Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[PHAZE]

I'm planning a bike trip for August that will put me out in northwestern New Mexico.  I've got family in Aztec and will be spending some time with them.  We are going to run over and spend a night on the south rim of the Grand Canyon and trying to come up with other things to do during the week.  I've made the ride along US50 in CO from Salida over to Royal Gorge, but we'll have another couple along that has not traveled this area and I wouldn't mind making it again.  I'm considering Mesa Verde and Monument Valley.  I've always wanted to see Carlsbad Caverns and the bats departing in the evening, but Aztec to Carlsbad is about 500 miles. 

I've done the Durango, CO to Silverton train ride, but haven't riden the area on a bike.  I've heard that the train out of Chama, NM is better.

This site is always great for opinions, so that's what I'm looking for here.  In particular Monument Valley as I understand that it's a dirt road, so I assume that you'd want to take one of their buses to ride through the park.  I'm trying to decide if Carlsbad is worth the effort to get there.  If there are any "don't miss it" sites, locations, and/or roads to ride in the area, I'd like to hear about them.  I'll look forward to the input!

Thanks!!

[Gone Fishin']

Been to Carlsbad Caverns. The ride through Carlsbad Caverns National Park is nice, the caverns very impressive. If it fits into your schedule, I'd give it a thumbs up. However, no need to come back in the evening to wait out for the bats departing. I was at best underwhelmed. The bats living there, although very many, are of a tiny species. So don't think "Batman", but rather "Bumblebee". And while you're down there you might want to briefly stop in Fort Sumner to visit Billy the Kid's grave.

Ride safely,
Louis

[PHAZE]

Well, I've seen Ruby Falls and we always have bats out around the street lights at dusk.  I might save a 1000 miles on this trip and put off Carlsbad for another visit.

[2UP3DOWN]

We just recently returned from the most amazing MC trip out west which included riding through Monument Valley... We rode, Moab, Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon North Rim, Mexican Hat, Ouray, Colorado Monument, Moki Dugway and the Million Dollar hwy... OMG...  I'd say I could now cross this off my Bucket list, but we are definately going back... as soon as possible!

We went into the park to see what was there to see and discovered that in order to ride through the park, you had to ride a dirt/gravel road for 17 miles...  So, we passed.

However, once we paid and parked at the visitors center and Hotel, we had the best view of the Mittens plus the back side of the Monument that most people come to associate as Monument Valley...   I guess it was worth the $10 to go in and park.

[charlie]

great pics

[PHAZE]

I had read about the dirt road experience and thought that it might be worthwhile to take a ride on one of the shuttles, buses, etc.  It looks like you got a great view without taking the dirt road loop. 

[2UP3DOWN]

It's sorta odd the way you drive into Monument Valley...  All you can really see aside from the road are a few interesting and the one magnificant view of what you see at the top in picture no. 1

The only way to see the Mittens is to drive the mile or so into the park, pay the $10 and then you get the view of the Mittens and you are really up close to them as you can see in the other photos.

I didn't see any shuttles or busses but we rolled in kinda late so may be they we're running at that time.  If we'd had more time I would have sprung for the tour bus.

[rganz]

We did NM a couple of years ago and we are going back. Great riding. We left Albuquerque for Santa Fe, over to Madrid(stumbled upon it -nice riding to get to it quirky little place, kids thought it was cool) Wild HOGs was filmed there, over to Fort Sumner also checked out Lincoln (More Billy the Kid  history)... down to Roswell, White Sands(Very cool), and Carlsbad. If you have never been  to the Caverns it was a cool  experience that I am glad we stopped at. We never stuck around for the bats. We went to El Paso Texas and up to Las Cruces. From there we went to Silver City and north to the Gila Cliff dwellings. We took a road out the backside of the cliff dwellings northeast to get back to Albuquerque and it was some of the best riding you will ever do IMO. I cant for the life of me remember the name of it though.
We loved NM and are heading back when we . One thing I learned over the years is to take in as much as possible when I am riding because I always used to say to myself "I will check this out another day" and it seems like one never gets around to it.

 One day I will get a job where I can just ride......

Rob

[PHAZE]

I appreciate the input from all!  Thanks!!

[Talon]

We just recently returned from the most amazing MC trip out west which included riding through Monument Valley... We rode, Moab, Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon North Rim, Mexican Hat, Ouray, Colorado Monument, Moki Dugway and the Million Dollar hwy... OMG...  I'd say I could now cross this off my Bucket list, but we are definitely going back... as soon as possible!

We went into the park to see what was there to see and discovered that in order to ride through the park, you had to ride a dirt/gravel road for 17 miles...  So, we passed.

However, once we paid and parked at the visitors center and Hotel, we had the best view of the Mittens plus the back side of the Monument that most people come to associate as Monument Valley...   I guess it was worth the $10 to go in and park.

These are the places I'd go, Monument Valley didn't do much for me, but we didn't get down into the valley either. here an old picture of us at Monument back in my V65 Magna days. If you go yo Moab, and have time, go to the ranger station and sign up for the fiery furnace tour, it's limited so you would need to do it as soon as you get there.

[MIKEYTEE]

It's been years since we were in Monument Valley.Pay the $10 and take the guided tour. You'll a history lesson along the way.
My oldest grandson still talks about that trip and wants to go back. That was 9 years ago when we went.
I will go back there again.
Mike