Road Rides

The following are common road rides from or near Socorro.

 

North Loops

• All north loops exit on "East Road" towards Escondida. County Rd. 408, Schmittle Road, and the west frontage road offer the best riding experience. 
• Lemitar Loop (17 miles)
• Schmittle Road (13 miles) 
• Polvadera West (26 miles) 

Western Out-and-Backs

• Hwy 60 as far as you like. Note - full shoulder disappears for a while about 15 miles west of Socorro but returns shortly before Magdalena. Full shoulder from Magdalena to the VLA, which makes for a near perfect century ride destination (~104 miles round trip)

Eastern Gravel Grinders

• There are no paved roads heading directly east of Socorro. However, the Quebradas Scenic Byway is excellent on a gravel bike. When you return via ditch bank roads, Farm to Market Road and/or Hwy 1, it is roughly a 65 mile loop. 

• Hwy 380 East of San Antonio has a full shoulder, but it is in rough condition (grass and debris). It is only recommended with wider tires (32mm+), and is best as a connector for the Quebradas Scenic Byway loop mentioned above. 

 

Southern Loops & Out-and-Backs

•  Southern loops all use sections of Hwy 1. From Socorro, Hwy 1 extends roughly 65 miles. The southern most 10-15 miles has a rougher surface, but the road is very pleasant from Luis Lopez to I-25 Exit 100. Starting at the Bosque Del Apache visitor center is advisable during the fall months when traffic increases between San Antonio and the visitor center.
• San Antonio Loop (26 miles)

 

Further Afield

• State Highway 52, when accessed from I-25 exit 89 near Elephant Butte, is a beautiful and quiet ride.