:
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Mountainair Area Rides
Mountainair is a great area to road ride that is a short drive from Albuquerque. The roads are open, mostly rolling hills with only modest elevation gains, and always with the Manzano Mountains to the northwest.
Historic Quarai Ruins N of Mountainair
Roadways: The east mountain roads are rural 2-lanes highways with light traffic without shoulders. US60 is two lanes without shoulders from Willard to Mountainair, shoulders from Mountainair west but with surprisingly light traffic.Getting There:
- From Albuquerque: Tramway and I-40: 56 miles (1:40 hrs). Take I-40 east to NM337 south to Tajique, continue south on NM337 to Mountainair.
Rides:
Double the distances for out-and back rides.
- Mountainair to Abo Ruins: 9 miles west on US60 (towards I-25) and 1/2 mile north on NM513.
- Mountainair to Quarai Ruins: 8 miles north of Mountainair on NM55 in Punta del Agua, then 1 mile paved west. Quarai has interesting ruins that are a short walk and a nice visitor center.
- Mountainair to Gran Quivira: 26 miles south of Mountainair on NM55. These are the largest ruins in the area.
- Mountainair / Estancia 60-mile Loop.
- The 115 mile Mountainair / Tijeras / Moriarty Loop.
- Two Day Mountainair / Albuquerque Loop.
Notes: The Kowboy Kafe is located in the Shaffer Hotel south of the intersection of NM55 and US60 in Mountainair. There are a few motels and groceries in Mountainair. There is a grocery store in Tajique.
Books:
- Ancient Ruins of the Southwest: An Archaeological Guide, Noble and Melton, 2000.
- Bicycling America's National Parks: Arizona and New Mexico: The Best Road and Trail Rides from the Grand Canyon to Carlsbad Caverns, Sarah Bennett Alley, Dennis Coello, 2001.