San Juan Space Jam, New Mexico

• Ideal Bike: This route is best ridden on a hardtail or full-suspension mountain bike with at least 2.4” wide tires, but anything up to a 3.0” tire could be useful due to the amount of sand and soft trails.
• When to ride: Spring and fall are the best times to ride this route but late winter isn’t out of the question if the conditions are right. Expect freezing temperatures in the evening and hot daytime highs. The route should not be attempted after/during rain or snowfall, as the roads and trails will become impassable and damaged by bike tires. Springtime in New Mexico can get windy, causing sand storms and tent-destroying gusts. Be flexible and pay attention to the weather before heading out.
• Altitude: The elevation of Farmington isn’t staggering compared to other routes in the state, but those coming from sea level will likely feel the effects of elevation. Take time to acclimatize and adjust your daily mileage as needed.
• Route Direction: As presented, the route is designed to be ridden as a clockwise loop. There are a number of one-way trails that should not be ridden backward, so some major planning and alterations will be required for those thinking of riding counter-clockwise. However, it is totally possible.
• Getting Here: Farmington is located in northwestern New Mexico, just south of the Colorado border. It’s an hour’s drive by car from Durango, and about a three-hour drive from Albuquerque. The closest international airports are located in Albuquerque and Denver, with several smaller regional airports within a few hours’ drive from Farmington as well, including Durango.
• ABQ Express is a shuttle company based out of Albuquerque and has vans for shuttling people with bikes throughout the state.
• Parking: Overnight parking is permitted at the Farmington Recreation Centre and Sandstone Cycles. It’s always a good idea to introduce yourself and let the business know what you’re doing.
• Wildlife: New Mexico is home to black bears, coyotes, mountain lions, and bobcats. Practice safe leave no trace principles, don’t litter or leave food scraps behind, and keep your distance.
• Navigation: A bar-mounted GPS device with turn-by-turn navigation is strongly recommended. The route follows lots of singletrack trails that often overlap and can be difficult to follow at times. The northern stretch, along Kiffen Canyon, is especially tricky to follow. These trails are unmarked and lightly used. Trailforks has the most accurate trail info, so having a smartphone with the Trailforks app ready is crucial. Anyone thinking of tackling this route should be comfortable with route finding and prepared to make changes on the fly.
• Cellular Coverage: Most of the route has cellular coverage, but things get remote at times. Bring tools to repair torn tire sidewalls, flats, and other mechanicals. Plan ahead and have a backup plan before heading out.
• This area is big on oil/gas extraction, and because of this most of the gravel roads on the route are used by their trucks. Be vigilant while crossing roads and give the workers plenty of room. Bicycle travel is not fully recognized or accepted in many of these areas.
• Likewise, OHV use is also popular on the route. Most of the trails are for non-motorized use only, but there are sections that aren’t. Expect to hear the drone of off-road vehicles, gas wells, and processing plants throughout the entire route. If you’re looking for the purest version of solitude, this might not be the route for you.

• Lots of the route travels through BLM land where dispersed camping is permitted. No passes or permits are required.
• The arid landscapes of the region are sensitive. Avoid disturbing untouched areas.
• There is a paid campground just outside of Aztec, backing onto the Mountain View trail area.
• There are paid and unpaid camping/lodging options in Farmington for before or after the ride.

• There are very limited natural water sources on the route, especially during the first half. Plan to carry at least 5-6L per person if riding in two days. More may be needed for three days.
• Arranging a water drop ahead of time is a great way to lighten your bike and enjoy the flowy singletrack. A few potential locations are added on the map as POIs.
• Farmington has multiple grocery stores, restaurants, bike shops, and outdoor stores for last-minute preparations.
• There is no major resupply on the route until Aztec.
• Stop by 550 Brewing in Aztec!

For those not interested in following the more remote and challenging trails above Kiffen Canyon, there’s an alternative gravel road detour available. The route, embedded below, drops below the singletrack and provides a unique view of the canyons and rock formations and is just as rewarding. The route rejoins at Highway 550 just north of Cedar Hill. Following this detour reduces the overall difficulty of the route from a 7 to a 5.

Additional Resources

• Farmington Area Singletrack
• Trailforks – Farmington
• Farmington District Office – Bureau of Land Management
• Aztec Adventures