Southern New Mexico

[rynosback]

I will be staying at “The Ranch”.  This will be my first time at an Escapees CG.  Looking forward to it as I have heard nothing but good things.  

I plan on leaving there and taking 82 west, 54 South, 70 West to 10 west to AZ.  About AZ  is another thread.  

My question is, are there any must see’s and or do’s along this route.  I all ready have a few items that I have found.  But sometimes you find a great little spot to visit , eat’s, good hikes or find interesting things.  I know that people like different things.  We love nature and seeing cool and funky things.  

Please feel free to post up any ideas.

Thanks for taking the time to share your ideas and experiences.

[trailertraveler]

On 82, Cloudcroft is a nice little town for a lunch stop and walk around town. Cloudcroft is over 9,000' so check the road conditions before traveling US-82. Several things to do in Alamogordo: Oliver Lee State Park, White Sands National Monument, Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, the Space Museum. Las Cruces is also a good stop with lots to do. Check the calendar of events for Old Town Mesilla. There are things going on most weekends. If you like to hike, check out the Organ Mountain Desert Peaks National Monument.  

[rynosback]

7 hours ago, trailertraveler said:

On 82, Cloudcroft is a nice little town for a lunch stop and walk around town. Cloudcroft is over 9,000' so check the road conditions before traveling US-82. Several things to do in Alamogordo: Oliver Lee State Park, White Sands National Monument, Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, the Space Museum. Las Cruces is also a good stop with lots to do. Check the calendar of events for Old Town Mesilla. There are things going on most weekends. If you like to hike, check out the Organ Mountain Desert Peaks National Monument.  

Am I better off going up to Roswell and taking 380 W to 70 W to 54 S vs taking 82 W?

I have a toad and planned on visiting Roswell from the Ranch.  Taking 82w just seemed much more direct.  But is the other way is a better/safer route then I will take it as we have nothing but time.

Thanks for the ideas.

[trailertraveler]

1 hour ago, rynosback said:

Am I better off going up to Roswell and taking 380 W to 70 W to 54 S vs taking 82 W?

I have a toad and planned on visiting Roswell from the Ranch.  Taking 82w just seemed much more direct.  But is the other way is a better/safer route then I will take it as we have nothing but time.

Thanks for the ideas.

Ruidoso is not quite as high in elevation as Cloudcroft. According to the Mountain Directory the grades on US-70 are 4-5% versus 6-7% on US-82. Ruidoso is a larger town than Cloudcroft. Lots of shops on the main drag and more choices for places to eat. There is also a Casino. Several RV parks also.

US-380 from Roswell to US-54 at Carrizozo does not have any serious mountain driving. The BLM Valley of Fire Recreation Area is a couple of miles West of Carrizozo.  We have towed the trailer over all these routes several times with no problems. But not in winter weather.

US62/180 from Carlsbad to El Paso would be another possibility. There is 6-8% grade at Guadalupe Pass. We have not driven this route. 

[JRP]

I agree, for me the highlights to visit would be the town of Cloudcroft, White Sands NM and Old Town Messilla. As long as you and your rig are ok with a steep mountain grade and the weather is fair, route 82 west from Cloudcroft to Alamogordo is a road used by thoudands of RV's & trucks.  just follow the usual steep downhill cautions & proceedures  

In Las Cruces I like the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Museum, if that interests you;  and if you're up for some short hikes, everyone I take to the Dripping Springs Natural Area in the southern foothills of the Organ Mtns seems to enjoy it.

[rynosback]

Grades do not bother me as I have a 2015 Ram 3500 DRW TD.  My exhaust brake works great on this truck.  We are just more concerned about sharp curves with a 40 ft 5ver in tow.  Plus we plan on staying several days at Amamogordo.  So it is just how we get there from Carlsbad.  Going direct is is a little over 2 hours and going around is a tad over 3 hours.  My concern was weather because the first poster posted that.

 

we are going from the Ranch to Amamogordo in about two weeks.  So if the weather is clear and I call ahead to a bunsiness in Cloudcroft for road conditions. Then 82 is a good route even though it has to 6-7 degree grades?  

 

Thanks agaim for all of the thoughts and ideas.

[JRP]

8 hours ago, rynosback said:

we are going from the Ranch to Amamogordo in about two weeks.  So if the weather is clear and I call ahead to a bunsiness in Cloudcroft for road conditions. Then 82 is a good route even though it has to 6-7 degree grades?  

Yes, this time of year weather is the concern on that hill. We do get winter storms coming through in Jan/Feb that make it treacherous for a few days until the sun reappears.  Usually if a storm brings snow to the route 82 high country, it also hits the higher part (almost 8000) of route 70 near Ruidoso Downs. To stay below the snow line you may have to go 380 to Carizozo & 54. 

