Quebradas Back Country Byway | New Mexico

The Quebradas Back Country Byway is an unpaved county road traversing about 24 miles of rugged, colorful landscapes east of Socorro, NM. Two National Wildlife Refuges are only a few miles from this Byway - Sevilleta to the north and Bosque del Apache to the south. Much of the Byway includes rolling bench lands that rise above the Rio Grande floodplain to the west and rugged north-south running ridges of alternating bands of red and yellow sandstone, red and purple shale, and white to gray limestone.

Byway Details

The Quebradas in Spanish for “breaks, a rugged/cliffy area”. The area is known for its geological scenery and geological exposures. The rocks creating these breaks are exposed along the Quebradas Back Country Byway, in particular sedimentary rocks of Pennsylvanian, Permian, Late Cenozoic, and Quaternary age. In addition, some Triassic and Upper Cretaceous strata are present along the route covered by this route.   The Rio Grande valley and its associated vegetation provide important habitat for a variety of wildlife, including mule deer, coyote, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, porcupine, opossum, ground squirrel, cottontail, and jack rabbit. Typical bird species you may see include the snow goose, sandhill crane, quail, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, roadrunner, horned lark, raven and numerous songbirds. The endangered whooping crane is also occasionally sighted along the river. Common reptiles include the collared lizard, eastern fence lizard, bull snake, king snake, whip snake, and western diamondback rattlesnake.

The region includes upper Chihuahuan desert mountain ranges with sparse vegetation. The Quebradas road crosses several arroyos which drain into the Rio Grande. Erosion has created scenic geological settings such as the Arroyo de la Presilla, Arroyo del Tajo, and the Loma de las Canas ridgeline. Many areas along the road contain near vertical, multicolored cliffs, twisted and convoluted badlands, narrow box canyons, and other topographic landforms. Colorful soils and banding of rock formations can be viewed midway through the drive.

Attractions & Features

• Arroyos and canyons
• Scenic vistas of the Rio Grande Valley and mountains
• Native American pictographs on canyon walls
• Animal watching
• Geology
• Rockhounding
• Hiking Trails