Overall Route Rating
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5 out of 5 Rider Rating 5
9 Reviews

The Road to Timberon

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Jul 31, 2008

Rider Reviews

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Hessler0506
June 15, 2019
This is one of the best routes I've ridden so far…
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Guest
March 9, 2010
Looks like a very interesting route I am…
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Written Directions

Start at the intersection of NM route 244 and US Highway 70 (just southwest of Ruidoso and northwest of Mescalero). From here head southeast on route 244 for about 15.5 miles. 244 will come to a sharp bend at which point you need to take a right (now heading southwest). This will take you all the way to US Highway 82 where you want to take a right (head west) and head towards Cloudcroft. Stay on 82 through Cloudcroft until you are just on the other side and now head South (take a left) on 6563 (also known as Sunspot Scenic Byway). Stay on this and it will become County Road C001 (also known as 537) at the Sunspot turnoff and take you all the way into Timberon (see online map).

Scenery

This is a Beautiful ride through Lincoln National Forest. There are lots of farms/ranches in the valley to Cloudcroft. After Cloudcroft you go through a lot of amazing canyons. Overall the scenery is truly indescribable!
Beautiful twisty road from Cloudcroft, NM to Timberon, NM. Runs through the Lincoln National Forest. White Sands, NM can be seen from one of the overlook areas. Also passes by Sunspot, a national solar observatory.

Drive Enjoyment

This road has excellent twists, especially south of Cloudcroft, and has plenty of ups and downs, as you would expect from being in the mountains. The road is also in excellent condition; very few road hazards. Specifically the section south of Cloudcroft is in excellent condition. It was paved around 2004. Prior to that, it had been a rock road.

Tourism Opportunities

There are some great places to eat in Cloudcroft and a great drag downtown for shopping. Cloudcroft has a few places to stay. There is also a golf course in both Cloudcroft and Timberon. South of Cloudcroft is the Sunspot observatory, only a mile or two off the route. There are plenty of National Forest Campgrounds along this route as well but basically no services along the road. No fuel available in Timberon, so gas up prior to leaving Cloudcroft.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .
 

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Motohead71
January 25, 2021
188 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
I get rained on every time I do this one, but it’s worth it.
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Motohead71
January 25, 2021
188 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Great road. Beautiful, and fun.
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Richard L. Thompson
October 6, 2021
67 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
From Cloudcroft taking Hwy 130 to Hwy 6563 which is 26 miles down to Timberon is the Best 26 miles of Rode I have ever ridden. Great twisty rode with major elevation changes along the way. I was there on a Tuesday to avoid any Tourists and it really paid off. No vehicles at the trail heads at all. I had the rode all to my self. Temperatures in the upper 60's around noon and they dropped about 10 degrees as I went over the highest point along the way. Just beautiful scenery and pristine road conditions. I highly recommend this route. Plus, you can stop in Timberon and have lunch at a quaint little place called Connie's Deli. Then ride all the way back the other way.
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