New Mexico - Enchanted Land Trip

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The Enchanted Land trip is a 7-9 day road trip through New Mexico, with a short portion in the western panhandle of Texas.

Unlike most of my trips, this one doesn't begin and end in the same place. In order to save time closing the loop, I flew into El Paso, Texas, and departed from Albuquerque, New Mexico. You could choose to arrive and depart from the same city, since Albuquerque and El Paso are only about 5 hours apart, via Interstate 25.

From El Paso, the route heads east through the mostly empty western panhandle of Texas, passing the little known Guadalupe Mountains National Park before entering into New Mexico. From there, you'll pass Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the town of Carlsbad. Then, continue north to Artesia, and hang a left at US 82, taking you into the mountains surrounding Cloudcroft, and eventually to Alamogordo and White Sands National Monument. From there, travel west to the mountain town of Silver City, the Gila Cliff Dwellings, and the almost completely untouched Gila Wilderness. View the Very Large Array of satellite dishes near Magdalena, and the Trinity Site near Socorro, then view more Native American ruins at Gran Quivira. See the sun setting against the Sandia mountains, take in Albuquerque, the state capitol of Santa Fe, and the High Road to Taos.

	Day 1 Begins Here El Paso to Guadalupe Mountains Guadalupe Mtns. NP - Devil's Hall Trail

	Day 2 Begins Here Carlsbad Caverns - Natural Entrance The Big Room The Pecos Flume - River That Crosses Itself Rte. 82 - Artesia to Alamogordo

	Day 3 Begins Here White Sands National Monument Alkali Flat Trail Las Cruces - La Mesa - Chope's Rio Grande Valley Lake Valley Byway & Ghost Town Rte. 152 Into Silver City

	Day 4 Begins Here Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Trail of the Mountain Spirits Byway Gila Mountains Catwalk Trail Very Large Array

	Day 5 Begins Here Trinity Atomic Blast Site Trinity to Carrizozo & Ruidoso Claunch, New Mexico Gran Quivira - Salinas Pueblos Nat. Mon. Manzano Mountains Sunset

	Day 6 Begins Here Sandia Mountains Santa Fe El Santuario de Chimayo High Road to Taos

	Day 7 Begins Here Santa Fe - St. Francis Cathedral Miracle Staircase Old Town Square Albuquerque - Downtown & Old Town Sadie's Restaurant Sandia Mountains Sunset

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