New Mexico Lists 25 Scenic Byways

New Mexico's scenic byways program was formally established on July 31, 1998, to preserve and showcase roads with significant scenic, historic, and cultural value. The state partners with the New Mexico Department of Transportation to manage the system, which includes eight nationally designated scenic byways. One of the most famous routes is the 84-mile Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway, which loops through the Lincoln National Forest. This byway passes through historic Lincoln, where the infamous outlaw made his legendary courthouse escape, and near Fort Stanton, a 19th-century military post connected to figures like Kit Carson and the Buffalo Soldiers. The Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway offers a 50-mile alternative to the interstate between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. It winds through the Cerrillos Hills, where Ancestral Puebloans mined turquoise as early as 900 CE. The area later experienced the first major gold rush in the West, predating California's by years. In northern New Mexico, the 84-mile Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway loops around Wheeler Peak, the state's highest point at 13,161 feet. The route connects the historic town of Taos with former mining towns like Red River and Angel Fire, offering access to Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inhabited for over 1,000 years. Collectively, tourism in New Mexico, bolstered by attractions like the scenic byways, generates a significant economic impact. In 2024, visitor spending reached a record $8.8 billion, contributing to a total economic impact of $12 billion for the state. This tourism activity supported 95,219 jobs and generated $839 million in state and local tax revenue in 2024. This revenue provides a notable offset to the tax burden for New Mexico households.