Pick up your bike at EagleRider El Paso and start your journey West towards the small mining town of Safford, Arizona. The riding today is mostly flat as you pass through the low desert landscapes of New Mexico and Southern Arizona. Safford is an "Old West" mining town of just 14,000 residents. Today, the quiet streets lined with 120 year old store fronts are very reminescent of a long forgotten era.

The highlight of today's ride is the Coronado Scenic Trail Byway. Seeking the riches of the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola, Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado's 1540 route ran close to this scenic Byway. Today's riches along this Byway are of a different nature -- vistas stretching for miles on end and an abundance of varied recreational opportunities and wildlife. Travel on the only road that had its name changed by the Bible. Only two years ago US 191 was US 666 and nicknamed "The Devil's Highway." But don't let that deter you. If you are into history and graveyards, stop by the remnant of the Stargo Cemetery, with burials dating back to the 19th Century and make charcoal rubbings of the dates and names. History is prominent along this highway, and the remnants of an ancient rock house can be seen before entering the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. You'll encounter switchbacks that contributed to the Coronado Trail being the least traveled federal highway. When the road was first proposed in 1916, an old cowboy said "There ain't even a good horse trail." Now hundreds of visitors travel the road every year. A favorite of motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts, the Coronado Trail Scenic Byway is an adventure of switchbacks, steep grades, and hairpin turns and is known as one of the best driving roads in the nation.

This morning we will backtrack just a bit to ride along the Northern edge of the Apache National Forest before it opens to the vast beauty and red grasses of the New Mexico flatlands. This is a ride with exeptional beauty and ever-changing landscapes. Your home tonight is the historic, "Old West" ghost town of White Oaks, New Mexico. White Oaks was a gold boom town in the 1800's that was a favorite retreat for the infamous "Billy The Kid". Today, this town is a favorite for visitors who want to enjoy the historic buildings, graveyards and rich history of an era when gold fell from the hills and outlaws ruled the streets.

Take some time this morning to enjoy one last stroll through the quiet streets of White Oak before turning South towards El Paso. The highlight of today's ride is White Sands National Monument. Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, dunes have engulfed 275 square miles of desert creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Monument preserves this dunefield, along with the plants and animals that have adapted to this constantly changing environment. Take your time to stop and soak in the amazing and ever-changing landscapes of the White Sands before finishing with the short ride back to El Paso.