Cochiti Calamity Loop

The Cochiti Calamity Loop is a club classic scenic loop ride that begins and ends at the intersection I-40 and NM22 north of Albuquerque at the Santo Domingo turnoff. This ride has superb views of the Jemez mountains to the west, the northern Sandias to the south and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the north. Tetilla Peak is the small bump on the ridge to the northwest. Further to the west in the Jemez Mountains is Peter's Dome and Boundary Peak. When you ride across the water rushing out from the spillway from the Cochiti Dam you've crossed the Rio Grande which is flowing south.

The Cochiti Dam Crest Road may be closed due to security restrictions but go inside the Visitor Center and ask for permission to ride across the dam since cyclists aren't much of a security risk. Be careful of the gravel at the west end. Cochiti Dam is one of the largest earth dams in the world.

You ride through the small towns of Pena Blanca and Cochiti Lake. You pass the Cochiti Golf Course and the road turns to gravel near the Dixon apple orchard. This is also the approach to the Bland Canyon where there is terrific mountain biking.

This is a pretty flat ride with little traffic and fantastic views. It can be windy in the spring and hot in the summer, get an early start. This is a great early or late season ride. The ride across the dam provides a tremendous vista with mountains in all directions. From the dam you can look north to where the Rio Grande flows through Bandelier National Monument.

Getting There: Take I-25 north from Albuquerque or south to exit 259 on I-25. Park behind the convenience store west of I-25 or just east of I-25.

Distance: 39 Miles, 1,800' Elevation Gain..

Roadway: Two lane roads with or without shoulders with light traffic .The pavement is ok except for the Dam Crest Road which is pretty rough especially the west part near the Visitor's Center. NM22 has shoulders but there is an amazing amount of broken beer bottles on the NM22 stretch.

Options: An optional 7-mile (each way) side trip to the Cochiti Pueblo begins at the NM22 turn-off to Tent-Rocks between the spillway and Cochiti Town. Turn south and ride along the flat route through the pueblo and farms. The road turns to dirt before Sile. Turn around there and return by the same route. Nothing exceptional to view. The road to Tent Rocks National Monument turns east at Cochiti but immediately turns to dirt.

The paved turnoff to Santo Domingo Pueblo just east of the dam goes about 2 miles either north of south before turning to dirt. Santo Domingo Pueblo is about 2-miles south of the intersection.

Notes: The ride often stops at the convenience center in the town of Cochiti. The visitor center on the Cochiti Dam road may be open and it has water.

US Corps of Engineers - Cochiti Lake
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument | BLM Tent Rocks Site
Cochiti Lake, Public Lands Site

Cochiti Calamity CueSheet // 39 miles, 1,800' Elevation gain Mileage Waypoint Leg Description 0 I-40 & NM22 Ride west on NM22 across La Bajada Mesa, past Tetilla Peak, through the town of Pena Blanca, past the Cochiti Dam spillway through the town of Cochiti Lake, to the end of the pavement. 7.3 Pena Blanca Continue generally west through town. There is a small store in town. Don't blink. 9.5 Jct of NM22 & NM16 Continue west on NM22 11.5 Cochiti Dam Spillway Continue west on NM22. Here is the Al Black recreation area. 12.2 NM22 turns south Continue straight (west). NM22 turns south to Cochiti Pueblo and the Tent Rocks. 13.3 Cochiti Lake Dam Rd. on the right. Continue straight (west) past the Cochiti Dam Road and Visitor Center on the right. Then ride downhill to the town of Cochiti. Convenience store at 13.6. Continue through town past the Cochiti Golf Course (15.5), to the end of the pavement. There is only one obvious paved road towards the Jemez. 16.8 End of Pavement The road now turns to a good dirt road here. This is the entrance to the La Canada Ranch owner by UNM. Dixon's Apple Orchard is 3 miles west. There are great mountain bike trails beginning at Dixons. Take a minute and savor the view. There are great views in all directions of the Sandias, Cerrillos Hills and the volcanic tuff of the Jemez in the west. Return the way you came(east) to the town of Cochiti Lake. Stop at the convenience store (20.0) for refreshments. Leave town the way you came (east), climb the hill to the Cochiti Dam Visitor's Center 20.4 Cochiti Dam Visitor's Center Turn left(north) into the Cochiti Lake Dam, then make an immediate right onto the Cochiti Dam Crest Road. The road across the dam is closed to vehicular traffic. However, you can go inside and get permission to cross the dam since cyclists aren't much of a security risk. Follow the road across the dam, and curve right (south) until it dead-ends into NM16. 26.9 Cochiti Dam Road & NM16 Turn right(west) onto NM16. Ride past the Cochiti Middle School to NM22. 29.0 NM16 & NM22 Turn left (east) on NM22 again. 30.0 Pena Blanca Continue east on NM22 throughout town. 38.5 Parking   I-25 Option: 26.9 Cochiti Dam Road & NM16 Turn left on NM16 to I-25. 32.1 NM16 & I-25 Turn right (south) onto I-25's shoulder, since there is no frontage road, about 7 miles to exit 259, where you began. There is a good shoulder right of the rumble strip. Exit I-25 at NM22 and find your cars. 37.9 Parking

Route Map

Elevation Profile

Note that it is uphill back to parking but there is only 730 ft of elevation difference on the route.