Motorcycling means many things to many people: a sense of freedom, the thrill of horsepower, the camaraderie of riding with friends, the peace of riding solo through endless desert, the pleasure of travel to new places, the immersive sensory experience a motorcycle brings compared to an enclosed car. Motorcycling can be all these things and more, and the day rides in this book provide opportunities to experience all of them. I would encourage anyone who finds this book to try some of these rides as a way to extend your enjoyment of the great things motorcycling has to offer.
–D.W., 2026
15 Great Motorcycle Rides in the Albuquerque Area
New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment for good reason. With geography from high desert plains to snow-capped mountains; cultures including Native-American, Hispanic, Spanish, Anglo, and African-American; climate from hot, dry desert to alpine forests; roads from the arrow-straight to extreme cliffhanging twisties; the state contains such a wide variety of terrain, culture, and climate in a concentrated area that it is almost impossible to get tired of riding here.
This book is geared towards people who have a motorcycle and don’t know where to go on it. They may be beginners just getting started or locals in a rut of only doing a few well-known rides. They may be from out of town, but don’t know where to go that is both gratifying and achievable within a single day of riding. Or they may be experienced riders who are looking for something they may have missed over the years.
The 15 day rides in this book centered on Albuquerque represent an overview of some of the best that central and northern New Mexico has to offer the motorcycle rider.
Mr. Peek, a retired engineer, has been living and motorcycling in New Mexico for more than 30 years, with countless day rides, solo explorations, and organized group trips under his belt. This is his first book.
Click here to order the book in Print or Ebook format.
This comprehensive guide gives readers an in-depth look at the following aspects of riding in New Mexico:
- What makes day riding in New Mexico so special
- Considerations for safety and comfort
- Food
- Gasoline
- Road Hazards
- A Note About Points of Interest
- The Rides
- Starting/Ending Points for the Rides
- Road Names and Numbers
- Map Symbology
Routes Described in this Manuscript
West
- Socorro/Grants Loop
- Grants/Cuba Loop
- Route 66 Albuquerque to Grants
- Cuba/Abiquiu Loop
North
- Jemez/Los Alamos Loop
- Valles Caldera Up and Back
- Taos High Road/Low Road
- Villanueva Loop
- Galisteo/Lamy Loop
East
- East Mountain Area Loop
- Sandia Crest Climb
- Corona Loop
- Gran Quivara and Salt Lake View
South
- Belen/Mountainair Loop
- Socorro/Magdalena/Alamo Reservation