The Gilman Tunnel’s are a great motorcycle destination, from Albuquerque go north to Bernalillo, then take US550 west to San Ysidro where you turn right on NM4. After riding through the Jemez Pueblo, and Walatowa with beautiful Red Rock outcroppings, start watching for NM485 going left off NM4. Take 485 which turns into US Forest Rd 376 as you enter the National forest before you get to Gilman Tunnel’s. The tunnel’s are typically closed during winter due to snow, and occasionally closed due to being used for filming by the Movie industry, one movie they are used in is “3:10 to Yuma” we just rode up last Saturday, and another movie is being filmed there currently (3/26/22). Unless you’re on adventure bikes (because the Forest rd 376 turns to dirt, and will eventually bring you back to a paved section of SR126 near Fenton Lake) I would recommend turning around at the Gilman Tunnel’s and riding back to NM4, turn left and ride into Jemez Springs where there are developed Hot Spring’s (bring swim suit’s) and a very cool old Bar called Los Ojo’s Bar. From Jemez Springs the ride up NM4 is beautiful and takes you past Battleship Rock and by the Valle Caldera (one of North America’s super Volcano’s) and then winds back down out of the mountains into Los Alamos, or White Rock and Bandelier National Monument. We usually turn around at the Valle Caldera, and ride back thru Jemez Springs, Jemez Pueblo to San Ysidro toi get home to Albuquerque, otherwise if you continue on thru Los Alamos to Santa Fe, where you end up riding south on the Interstate I-25 to get home the quickest, but the ride down from Santa Fe on NM14 thru Madrid is quite nice, and takes you south to a relatively short section of I-40 to get back into Albuquerque.
4 Reviews
The Gilman Tunnels are half natural wonder and half modern engineering. Once used as a rail system for the logging industry, the tracks have now been removed and traffic slowly freely through the canyon. Definitely a must see attraction when in New Mexico.
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