"Mountain Playground" Red River Ride

Lead Road Captain: George "Rotag" Doyle

Rear Road Captain: Bill "Hardrock" Maier

The “Mountain Playground” ride will leave Saturday, July 6th, 2024, with KSU at 8:30am from Thunderbird Harley-Davidson.

We will travel 173 miles to the town of Red River and the Red River Brewing Company which has the best tacos in town.

We'll have two opportunities for group photos-- the first will be at the famous Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, and the second will be at the Brewing Company.

Harley Ride Planner Link

Rotag has planned a day of riding and exploring in this spectacular mountain playground that traverses through areas including Español, Ohkay Owingeh, the Carson National Forest, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge (where we will stop to take a group photo and explore before continuing along part of the Enchanted Circle towards Questa and Red River. The Mora Loop was originally on the ride plan and is certainly an option for you to plan for your return home independently but was determined to be a bit long before KSD for the group ride. KSD will be at the Red River Brewing Company, where we will be taking our final group photo for the day before lunch. Red River offers breathtaking views and is a small enough skiing tourist town to explore on foot, or perhaps see from the ski lifts or horseback. You may even want to pack an overnight bag because you may find yourself too enchanted and want to stay for a weekend get-away.

We will stop at The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge for a group photo and tour the bridge and the incredible views below. Those views of the Rio Grande and Gorge below will make any explorer want to linger in the area longer or start planning a trip to investigate further activities including river rafting, horseback riding, 4WD fun, camping, hiking, and natural hot springs. These are just some of the entertainments awaiting below the bridge and along the river.

Locally known as the "Gorge Bridge" or the "High Bridge", it is a steel deck arch bridge across the Rio Grande Gorge 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Taos, New Mexico. Roughly 600 feet (180 m) above the Rio Grande, it is the tenth highest bridge in the United States. Built from 1963-1965, the Gorge Bridge is a part of U.S. Route 64, a major east–west road. The span is 1,280 feet: two 300-foot-long approach spans with a 600-foot-long main center span. In 1966 the American Institute of Steel Construction awarded the bridge "Most Beautiful Steel Bridge" in the "Long Span" category. The bridge has appeared in several films, including Natural Born Killers, Twins, White Sands, She's Having a Baby, The Signal, Paul, Vacation, Wild Hogs, and Terminator Salvation. 

KSD at the Red River Brewing Company. This place is very popular, and after looking at the website, you might see why. Bring your darts and an appetite. Before lunch, we will say “cheese” for the last group photo of the ride.

One more history tidbit for the inquisitive minds: Español, which was founded as a railroad village some distance from the old Indian town of San Juan de los Caballeros (now renamed Ohkay Owingeh), it was named Española and officially incorporated in 1925. It has been called the first capital city in the United States. The railroad companies that made the town such a thriving environment left the area in the 1940s, with the tracks being removed and many of the townspeople left struggling from losses of jobs post-railroad. With the beginnings of Manhattan Project in nearby Los Alamos, many locals eventually found jobs at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). As much as nearly 9% of Española's population have been employed at LANL.
There is so much to experience in this enchanted region that keeps us coming back. The views are spectacular, and the roads beg to be ridden again. The mountains are calling; can you come out to play?

RIDE ROUTE DETAILS:  Leaving the dealership, we will turn right and head directly to the I-25 on-ramp. We will travel North to the Santa Fe bypass and on to 84 / 285. There will be a gas stop in about 85 miles at the Speedway located at 1225 Paseo de Onate. We will have a 15/20-minute break for gas and restroom. When we leave the gas stop, we will turn right heading North to highway 285 which will take us to the Carson turn off, where we will make a right turn "East" and to the Rim Road. Turning left onto the Rim Road, we will head North to highway 64 where we will turn right again towards state highway 522. We will turn left onto 522 as we head North again to Questa where we will turn East toward Red River and KSD at the restaurant.