A sleeper of a good drive is from Tucumcari to Las Vegas along 104. Between Tucumcari and Conchas Lake there are some antelope. Once you get closer to Las Vegas, Elk aren't uncommon. Both the Raton and Las Vegas drives following good rains are stunningly pretty. The grass greens up and it looks like a well manicured golf course for as far as the eye can see.
In 1997 I stopped in the Visitor Center at Tucumcari. This was before we carried phones with us that told us everything. I grabbed a visitors guide and saw that the state had 14,000’ mountains and set off on that exact route.
We camped at Storrie Lake State Park and toured the area. Fell in love with it and spent a lot of time in the northeast part of the state.
I’m pretty sure Longmire was filmed in Las Vegas NM.
I’m long overdue for a trip back out there!
