Bikepacking Routes

Situated 15 miles to the west of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Caja del Rio is a high desert volcanic plateau, ringed by cliffs and escarpments, bordered by the Rio Grande, and flanked by the distant protrusions of the Jemez and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Given that the area is predominantly National Forest and laced with a tangle of dirt roads and cow trails, it makes a compact playground for mini-adventures; one that's just a short ride out of Santa Fe, or a convenient train ride from Albuquerque.

Nestled in the crook of a deep and chiseled valley, Ruidoso, New Mexico, isn't a place you'd likely find yourself by chance – unless you were seeking out the most southerly ski resort in the US. Set in the mellow yet undeniably beautiful Lincoln National Forest, its Sierra Blanca peak erupts from the brittle plains of the Chihuahua Desert, towering almost 12,000 ft above sea level.

Is it that time of the year when the weather takes a turn for the worse? When the endless dirt roads, winter sun and big blue skies of the South West make an enticing escape from the snowbound north? If so, this dirt, gravel and paved road bikepacking trip in New Mexico could be for you. A four-day ride, it offers a fascinating historical tour of Central New Mexico, using public transport from Albuquerque to propel you into the heart of the desert action.