---
id: "2081"
name: Wild Rivers Back Country Byway
distance: "12.3"
duration: 1 hour, including stops at overlooks.
description: The Wild Rivers Back Country Scenic Byway follows the Rio Grande Gorge in the north-central area of New Mexico, near the village of Questa.
path: idg_FtaocSHrh@c@|C_AtBk@j@sBfA_n@EcAp@_BxAkAjCOvE?~Ew@zMOfAk@|AoIzKuBzEuHrMeCtFyArDyAfEwAdDyChG_A~A}NdUo@h@_DlAqBpAaAtAc@dAiAtEUfBc@bBiBtE}@xE{@hHc@nOErPYjU]vBhAdUNj^dB|M`A`Z~AzRdAfJlDvMd@hFxBfChEnAhCrAtFx@vKZrKlEzFp@tGjBh@?pAxCpAf@bEqAhAdCt@dAhAzAvAvAfJtHbG~GfCfBhExBpFhGlDvCjAr@rAd@l@FbEGZLpBxAbClAnGxBvEpAlBLnC?fBVjA^zDbBpKrFh@h@jA`Dx@l@zCj@rHFbADtAXf@r@xAzEt@v@\JxB?z@L`CxAtA^xEPpDf@vBPj@?vDe@bA@bE|@~Al@h@j@xFpI`AhAtAx@xA^fC?xAKxHmBtCe@nBVfDtB~@^hCXhEX~@PzAj@dBx@vJfHhBt@`Ep@~DhBvBnA`EfEn@`ATfABvBV~@RXrBtB|Bv@n@j@vC|FnA|A|EtB|LxEzDdC^F|AG~@QbDgBj@IhBVx@BjCq@`AkAVaBDgAHu@X{@h@}@tCoC^q@^iARqAEwBDaA^mAHs@Iw@s@_CEa@C]PgC?oBs@sE^_NRoA`BaE`@qAJ_BCaDHc@Nc@xAoBL]nANrA?~@ShAy@`FeGnAgAZE`BPdAA~KyObI{GbCmDr@g@bBYbFTbA[hBsAhCwA|C{@zIT|DGh@JxFrBlDTnPRbCVdOxE|HxBv@ZrCjDp@`@fARrBa@j@y@f@uBA}C_AgCiFwGeC}HmCuDyA}@wCcAcDUwDj@cDZsCq@wNmKYK{Df@iKT{DbAuCbAeBUwGaCqGcA_FH_Bf@mCzAmCtB_BnA_BtA{B~FmEzJqBvB{Cj@iBx@gBPm@Qp@nIBtJ_@rC{CbFq@fHkBjAVB
organization:
  - url: https://www.blm.gov/visit/wild-rivers-backcountry-byway
    name: Bureau of Land Management
websites:
  - url: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/03e6d455024b42129d9cb1ea087211b0#ref-n-N1Jl0s
    name: New Mexico Scenic Byways Program
  - url: https://www.newmexico.org/places-to-visit/scenic-byways/wild-rivers/
    name: New Mexico Travel Guide
  - url: https://www.thearmchairexplorer.com/new-mexico/wild-rivers-back-country-byway.php
    name: The Armchair Explorer
designations:
  - BLM Back Country Byway
states:
  - NM
ll:
  - -105.59530599999994
  - 36.74197000000004
bounds:
  - - -105.70272099999994
    - 36.66025200000007
  - - -105.59530599999994
    - 36.766485000000046

---

This Back Country Scenic Byway follows the Rio Grande Gorge. The Sangre De Cristo mountains to the east and volcanic mountains to the west add beautiful variety to the countryside. The Gorge plunges 800 feet at its deepest point and gapes up to a mile across at its widest point. Trails lead down into the Gorge where the adventurous can explore. One can also stay topside and explore nature's wonders there.