Town to Towers

Cycling Teuque Peak - gravel route

Ride 17.2 miles gaining 5,163’ at 5.7% average grade to elevation 11,994’

This exceptional gravel bike climb is in the Sangre de Cristo Range in north central New Mexico, just north of Santa Fe.

Climb summary by PJAMM’s Brad Butterfield:

The climb begins just outside of Sante Fe on a paved road leading to the Sante Fe National Forest. The forest service road quickly turns to gravel as the climb pitches up. Summer monsoons soaked this road the day before PJAMM rode the climb and many sections of the road were still flooded. Unlike the Colorado gravel climbs which are defined by rocky roads and mountains, this climb in NM is memorable for the thick Aspen forests which line most of the climb. These forests block most of the views that would otherwise be available. There are a few very rough sections of the road, but nothing which a gravel bike can’t handle. About halfway up, there is a gated ‘Pueblo’. The 2 gates are not locked, but have signage asking to keep the gate closed. Bikes and vehicles are permitted through these gates. With a little over 6 miles to go, the road intersects with the main paved road up this mountain. You’ll ride the paved road for less than a mile, then cross one last gate (locked and prohibiting cars from continuing) to the summit. The final 6 miles of climbing are on a well maintained dirt road. I saw many hikers and runners on this portion of the road. A ski resort and radio/cell towers mark the summit of the climb.

Climb begins by riding northeast up NM 592

The first 1.5 miles of the climb are on a two lane state highway which felt safe to ride on.  This portion of the ride is comfortable, albeit brief.  After the two hairpins beginning at mile 1.1, stay straight at mile 1.6 onto the gravel and Hwy 76.  If you turn left, you will stay on NM 592 which is paved (on some maps, this is County Road 78).  The gravel begins at mile 1.5 by continuing straight, onto Hwy 76 - there is a road sign verifying you are on the correct route (see bottom left photo of collage above).

Start the gravel at mile 1.5

The road surface on this climb varies from smooth to fairly rough.

The photos above appear on the map at their location along the climb in the Profile Section. 

We enter Santa Fe National Forest at mile 3.1.

Santa Fe National Forest was established in 1915 during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency.  The forest is made up of 1.6 million acres, and is home to the Valles Caldera, a dormant volcano with a 15-mile wide crater.  

We encounter our first of two gates at mile 6.9

We ride by and through stands of ponderosa pine and aspen trees.

Ride on paved highway 457 from mile 10.6 to 11.3

We exit the brief paved segment at Aspen Vista picnic ground.

Our second and final gate on the climb is just after exiting the second stretch of pavement.

Many of the views are blocked by forest as we climb.

Stands of aspen trees can be seen along the climb.

You are 7/10’s of a mile from the finish when you see this sign on your right.

Pass Ski Santa Fe resort just before the finish of the climb.

We finish at a set of radio towers 2/10’s of a mile past the top of Tesuque Peak ski lift.

The climb tops out at elevation 11,994’ with 35% less oxygen than at sea level. At this location, there are panoramic views to the west of the Rio Grande Valley and Pecos Wilderness to the east.

That’s a wrap!!