A detour to Raton, New Mexico, via "The Enchanted Circle"

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After my pilgrimage of sorts to the Shrine, I stopped in at the visitor center in San Luis and asked the kind lady behind the desk if there were any other spots I should visit in the area. I told her I was headed to Raton, New Mexico, so she suggested that I drive south towards Questa, New Mexico (only 30 miles away), and then drive east towards the towns of Red River and Eagle Nest, New Mexico. She said it would be more enjoyable than driving north, then east, then south to Raton. So I took her advice, and needless to say I was not disappointed.

The drive to Red River and Eagle Nest was via a loop that includes Taos, New Mexico, and is referred to as The Enchanted Circle. The route to Red River and Eagle Nest goes through the glorious mountain scenery of Carson National Forest. After Eagle Nest, the route to Raton was via U.S. Route 64, which was also beautiful and passed through Cimarron, New Mexico, a town with lots of old west history. In addition, the route brought my road trip full circle, as it passed Cimarron Canyon (elevation 6,800 feet), the boundary between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.




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