Farmington NM Motorcycle Loop

The Farmington NM Motorcycle Loop is a roughly 150-mile paved circuit through some of the most scenic and least-traveled highway in northwestern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Referenced by Driftless Roads USA as a standout ride in the region, this loop delivers river-valley curves, high-plateau straightaways, canyon overlooks, and two notable stops — Aztec Ruins National Monument and Navajo Lake State Park — all in a single day ride.

Route Overview

Starting and ending at Sundowner Mobile Home & RV Park (219 Airport Dr, Farmington NM 87401), the loop runs counter-clockwise through four distinct landscapes: the La Plata River valley heading north, the rolling Southern Ute tribal lands in Colorado, the dramatic Navajo Dam and lake country heading south, and the broad San Juan River corridor on US-64 returning west to Farmington. Every mile of this route is on paved, two-lane highway with good sight lines and minimal traffic — most segments see fewer than 500 vehicles per day.

Detailed Route Description

Leg 1: Farmington to Aztec — 15 Miles

Head east from Sundowner Park on US-64 toward Bloomfield and Aztec. This first stretch follows the Animas River valley through the outskirts of Farmington and into the small city of Aztec (population ~6,700). The road is a divided four-lane highway through Bloomfield that narrows to two lanes as you approach Aztec. The terrain is high-desert river bottomland with cottonwood-lined irrigation ditches and views of the bluffs to the north.

Stop: Aztec Ruins National Monument. Just off US-64 on the north side of Aztec, this Ancestral Puebloan great house contains over 400 rooms built in the early 1100s and features the only fully reconstructed Great Kiva in North America — 48 feet in diameter. The visitor center and self-guided trail take about 45 minutes to an hour. The monument is 15 miles from Sundowner Park.

Leg 2: Aztec North to Colorado — 30 Miles

From Aztec, turn north on NM-173 (which becomes CO-172 at the state line) and ride up the La Plata River valley. This is one of the most scenic stretches of the loop: the road climbs gradually through ranch country with the La Plata Mountains visible to the northeast, rising to over 13,000 feet. The pavement is smooth and lightly traveled. You will cross from New Mexico into Colorado about 12 miles north of Aztec. The valley narrows and the road follows the river through small farming communities with old barns, hay fields, and occasional glimpses of the river cutting through red sandstone banks.

Leg 3: Through the Southern Ute Reservation to Ignacio — 25 Miles

Continue north on CO-172 into the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. The landscape opens into broad, rolling grasslands and sage flats with views of the San Juan Mountains to the north. The town of Ignacio (population ~700) is the capital of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and your first fuel stop opportunity since Aztec. The Sky Ute Casino Resort is visible from the highway if you need a restroom or coffee break.

Fuel stop: Ignacio. Top off here — the next reliable fuel is in Aztec on the return leg or in Navajo Dam (limited hours). Ignacio has a gas station and a small convenience store.

Leg 4: Ignacio to Navajo Dam — 45 Miles

From Ignacio, head east on CO-151 and then south on CO-172/NM-511 toward Navajo Dam. This section traverses the high plateau between the Pine River and the San Juan River, crossing into New Mexico near Archuleta. The road descends through pinon-juniper woodland into the dramatic canyon of the San Juan River as it emerges from Navajo Dam. The last several miles before the dam offer stunning views of the river canyon — steep red and tan sandstone walls dropping 500 feet to the water below.

Stop: Navajo Lake State Park. New Mexico's second-largest lake at 15,610 surface acres, Navajo Lake stretches 25 miles along the San Juan River canyon. The state park has several recreation areas. Below the dam, the San Juan River Quality Waters section is considered one of the top tailwater trout fisheries in the United States. Even if you are not fishing, the overlook above the dam is worth a 10-minute stop for the view alone. Navajo Lake is 25 miles from Sundowner Park.

Leg 5: Navajo Dam to Farmington via US-64 — 35 Miles

From the Navajo Dam area, continue south to NM-511 and pick up US-64 heading west toward Bloomfield and Farmington. This is the home stretch — US-64 cuts through the San Juan Basin with long, sweeping curves and views of the Hogback monocline to the west. The road passes through Blanco and Bloomfield before reaching Farmington. The terrain is classic high-desert: sagebrush flats, eroded bluffs, and the occasional mesa rising from the basin floor. Traffic increases slightly as you approach Bloomfield and Farmington, but this corridor remains manageable even on summer weekends.

Highlights Along the Route

• Aztec Ruins National Monument — 15 miles from Sundowner, UNESCO-connected Ancestral Puebloan site with 400+ rooms and a reconstructed Great Kiva
• La Plata River Valley — scenic ranch country with the La Plata Mountains (13,000+ ft) as a backdrop
• Southern Ute Reservation — rolling sage grasslands and mountain views in southern Colorado
• Navajo Lake State Park — 25 miles from Sundowner, 15,610-acre reservoir with canyon overlooks
• San Juan River Canyon — dramatic sandstone walls below Navajo Dam
• Hogback Monocline — visible geological spine along US-64 west of Bloomfield

Fuel Stops

• Farmington — multiple stations within 5 minutes of Sundowner Park (departure)
• Aztec — 15 miles, full fuel and convenience stores on US-64
• Ignacio, CO — 45 miles into the ride, gas station near Sky Ute Casino
• Navajo Dam area — limited fuel availability, variable hours; do not rely on this as your primary stop
• Bloomfield — multiple stations on US-64 near the end of the loop

Practical Tips

• Best months: April-May and September-October for comfortable temperatures (60s-80s F) and dry conditions
• Start time: Depart by 8-9 AM to allow time for stops and avoid afternoon monsoon storms in summer
• Cell service: Reliable in Farmington, Aztec, and Ignacio; spotty between Ignacio and Navajo Dam
• Road conditions: All paved, generally well-maintained; watch for gravel on shoulders in construction zones
• Wildlife: Watch for deer at dawn and dusk, especially in the La Plata River valley and near Navajo Lake
• Elevation range: 5,300 ft (Farmington) to approximately 6,800 ft (plateau north of Navajo Dam)

Extend Your Ride

The Farmington Loop connects naturally with longer routes. From Ignacio, you can continue north 20 miles to Durango and pick up the San Juan Skyway for a multi-day alpine adventure over Red Mountain Pass, Molas Pass, and Coal Bank Pass. Or, from Navajo Dam, head east on NM-539 into the Jicarilla Apache Nation toward Chama and the high country of the Rio Chama valley. These extensions turn the Farmington Loop into a 2-3 day touring route that showcases some of the best riding in the southern Rockies.

Looking for off-pavement adventure? Check out the gravel cycling and bikepacking routes available right from Farmington, or browse all area attractions within day-trip distance of Sundowner Park.