Anyone that has traveled the roads of SW Colorado and NW New Mexico will likely report that the driving experience is both beautiful and challenging. Small highways full of high passes and tight curves, long distances between towns, and unpredictable weather conditions, make for an experience that is either uniquely enjoyable or potentially nerve-wracking.
I experienced a bit of both on a recent route finding mission in the area.
While traveling on business I had to find my way from point A of Farmington, to point B of Los Alamos. Simple enough, right? My worn road atlas showed 2 or 3 possible routes, none of which seemed particularly direct, so I decided to trust the decision to my Verizon phone maps and GPS (never trust the phone company…).
The result was an unexpected, but welcome day of mild 4 wheeling on Hwy 126. Why this road is called a Highway, I have no idea. I assume at some point it was the primary route in the area and earned the hwy designation. Be advised that it in no way resembles a Highway by ordinary standards. It also carries the designation of Scenic Byway, which it definitely deserves.
Here is the description of the road from Wikipedia:
New Mexico Route 126 is a state highway in New Mexico, United States of America. Its total length is approximately 40 miles (64 km). New Mexico Route 126′s northern terminus is in the small town of Cuba, at U.S. Route 550. The route passes through the Nacimiento Mountains and Jemez Mountains, then descends past Fenton Lake to the small, unincorporated community of La Cueva (east of Jemez Springs), where it ends at New Mexico State Road 4.
New Mexico Route 126 is part of the Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway. [2] It is paved near Cuba and La Cueva, but is graded dirt road for much of its middle section. This section is usually closed during the winter months, and may be impassable for a few days at other times because of muddy conditions resulting from rainstorms.
I, of course, knew none of this (I was just following my GPS). I probably would have gone this route anyway, but it would have been useful to at least know the part about 40 miles of dirt, possibly winter closing, and potential for mud…there was also no cell service for most of the drive.
As it was, I knew I was in for an adventure when the twisty 2 lane turned to dirt just after leaving the very non-highway-looking east end of the town of Cuba, NM. The road rose sharply from there, became one vehicle wide in several places, and I quickly encountered my first section of very slimey 6-8″ deep mud/snow mix (it had snowed a day or 2 before). Seeing this as a welcome diversion and unexpected chance to put the truck in 4wd and get dirty, I pressed on. I then spent several miles of the drive hoping I didn’t come across a gate and have to turn back.
Had I been in an ordinary passenger car the result of my adventure would have been anything from a huge delay and turnaround to getting stuck and hiking several miles to cell service for AAA extraction. Either way, I would have been cursing my GPS for days on end. At a minimum (on this day) an Outback or Explorer would have been required, and probably would have struggled.
Needless to say, I made it across and had a great time doing it. I also discovered an area of NM I will be returning to if the chance arises. Along the drive, which runs through the Sante Fe National Forest, I saw a number of nice camping areas and many Forest Service roads that begged to be explored on a different (and better equipped) trip. Who’s with me?
I didn’t go to great lengths to record the journey, but here are a few images:
On a side note, I was informed by the gentleman I met with in Los Alamos that delivery trucks/semis occasionally get lured in by the “Highway” designation of 126 as well. From what I gathered, they don’t end up with the same pleasant experience I had.
