Wild Rivers Back Country Scenic Byway

New Mexico

BLM Back Country Byway

Map

Byway Details

Designation
BLM Back Country Byway
Length
16 mi in New Mexico
Managed by
Bureau of Land Management

About Wild Rivers Back Country Scenic Byway

Wild Rivers Back Country Scenic Byway is a 16.2-mile Back Country Byway in northern New Mexico, on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The drive passes through the small community of Cerro, which serves as the nearest town along the route. The most comfortable driving weather typically comes in late spring and early fall, when a nearby weather station in Cerro, at about 7,650 feet, averages highs around 70°F in May and 75°F in September. July and August are typically warmer but see more wet days, while winter highs there average in the upper 30s with lows near 8°F to 9°F. The byway makes a convenient base for exploring trails and climbing close to the road. Guadalupe Trail sits about 0.1 mile away, Big Arsenic Trail and the Flowing Chi Wall climbing area are each about 0.2 mile off, and Wild Rivers Recreation Area, a river fishing spot, lies about 0.4 mile away.

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

Facts about this place

When to go

Best time to go: May–Oct. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 65–83°F and lows of 30–49°F.

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Cerro, NM weather station, 0.1 mi away. High / low in °F.

  1. Jan37° high8° low
  2. Feb42° high14° low
  3. Mar53° high21° low
  4. Apr62° high27° low
  5. May70° high35° low
  6. Jun80° high44° low
  7. Jul83° high49° low
  8. Aug81° high48° low
  9. Sep75° high41° low
  10. Oct65° high30° low
  11. Nov51° high19° low
  12. Dec38° high9° low

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

Where it is

Towns along the route
Cerro

Source: USGS GNIS populated places

Nearby

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