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Billy the Kid Trail
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| Departure: | Byway Visitor Center, New Mexico |
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| Destination: | Fort Stanton Reservation, New Mexico |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
Travel the Billy the Kid Trail and catch a glimpse into history. Step foot in the places that the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid once visited. Experience first-hand the exciting places along this byway.
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Start: Byway Visitor Center
Your first stop along Billy the Kid Trail should be at the byway Visitor Center in Ruidoso Downs. A trove of information, the gallery features a fun mini-tour of the byway. The gallery floor has been painted with a map of the Byway and neighboring communities, and the mountains are three-dimensional.
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Stop 1: Hubbard Museum of the American West
Directions from previous place: The museum is next to the byway visitor center, on the center's west side.
Distance from Previous Site: 0.1 miles / 0.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 minute Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Come to the Hubbard Museum of the American West and see the many ways the horse has played a dramatic role in the exploration and expansion of the cultures of the world. Here you'll find more than just a collection of wagons and photos; the museum houses a diverse collection of fine art, family heirlooms, and western memorabilia. Note the museum's entrance, which features Dave McGary's famous equine sculpture "Free Spirits at Noisy Water."
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Stop 2: Lincoln State Monument
Directions from previous place: Leaving the museum, take US-70 east for 22.1 miles. Turn left (north) onto US-380 and drive for 11.2 miles until you come to the Lincoln State Monument.
Distance from Previous Site: 33.3 miles / 53.3 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 41 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour At the Lincoln State Monument, you'll enter a place kept much like it was in the late 1800s. Visit the museums for a fascinating glimpse into history. Be sure to see the Lincoln County Courthouse – the place that Billy the Kid made his last escape in 1881.
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Stop 3: Smokey Bear Museum and Park
Directions from previous place: Leaving the monument, take US-380 northwest for 11.1 miles. Turn right (North) onto SR-246 (N Lincoln Ave) and drive for 0.1 miles. Turn left (west) onto East Creek Road and drive for 0.1 miles, then turn left (south) and you'll be at the museum and park.
Distance from Previous Site: 11.3 miles / 18.1 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 15 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours From Lincoln State Monument, travel to the Smokey Bear Museum and Park and pay tribute to the courageous little bear that has become the nation's symbol for fighting and preventing forest fires. Visit the park where the real Smokey Bear's body is buried, then explore the museum. Leaving, note the wonderful view of the Capitan Mountains.
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End: Fort Stanton Reservation
Directions from previous place: Leaving the museum, turn right (east) onto East Creek Road, then immediately turn right (south) onto SR-246 (N Lincoln Ave) and drive for 0.1 miles. Turn left (east) onto US-380 (1st Street) and drive for 4.3 miles. Turn right (southwest) onto SR-220 and drive for 2.5 miles until you come to Fort Stanton Reservation.
Distance from Previous Site: 6.9 miles / 11.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 12 minutes End the tour and the day at Fort Stanton Reservation, a place where many famous western icons, including Billy the Kid, once set foot. Recreation abounds here, so go hiking or horseback riding. Be sure to explore the caves, particularly Fort Stanton Cave. At the end of the day, camp out under the stars.
