Updated April 2, 2024
The Enchanted Circle road cycling event, produced by The Ride Collective, offers riders some of the most picturesque riding in the southwest and a unique opportunity to experience the raw natural beauty of Northern New Mexico. You’ll experience rewarding climbs, rolling hills, fast descents, and hairpin turns, making it an event that the team at Strambecco considers to be one of the Best Road Cycling Events in the Southwest.
Event & Course Info
Enchanted Circle kicks off with a mass start at 7:30 am, and riders travel counterclockwise around the beautiful Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, offering the quintessential New Mexico experience and the opportunity to experience two exhilarating mountain passes, Palo Flechado and Bobcat Pass. The course will start and finish in the iconic mountain town of Red River, travel through the Village of Questa, the cultural mosaic of the Town of Taos, and the serene landscapes of the Village of Eagle Nest, and peak at 9,820 feet on Bobcat Pass, the state’s highest mountain road. You may ride the 85-mile loop, which encompasses the entire Enchanted Circle and features 6,000 ft. of elevation gain – or challenge yourself to the century ride, which includes an additional leg in and out of Angel Fire, including a brief stop at the Angel Fire Resort and boasts 7,000 ft of climbing. Either way, be ready for a roller-coaster of terrains – from grueling climbs to swift descents and from steady rolling hills to tight hairpin turns.
Safety and support are top-notch, with clear route signage, dedicated road marshals, and medical teams on standby. Also available are stocked aid stations to fuel your ride and expert bike mechanics for those unforeseen hitches. Though the roads are open and shared with vehicular traffic, utmost care is taken to ensure participants’ safety. Strategically placed aid stations are stocked with hydration drinks, water, fruits, and a variety of snacks, and SAG wagons will be present throughout the route, ready to assist.
However, it’s not all cycling. The weekend is packed with activities for riders and spectators alike, starting from packet pick-up on Friday evening to a spirited Red River Fiesta on Saturday, complete with live music, an expo, delicious meals, and refreshing beers and cocktails from Red River Brewing. After burning all those calories, indulge in a hearty meal (included in your registration) and enjoy some local brews. The expo, open during the ride, is the perfect place for your friends and family to bide time and shop for some exciting cycling gear.
Area Accommodations & Things to Do
For those interested in staying the full weekend, there are locally owned hotels downtown, such as Three Bears Lodge or Alpine Lodge, as well as multiple campgrounds, unique camping options, and RV Parks close to town for those who appreciate the simplicity of sleeping under the stars. There are also plenty of vacation rentals to choose from, from townhomes to homes that can accommodate a group if you prefer to have a more home-like experience while in town for Enchanted Circle.
This year’s Enchanted Circle tour benefits the Red River Valley Foundation, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for citizens and visitors to the Red River Valley, NM. Red River is a resort town in Taos County, New Mexico, located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and just 36 miles from Taos ski resort. It’s a great place to plan a long weekend and enjoy all the activities you’d expect in a mountain town, including biking.
Red River is a great place to visit, with an active community and things to do in town, as well as hiking and horseback riding right outside of town. Red River prides itself on being “authentically warm with a touch of wild, reminiscent of the old West.” The race course includes the family-friendly Red River Ski Area, offering various attractions like an aerial course, mini-golf, summer mountain tubing, disc golf, the pioneer flyer zip line, and mountain-top disc golf. Visitors can also take a scenic chairlift ride to witness their runners conquering The Face at approximately mile 20, with an aid station at the top for friends and family to gather and support.
Red River offers an array of unique shopping and excellent restaurants. It boasts a rustic culinary scene that melds Southwestern flavors with mountain town charm, where cozy eateries serve everything from traditional New Mexican dishes to hearty American fare, all set against the backdrop of a picturesque alpine setting. Whether it’s green chile stews or mouth-watering steaks, dining in Red River is as much about the ambiance as it is about the palate. Some favorite spots include Yesterday’s Diner, Texas Reds Steakhouse, Red River Brewing Company & Distillery, and charming homemade candy and ice cream shops. Additionally, the town boasts a vibrant music scene featuring live performances almost every night.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find miles of hiking, fishing, and horseback riding trails in the surrounding area. Also, with numerous trails ranging from beginner to advanced, Red River offers an exhilarating biking experience, particularly popular routes like the Pioneer Creek Trail and the Mallette Canyon Trail. Hikers can challenge themselves with the ascent to Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest summit, or explore the vast network of trails like the Goose Lake Trail that takes hikers through alpine meadows and past serene lakes. In addition, the Rio Grande and Red River convergence offers thrilling rapids for those seeking an adrenaline-filled day of white water rafting, catering to both novices and experienced rafters alike.
Related Events
The Ride Collective, formerly known as the Outside Events Cycling Series, is a portfolio of eight professionally produced events and races in both Colorado and New Mexico. Host venues and terrain vary from the Front Range to the Rocky Mountains to the High Desert. TRC strives to create an inclusive culture where cyclists of almost all abilities can enjoy the simple pleasures of riding a bicycle. For some, it’s about the challenge; others do it for a cause, but everybody enjoys surfing the energy of the group. The Ride Collective events range from 300 to 3,000 participants, with a portion of event proceeds benefiting local and regional nonprofit organizations. The full calendar of events includes the following:
- Wild Horse Gravel – May 20
- Sunrise to Sunset Castle Park – June 3
- Crooked Gravel – July 22
- Sunrise to Sunset Winter Park – July 22
- Copper Triangle – August 5
- Enchanted Circle Bicycle Tour – August 12
- Tour of the Moon – September 9
- Tour de Vineyards – September 16
For multi-sport endurance athletes looking for other events in the state of New Mexico and broader Southwest region, be sure to check out our full list of Strambecco Best in Class trail running, gravel and mountain biking events.
The Enchanted Circle ride was absolutely beautiful. The SAG drivers were great. A few things I would encourage the ride organizers to do is to include better snacks and higher quality electroyte drinks. More energy bars and gummies, and Skratch that isn’t watered down. Food is fuel and I ate very little on the ride which caused me to breakdown towards the end. One of the reasons I pay for an organized ride is so I can carry my water bottles and nothing else. I can’t carry enough snacks for such a long ride. Not having the proper hydration and food is the worst thing you can do to your body on a ride. I am seriously considering not doing any more Roll Massif rides after this experience.
The other thing is that I was shocked to see styrofoam being handed out for the lunch meal after the ride. The number one earth killer. Let’s keep the earth clean so we can enjoy our rides out in the beautiful countryside and not contribute to plastic pollution and waste that will never biodegrade, ever! and can’t be recycled. There was also some greenwashing going on with big recycle stickers on the trash cans at lunch. We both know none of it was getting recycled.