The Drive from Cloudcroft to the National Solar Observatory
 

Are there vistas when driving from Cloudcroft to the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, or is the road mostly lined with trees that prevent expansive views?

HTTY

I looked at the satellite map of the 17 mile road from Cloudcroft to the NSO. There is also another observatory out there, Apache Point. Looks like there may be 1 or 2 vista points but mostly dense Lincoln National Forest.
http://nsosp.nso.edu/pr/
You can take a virtual tour on their website.

HTTY,

This little exercise might be of some help:

(1) Go to Google Maps and get directions from High Rolls, NM, to Sunspot, NM. The default routing takes you over to Cloudcroft and then down highways 130 and 63 to Sunspot.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...53637&t=h&z=13

(2) Zoom in to HIgh Rolls and notice that a couple of other roads lead south from there, including "63 Road" and "90 Road" (labeled on Map View, but not on Satellite View until you zoom in more). Google Maps will let you drag and choose "63 Road" as an alternative, but not "90 Road" (which turns into West Side Road farther south).

(3) Switch over to Satellite View if you have not already.

(4) Check out the photos indicated by the blue dots along West Side Road. It looks like there are some scenic vistas. I don't know if it is just selected points or all along the road, but it appears from the overhead shot as if there might be quite a bit of "vista viewing" along the way.

(5) Check out the actual routing at Mapquest, which WILL let you drag the routing to follow West Side Road. http://mapq.st/es4qYf

It would take you twice as long as going through Cloudcroft, because West Side Road and then Forest Service Road 91 join back into Sacramento Canyon Road south of Sunspot (roughly 1:30 versus 0:45). Also, the forest service roads are dirt/rock, so you would not want to drive them in rainy weather, and they have quite a few switchbacks.

Anyway, enjoy looking!

Thanks, Tom, that's a big help in planning our itinerary.

HTTY

there are several pull outs with descriptive signs that point out various interesting facts as places, plants and wild life ..you will be able to see White Sands from the viewing areas .. plus the observatories have lookouts as well .. interesting place to walk about the various incarnations of the observation buildings such as one ordered from Sears .. lot of deer around as well .. have fun !!

Thanks, 2dogs, for this helpful description of the drive. I have my <i>Fodor's New Mexico</i> guidebook, and I'm looking forward to a good time.

HTTY

Did you definitely decide to go? And if so, are you taking the paved road both ways or are you game for the "back road" option?

Whether we make the drive depends partly on how much time we spend at White Sands. In any event, we won't be going the back road in our rental car.

Today I got a copy of the 2009 edition of <i>Fodor's New Mexico</i> because the 2011 edition isn't due to be published until April 19 and we depart Seattle on April 12.

HTTY