Billy the Kid Trail

New Mexico

National Scenic Byway

Map

Byway Details

Designation
National Scenic Byway
Length
88 mi in New Mexico

About Billy the Kid Trail

Billy the Kid Trail is an 88.2-mile scenic drive in New Mexico that carries two designations: it is a National Scenic Byway and also a New Mexico State Scenic Byway. The route links the towns of Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs and Capitan, so it works as a long drive with stops along the way rather than a single outing. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ruidoso show May highs around 73°F and September highs around 75°F, while July and August bring the most wet days, about 15 each month. Several places sit right off the road. Rob Jagger's Campground and the Rio Bonito Trail are both about 0.1 mile away, and the Cave Loop and Lower Cedar Creek Trail are each about 0.2 mile away.

Scenic byway data: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

Facts about this place

When to go

Best time to go: Apr–Oct. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 65–82°F and lows of 33–51°F.

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Ruidoso, NM weather station, 5.3 mi away. High / low in °F.

  1. Jan49° high21° low
  2. Feb51° high23° low
  3. Mar58° high27° low
  4. Apr65° high33° low
  5. May73° high40° low
  6. Jun82° high47° low
  7. Jul81° high51° low
  8. Aug79° high50° low
  9. Sep75° high44° low
  10. Oct67° high35° low
  11. Nov56° high26° low
  12. Dec48° high22° low

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020

Where it is

Towns along the route
Ruidoso · Ruidoso Downs · Capitan

Source: USGS GNIS populated places

Nearby

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 2 miles of the route, PostGIS distance)

    Billy the Kid Trail — Scenic drive in New Mexico | Roamze