Trail of the Ancients - NM
Visitor Services

Service	Description	Service	Description
	Accessibility The majority of the visitor centers are ADA accessible, particularly the state- and federally operated centers.		Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities The Trail of the Ancients offers many road routes with light traffic and adequate shoulders that offer cyclists and pedestrians many panoramic views. Additionally, mountain biking and hiking...
	Food Food is available along the byway.		Information There are more than 15 information centers along the byway generally with hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., restrooms, ADA accessibility, and tourist counseling. The State of New Mexico Visitor Information...
	Restrooms There are restrooms available along the byway.

NOTE: The America's Byways® website is federally funded and cannot promote commercial businesses. This data may not be complete or up to date. The National Scenic Byways Program is not responsible for the quality of your travel experience. See the right column on the Byway Overview page for local contact information.

Special Considerations

Two-wheel-drive passenger vehicles can navigate the entire route of the Trail of the Ancients. The byway is mostly paved two-lane and four-lane roads. Several segments of the road are unpaved, but it is possible to travel the entire length of the byway with a two-wheel-drive vehicle. The following segments of the byway are unpaved roads: NM 57, CR 7900, CR 7950,McKinley County Road 19,Navajo Route 19, Navajo Route 48, Navajo Route 5001. These routes, which are legs from the continuous paved route, are impassable in inclement weather.

Travelers need to be aware that many of the legs along the Trail of the Ancients Byway do not have much traffic and have little or no highway shoulders or pull outs. Some of the legs are mountainous. Therefore, motorists need to drive with caution to avoid wildlife, other motorists, cyclists, livestock, and pedestrians. Additionally, weather conditions can impact driving conditions. Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions associated with weather, such as snow and flash floods.

Two legs of the byway (off the main paved continuous route) have gaps of over 50 miles between visitor services: Between Crownpoint and Bloomfield on NM 550 and SR 57 (19 miles of unpaved road).

Restrictions

Roads NM 57, CR 7900, CR 7950, McKinley County Road 19, Navajo Route 19, Navajo Route 48, and Navajo Route 5001 are unpaved and are not recommended for RVs. It is advisable to call ahead for road conditions due to road closures associated with winter weather conditions.

Seasons

Best Time to Drive

The best time to travel is from mid-April to mid-November due to potentially unsafe weather/travel conditions during other times of the year.

High Season

High season is the summer months, although traffic is typically not heavy year-round.

Road Conditions

To find up to date information about the road conditions along Trail of the Ancients - NM, please visit the FHWA listing of web sites for more information.

New Mexico