Gillman's Tunnels To Fenton Lake ADV Ride

We’ll gather up at Warrior Fuel Stop, 1005 US‑550, Bernalillo, NM 87004. Roll in by 8:00 AM, ’cause at 8:15 we’ll have ourselves a little pre‑ride talk, and at 8:30, kickstands go up and the day’s adventure begins.
Be ready:

• Gas tank full.
• Bladders empty.
• Batteries charged—on your bike and in your bones.

We’ll point the bikes north on Highway 550, that ribbon of road stretching out to the horizon, and ride up to San Ysidro. From there, we leave the straight behind and take Highway 4, a winding trail that sneaks us into the mesas and red rock country.
Our first pause is in Walatowa—a little outpost where we’ll shake the dust off and take care of business. Then it’s back in the saddle, because the real fun starts when we turn left on Highway 376.
Gillman’s Tunnels will rise out of the cliffs like something out of an old western. We’ll stop, take a few pictures, and soak up that feeling of riding right through the heart of the mountains.
After the tunnels, the pavement says goodbye, and gravel and dirt say hello. The forest closes in, the air cools down, and the ride becomes a little wild. If the road is kind, we might make a side trip to Cebollita Waterfall, where the water spills out of the rock like it’s been waitin’ all year just for us to show up.
The dirt eventually gives us back to the pavement at Highway 126, where we’ll swing left and climb our way to Fenton Lake. It’s a quiet little gem where we’ll take a moment to breathe, stretch, and trade stories about the ride so far.
From there, it’s on to Cuba, where Bruno’s will be waiting with a hot meal and a cold drink. With full bellies and tired grins, we’ll point our bikes back down Highway 550 and let the road carry us home.
This one’s got a bit of everything—smooth pavement, tunnels, gravel roads, waterfalls, lakes, and a lunch that tastes even better after a morning in the saddle.
This ride includes miles of gravel and dirt roads—not suitable for road bikes or three-wheelers. The off-road portions are generally not too technical; however, after heavy rains they can be a little challenging, but manageable.