The High Road to Taos is one of the most popular scenic drives in the state, passing by 18th century Spanish villages, with beautiful churches and housing local artisans. Once you make it past Highway 84/285 you will be on rural back roads with little traffic, but be careful on this stretch of the highway, as it is busy. You will pass by the Rio Nambe, with big cottonwood trees and high desert plateaus, apple orchards, views of Truchas Peak and the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, and churches galore. This is a one-way route, so set up a shuttle. Twin Hearts Express, located in Taos, will drop off or pick up in either city at any area lodging and runs every two hours - give them a call to set something up.

If you're looking for a good climb, the ride up to Sandia Crest is calling your name! Enjoy this ride up along the Sandia Crest Highway, which is fairly free of traffic and you generally have a good shoulder to ride on. The majority of the ride goes through Cibola National Forest, where you will be riding through pinon-juniper up to high alpine forests. Once you get to the top, not only will you feel accomplished, but you will get an amazing 360 degree view of the Rio Grande, Jemez Mountains and more, all while standing at 10,678 feet. The decent back to your starting point is always enjoyable as well.

Ride the newly paved Rio Grande West Rim Trail and enjoy the fantastic views of the deep gorge cut by the river below. This ride can be done as a one-way or an out and back, but it is only 9 miles so it's typically done as out-and-back. The road is very flat, and makes for an easy ride, allowing you to fully take in the scenery. You can park at either side of the Rio Grande Gorge bridge, but if you park on the east side, you get to ride over the gorge, which is fun in and of itself.

The most popular road biking route in northern New Mexico, the Enchanted Circle is home to the Enchanted Circle Century Tour held each year. This loop is only roughly 85 miles, but you can take a number of other options (typically out to Black Lake and back) to make it the century. Parts of this ride are very low traffic and remote, while others will take you along busy highways and heavier traffic (especially around Taos). This route will take you through a few ski-towns that boast fun places to stay, art galleries, and more, as well as riding up and down the steep mountains that make up these beautiful ski areas. If you don't feel up to doing this route yourself, you can find a number of touring companies that will take you.

This scenic highway is an out-and-back ride, but can also be set up as a shuttle, with a car up at Cloudcroft and one down at the Sunspot Visitors Center & National Solar Observatory. This ride will give you a good cardiac workout, as it is full of climbing, twists and turns, and is around 9000 ft elevation. Most of the road has wide shoulders and the traffic is very low, so the ride should be quite enjoyable. You have a good chance of seeing wildlife, like deer and elk, along the route, and a great view the entire way out to White Sands National Monument. Be prepared for summer rain showers and thunderstorms.

Take a ride along the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway, or the Inner Loop as it is more often called, and enjoy one of the stages of the Tour of the Gila. After you get out of Silver City you won't hit another stop light for about 65 miles. You will climb into juniper and ponderosa pine forests and get some fantastic views of the red bluffs below. You will pass by Lake Roberts, also called the Emerald of the Gila, and a very popular fishing spot. You will have some mountain grade climbs in this loop, but the end of the loop is fairly flat and should be welcome after hitting the hills.

Ride along NM 15, through the heart of the Gila Wilderness. This route, part of the Gila Monster stage of the Tour of the Gila, begins at the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, and takes you on an out-and-back of the Gila Inner Loop Scenic Byway. You will ride along the Gila River, enjoying the views as you climb up and above it. You will also pass by hot springs, wildflower meadows and sandstone rock cliffs. This road has a fair amount of climb, as well as some fun and refreshing descents in both directions. When you make it back, stay at one of the free campgrounds and check out the Gila Cliff Dwellings or one of the nearby hot springs.

One of the classic climbs in New Mexico, the ride up to Emory Pass has been listed as one of the greatest climbs in the country by Bicycling Magazine. This route begins at Truth or Consequences, but you can of course start at Kingston, which will cut much of the flat miles out (or you can even leave from Silver City). No matter which way you take, the climb is beautiful and the short detour out to the Emory Pass Overlook makes all that climbing worth it. The traffic should be light and the pavement well maintained, but there is no shoulder.

Explore two beautiful desert attractions on this ride to El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments. This ride is pretty flat, with some gentle climbing up to the Continental Divide. You will first pass by El Malpais National Monument, which is a giant, old lava flow, full of caves, cinder cones, volcanoes and other oddly shaped rock formations. Your turn around spot is El Morro National Monument, where you can view Inscription Rock and tons of petroglyphs from a number of different time periods. You will also pass by the privately owned Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave, which can be fun side trips. Most of this trip is freshly paved road and fairly free of traffic. There is even a bike lane available for a good portion.

Ride your bike along one of the most scenic roads in the state, the Jemez Mountain Trail Scenic Byway. This entire route runs through the national forest, with plenty of beautiful views and sites to see. The first you will encounter is the Valle Grande, an enormous collapsed volcano. You will also see Battleship Rock, which marks the beginning of the Jemez River, and Soda Dam, which was formed over thousands of years from mineral deposits. You will also pass by the remains of an ancient Indian village before reaching Jemez Springs, where you will find the Jemez Springs Bath House.