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EMORY PASS NEW MEXICO RIDEThe Emory Pass Ride in New Mexico was submitted on June 27, 2012 by Chief 2 Dogz as he traveled from Austin, Texas to Phoenix, Arizona on his Kawasaki KLR. He deliberately chose the route over the pass because of the amount of twisties and changes in elevation. This now makes two biker videos that he's submitted. Kudos to Chief 2 Dogz for an excellent ride submission that was shot perfectly with well written details! I think he covered it all. Amazing! Please read his detailed description below then watch his youtube video.
RIDE DIRECTIONS Starting at I-25 and NM-152 1. Head west on NM-152 S 2. Slight right toward Vista Overlook Rd 3. Continue straight onto Vista Overlook Rd 4. Arrive at Vista. Make U turn and proceed back to NM-152 5. Sharp right onto NM-152 S/Co Rd 152 6. In Santa Clara, NM, Turn right onto US-180 W/Silver Heights Blvd 7. Make a U-turn at N Gold St (Arriving at Copper Manor Motel Silver City, NM) Total: 73.5 mi - about 1 hour 53 mins. Though not well known, rides like this are why you own a motorcycle! You will navigate through numerous twists, turns and curves as you climb from 4100 feet at Caballo Lake State Park, to 8228 feet over Emory Pass and back down to 5895 feet at Silver City. Be sure to fill up on fuel before you begin as there are no currently operating gas stations until you get near Silver City. The trip is about 75 miles and speed limits range from 25 to 55 mph. The first several miles of the trip through a sage-brush prairie are straight and apparently flat, but you are already in a gradual climb. Soon you will have to slow down and steer through your first set of S curves. A few miles later and you will be going through Hillsboro. This town was founded in the 1870s as a mining town. Over six million dollars in gold and silver were mined here until the mines played out in the 1930s. Sometimes unfairly referred to as a ghost town, Hillsbroro currently has between 150 and 200 year round residents. Shortly after Hillsboro, the sage-brush prairie gives way to pinons and junipers as you travel 9 miles to Kingston. On this segment, you will travel through a small canyon and over two trestle bridges. to Kingston. Kingston was also a mining town in its earlier years, but is now nearly a ghost town. After Kingston, you will begin the climb through a coniferous forest up to the summit of Emory pass. This winding road portion of the ride has enough twists and turns to satisfy any rider. I highly recommend that you take the short side road up to the Vista Overlook. From here you will behold a beautiful view toward the east. On a clear day, you can see Kingston, Hillsboro, and the Rio Grande valley. The trip down the west side of Emory Pass is much the same. A wonderfully curvy road while still up in the mountains down toward Silver City. Where to stay: Motels: Barbershop Cafe and Motel Hillsboro, NM; http://www.barbershopcafe.com Black Range Lodge, Kingston, NM; http://www.blackrangelodge.com/lodge2.html Truth or Consequences, NM has several places to stay. For more information: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g47241-Truth_or_Consequences_Sierra_County_New_Mexico-Hotels.html Silver City, NM has several places to stay. For more information: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g60831-Silver_City_New_Mexico-Hotels.html Camping: Gila National Forest has 2 campgrounds along NM 152; Kingston on the east side of Emory pass, and Iron Creek on the west side. For more information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila
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