Whether a 6% grade is a "good" route is a personal decision. I'm just saying, if you're comfortable on other 6% grades, there is no reason to avoid this one, except bad weather. There is one horse shoe type switchback turn, but its designed for 18 wheeler big rigs.

[geodog]

I would plan a stop over at Dream Catcher in Deming, NM.  Deming has a great local museum and a great Italian Diner in Marias.

 

ShortyO

[rynosback]

Thanks for all of the tips.  I called the Cloudcroft Police and they said to call the NM State Police which led me to a road conditions phone number which then lead me to

https://nmroads.com/mapIndex.html?

keep the good information coming. 

[rynosback]

On 12/21/2018 at 5:25 AM, JRP said:

Yes, this time of year weather is the concern on that hill. We do get winter storms coming through in Jan/Feb that make it treacherous for a few days until the sun reappears.  Usually if a storm brings snow to the route 82 high country, it also hits the higher part (almost 8000) of route 70 near Ruidoso Downs. To stay below the snow line you may have to go 380 to Carizozo & 54. 

Whether a 6% grade is a "good" route is a personal decision. I'm just saying, if you're comfortable on other 6% grades, there is no reason to avoid this one, except bad weather. There is one horse shoe type switchback turn, but its designed for 18 wheeler big rigs.

From reading NM traffic map they said that it drops 5000 ft from Cloudcroft to Alamogordo.  But it takes 16 miles to drop that elevation.

[trailertraveler]

1 hour ago, rynosback said:

From reading NM traffic map they said that it drops 5000 ft from Cloudcroft to Alamogordo.  But it takes 16 miles to drop that elevation.

If you do not have one, I suggest that you get a copy of the Mountain Directory for Truckers, RV and Motorhome Drivers. I gives detailed descriptions of the grades and low speed turns on many, many state and U.S. highways.  

[rynosback]

16 minutes ago, trailertraveler said:

If you do not have one, I suggest that you get a copy of the Mountain Directory for Truckers, RV and Motorhome Drivers. I gives detailed descriptions of the grades and low speed turns on many, many state and U.S. highways.  

Thanks will do

[Ray,IN]

Truth or Consequences is not far out of the way if you wish to visit the VietNam traveling wall permanent site. They have a small visitors center staffed by  volunteers, with mementos for sale.

[NDBirdman]

Probably been posted before, but you can get road conditions or state road access conditions from this map of the USA.  My son works on the software for some of this, he's worked for them for many years.  I do use this site alot:  Safe Travel USA

[rynosback]

2 hours ago, NDBirdman said:

Probably been posted before, but you can get road conditions or state road access conditions from this map of the USA.  My son works on the software for some of this, he's worked for them for many years.  I do use this site alot:  Safe Travel USA

Nice, thanks. Bookmarked

[Ray,IN]

On 12/23/2018 at 11:35 PM, NDBirdman said:

Probably been posted before, but you can get road conditions or state road access conditions from this map of the USA.  My son works on the software for some of this, he's worked for them for many years.  I do use this site alot:  Safe Travel USA

I like using One Stop Shop for Travelers. from weathershare.org

[Second Chance]

On 12/20/2018 at 9:55 PM, rynosback said:

Grades do not bother me as I have a 2015 Ram 3500 DRW TD.  My exhaust brake works great on this truck.  We are just more concerned about sharp curves with a 40 ft 5ver in tow.  Plus we plan on staying several days at Amamogordo.  So it is just how we get there from Carlsbad.  Going direct is is a little over 2 hours and going around is a tad over 3 hours.  My concern was weather because the first poster posted that.

 

we are going from the Ranch to Amamogordo in about two weeks.  So if the weather is clear and I call ahead to a bunsiness in Cloudcroft for road conditions. Then 82 is a good route even though it has to 6-7 degree grades?  

 

Thanks agaim for all of the thoughts and ideas.

82 is not all about the grades - it's very curvy with a number of places your rig would be over the center line on a tight curve. I would not do it towing - I would take US 62 through El Paso or 380/70 through Ruidoso. I'm a native New Mexican from Las Cruces. Grandparents lived in Ruidoso and Lovington, so I've driven all three routes more times than I could count. We just drove the truck from Cruces to White Sands/Alamogordo, Cloudcroft and Carlsbad earlier this year. On 82 heading east to Cloudcroft I said to myself several times, "I'm glad I'm not towing on this." We returned to Cruces from the Caverns via US 62 just to get back to Cruces more quickly.

