The New Mexico section of the FS/CDT takes on a distinctly desert character. Much of the riding in New Mexico is on infrequently used but relatively modern, purpose-built single track. Many sections are made up of soil containing high clay content, posing a risk for rain delays. Overall the travel is quick and the distances between resupply points greater.
The segment descriptions below correspond the segments shown on the full FS/CDT route map: https://caltopo.com/m/UU6AE1G
The route from the New Mexico border to Abiquiu is described on the Colorado Route page (390 Cumbres Pass).
For the maximalists, consider the 391 Rim Vista alt, which adds another six miles of CDT along the Mesa de los Viejos before a plunging (see: generally unridable) descent back down to the valley floor.
410 Valles Caldera
Abiquiu isn’t much, but has the home of Georgia O’Keefe (book a reservation to tour her home and artists studio in advance), a nice restaurant (Café Abiquiu), a fully stocked gas station, and a post office.
This segment from Abiquiu to Cuba is almost entirely on the GDMBR, except for a fun eight mile singletrack descent down into Cuba.
420 Taylor Pie
From Cuba, continue on the GDMBR for 19 miles before turning south back toward the CDT.
At Segment Mile 80, continue to climb up Mt. Taylor (11,301′), which offers stunning views and a fun (albeit rocky and rather technical) singletrack descent. From the top of Mt. Taylor to the road five miles from Grants the route is predominantly singletrack, with another fun, technical descent down to the road to Grants at Segment Mile 106.
After stopping to refuel in Grants, you’ll have 90 miles of relatively flat gravel riding ahead of you to reach Pie Town.
450 Pie to Silver
Pie Town is super cute, albeit limited in services. There’s a post office, two restaurants that do, indeed serve pie (I recommend The Gathering Place), and a free CDT hiker/biker hostel called the Toaster House with a bike stand and tools.
The 451 Escondido alt follows the CDT proper from Pie Town. After turning off the highway this alt entails ten miles or so of riding cross-country without a trail. After crossing the open plains the trail becomes better defined as it climbs into the foothills, but is slow going and not particularly ridable. The main line route keeps to the GDMBR (an alt also commonly used by hikers) and avoids this slow section of riding.
Segment Miles 33 – 65 are predominantly singletrack. There’s a lot of downed trees in this section and water is scarce. At Segment Mile 65 the route leaves the mainline CDT and follows the popular Gila alt south (mostly road riding except for a short riparian canyon) before eventually rejoining the GDMBR at Segment Mile 120.
A small, erratically stocked store is available by riding from 3.5 miles to Lake Roberts at Segment Mile 171. A free campground with pit toilets and a dumpster (but no water) is available at Segment Mile 172. From here, you’ll ride nice singletrack more or less all the way to Silver City. The riding is never fast, but is almost entirely ridable.
470 Chihuahua
Silver City is an extremely charming historic city with good restaurants, a brewery, charming coffee shops, and a great ice cream shop (June June’s – try the rose water cardamom ice cream).
The singletrack begins again 15 miles or so from Silver City. Like the riding before Silver City, it’s pleasant singletrack and entirely ridable though not particularly fast. Savor these last miles of piñon-juniper forest riding! After leaving the hills the route becomes faint and you’ll be navigating by posts to the highway.
Lordsburg has a grocery store and two restaurants. Fill up on water before leaving town! From here to the border will be a mix of single track and doubletrack road riding. You’ll likely be reliant on water caches maintained by the CDTC for the last 100 miles. The pass over the Big Hatchet Mountains is mostly a rocky wash and very slow going.
As of October 2025, accessing the 1.1 miles of the CDT to the Mexico border now requires US Citizenship, a background check and a permit issued by the US Army.
More details about the requirements and the permit are available here: https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/continental-divide-trail-national-defense-area-restrictions/