Southwest Desert Road Trips

Mostly driving I-40, this Route 66 journey across the state's eastern half boasts several pockets of well-preserved Mother Road nostalgia—from the vintage neon signs of Albuquerque to the classic roadside kitsch of Tucumcari. History buffs, take note: Prior to a 1937 realignment, the original Route 66 traveled far north of I-40 through the state capital, Santa Fe.

Set out on a Southwestern adventure, with a route that will take you through the sweeping plains of West Texas, over the Pecos River, above deep New Mexico caverns, along the picturesque Guadalupe Pass, near the shores of the Rio Grande and into a U.S./New Mexico border town.

From the Nevada border, I-15 beelines across flat desert with the gray-brown Virgin Mountains to the north and east. As it enters the Virgin River Gorge, vertical gouges in the limestone show where massive amounts of rock had to be removed. The road winds between sheer limestone cliffs, crossing the river several times, before emerging into rugged terrain with a redder hue.

What looks like a straight line on a map is actually a winding odyssey for the senses. This two-lane road that crisscrosses over the water is only 20 miles long, but the biodiversity and views make it easy to see why the area is a popular destination for hikers, campers and boaters. The Dalton Picnic Area and Santa Fe National Forest Fishing Site are popular stops.

The scenic byway of US 550 runs through arid plains in which the clay- and sand-colored earth gives way to low hills and mesas. Despite the dry climate, grass and brush of sage hues grow, sparsely covering the land. The Continental Divide at 7,380 feet is marked by a sign north of Cuba near the route’s terminus.

With its rolling green landscape, and iron-infused red rocks and canyons speckled with green pines and bushes, the Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179) is a destination unto itself. Get your camera ready to capture the magnificence of nature everywhere you look. It is easy to see why this area was a favorite spot for filming Westerns in the 1940s and '50s. Be on the lookout for such wildlife as deer, eagles, elk and hawks.