Trail of the Mountain Spirits (NM-15)

The Trail of the Mountain Spirits is a 95-mile National Scenic Byway in southwestern New Mexico that loops through the Gila National Forest and crosses the Continental Divide. NM-15 forms the northern spine of the route, running 44 miles from Silver City north to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument — the only designated wilderness in the United States that pre-dates the 1964 Wilderness Act. The byway also incorporates NM-35, US-180, and NM-152. The road through Pinos Altos and the Gila River Canyon is remote and technical, with steep grades and sharp curves warranting caution for large touring bikes, while rewarding riders with canyon views 2,000 feet deep and access to one of the most isolated national monuments in the lower 48.