The La Bajada Challenge features individual timed trials in A, B, and C classes, racing up and down a section of the historic Route 66 La Bajada Road off Forest Road 24. The event is open to all dirt and dual-sport bikes and is an all-day event running from 8am until all riders finish or sundown. Food, water, and support will be provided.

Long before Coronado’s expeditions or the formation of the United States, Indigenous peoples traveled a network of footpaths linking southern and northern New Mexico. One of the most formidable crossings was the ascent into what is now Rio Arriba—the “High River”—via the sheer cliffs of La Bajada Hill. This steep, winding route later became part of early Route 66 from 1926 to 1932, infamous for its brutal 28-degree grades and 23 tight hairpin turns. Early automobiles often had to climb the hill in reverse just to keep their fuel systems working, a testament to how demanding the route truly was.

Since the highway was rerouted from Domingo to Santa Fe more than 90 years ago, La Bajada Hill has been left to time and the elements. Severe erosion has reduced the old road to a barely recognizable trace, making it extraordinarily difficult to navigate even on a small dirt bike. Rusted barbed wire, scattered car parts, and fragments of history litter the landscape, while massive rocks and shifting boulders obscure what was once a vital artery of travel. Today, La Bajada stands as a raw, unforgiving reminder of New Mexico’s layered past—and a serious challenge for anyone bold enough to attempt it.

Adventure Details:

• Start: La Bajada Hill, (Top Only)
• End: La Bajada Hill
• Rider Level: Advanced
• Some Food and Water available on site
• No Entrance Fee
• No Bathrooms
• No Facilities
• Limited Medical Emergency Support
• Tech and Moto Transport Assistance on Site

You Bring:

• Street Legal Dirt or Dual-Sport / Adventure Motorcycle
• Food, hydration
• Active Personal & Medical Insurance

Includes:

• Race Route
• Prizes for Winners
• Optional Camping Night Before

Details: La Bajada Challenge