On the must-see list, of course, Carlsbad Caverns while you're at The Ranch. Cloudcroft is a bit more quaint than Ruidoso, but both are interesting and, in my opinion, pretty. White Sands National Monument is a must, too. In Las Cruces, La Mesilla (and La Posta restaurant) are favorites of ours. There are more great places to eat Mexican Food in Las Cruces than Carter has little liver pills, but La Posta has history and good food. If you stay a few days in Cruces, there are several recreation areas in the Organ Mountains that offer great hikes and views, too. 

Rob

[rynosback]

9 hours ago, Second Chance said:

82 is not all about the grades - it's very curvy with a number of places your rig would be over the center line on a tight curve. I would not do it towing - I would take US 62 through El Paso or 380/70 through Ruidoso. I'm a native New Mexican from Las Cruces. Grandparents lived in Ruidoso and Lovington, so I've driven all three routes more times than I could count. We just drove the truck from Cruces to White Sands/Alamogordo, Cloudcroft and Carlsbad earlier this year. On 82 heading east to Cloudcroft I said to myself several times, "I'm glad I'm not towing on this." We returned to Cruces from the Caverns via US 62 just to get back to Cruces more quickly.

On the must-see list, of course, Carlsbad Caverns while you're at The Ranch. Cloudcroft is a bit more quaint than Ruidoso, but both are interesting and, in my opinion, pretty. White Sands National Monument is a must, too. In Las Cruces, La Mesilla (and La Posta restaurant) are favorites of ours. There are more great places to eat Mexican Food in Las Cruces than Carter has little liver pills, but La Posta has history and good food. If you stay a few days in Cruces, there are several recreation areas in the Organ Mountains that offer great hikes and views, too. 

Rob

Thanks for the tips Rob,  I had those sights on my list as well as doing a pistachio tour. I tow a 40ft 5ver.  So should have my wife lead to let me know when traffic is on coming?  We have done it that way on narrow windy roads before.

[trailertraveler]

If you were to take US-380 from Roswell to US-54 at Carrizozo you could visit Lincoln, Fort Stanton (which has a BLM operated campground), and Smokey Bear's grave site. The BLM Valley of Fires Recreation Area is a couple of miles West of Carrizozo and has a campground although it, like the Fort Stanton campground, may be affected by the government shutdown.

[rynosback]

3 hours ago, trailertraveler said:

If you were to take US-380 from Roswell to US-54 at Carrizozo you could visit Lincoln, Fort Stanton (which has a BLM operated campground), and Smokey Bear's grave site. The BLM Valley of Fires Recreation Area is a couple of miles West of Carrizozo and has a campground although it, like the Fort Stanton campground, may be affected by the government shutdown.

I did not know that BLM lands had any hook ups.  I always thought that you had to be 100% self contained.  As I do not carry a geni so I need to plug in every night.  Gives me more options in overnight spots then.

[trailertraveler]

5 minutes ago, rynosback said:

I did not know that BLM lands had any hook ups.  I always thought that you had to be 100% self contained.  As I do not carry a geni so I need to plug in every night.  Gives me more options in overnight spots then.

There are a few scattered around, just as there are some Forest Service campgrounds that have some sites with hookups. There are also some New Mexico State Parks that have a few full hookup sites in addition to the more common water and electric sites.

[rynosback]

Good to know, thanks.  I do not need FHU all the time.  I have stayed in many state parks and even commercial CG that only have water and electric.  As long as there is a dump station I’m good.  As I do not like traveling with full tanks.

[Second Chance]

On 12/25/2018 at 9:02 PM, rynosback said:

Thanks for the tips Rob,  I had those sights on my list as well as doing a pistachio tour. I tow a 40ft 5ver.  So should have my wife lead to let me know when traffic is on coming?  We have done it that way on narrow windy roads before.

That's up to you - I'd just pick another route and wouldn't tow on that road if it were me. A day trip up to Cloudcroft in the car would be my choice. Everyone has different criteria and tolerances...

Rob

[JRP]

Just another personal preference choice. I go up & down that 82 hill several times a year with my 38 ft class A pulling a towed vehicle and don't think twice about it (except in bad weather).  Yes its got lots of turns, but its not a narrow roadway and never forced me over the center line. But I spend the other half the year in Colorado mountains where 6% grades are a daily occurance.

18 wheel big rigs go up & down 82 daily. Although there is supposed to be a 65 ft overall length limit for trucks on that route, no one seems to pay any attention to it (in good weather).

[rynosback]

I dove 82 today from the Ranch to Alamogordo today.  The roads were a little rough until you changed counties around mile post 42.  I just followed the speed limit signs and suggested corners speeds.  Going down the last 16 miles was done at 35mph in 3rd gear with the EB on.  No issues at all.  Thanks for all of the tips and opinions.