Roswell, New Mexico is an Unexpected Oasis for Outdoor Activity

City of Roswell

Perry Toles grew up in Roswell, New Mexico, where he’s a retired attorney and volunteer swimming, cross country and track-and-field coach. So, he knows a thing or two about outdoor activity in Roswell. 

It’s an ideal place to train for multisport endurance events, he says, with plenty of off-road trails to run on, and you can roll out on a bike from your home and ride in any direction. But the area is sublime for those who prefer more leisurely workouts, too. 

“Roswell is perfect for outdoor recreation because any day of the year you can get outside. In the summer, it’s in the mornings and evenings and in the winter, midday is perfection,” says Megan Cederberg, who with her husband, Daniel, owns Moon Rock Outfitters, a local bike shop. “The terrain is generally flat and comfortable for an enjoyable ride, and the elevation is perfect for beginners.” 

Biking Begins to Take Off 

“Roswell is pretty secluded with the bike scene,” says Daniel Cederberg. “Everybody kind of does their own thing. There’s a lot of freedom.” 

One of Megan’s favorite rides starts northeast of town, where she bikes from Haystack Mountain into Roswell. This 27-mile ride has several hills that offer a bit of a challenge but also a downhill with speed and the view of the Capitan Mountains is beautiful,” she says. 

In town, the Spring River Recreation Trail passes through the heart of Roswell and is popular with runners, walkers and bikers. 

“It’s a great asset for the community that’s paved and runs from the zoo on the eastern side of the city to the west side ending in Enchanted Lands Park,” Toles says. 

Megan Cederberg also likes a route on the south side of town. 

“The Hondo River Recreation Trail is great. It’s small and Roswell could benefit from the expansion of that trail as well as the South Commuter Trail,” she says. 

The South Commuter Trail is a paved shared-use path. It’s a long, straight trail, Daniel Cederberg says, and in addition to traffic, it poses another challenge. 

“The biggest thing for bikers around Roswell is the puncturevine plant. The spines go through a lot of tires,” he says. “We recommend tubeless tires. They allow you to get some punctures and keep on riding.” 

Nathan Lambrecht

Excellent Terrain for Triathlon Training 

For some 40 years, the Roswell area has hosted a couple of annual summer triathlons. The Milkman Triathlon takes place on Lake Van in Dexter. At Bottomless Lakes State Park, Perry Toles helps direct the Bottomless Triathlon. 

The venue is unique, Toles says. The park’s lakes are a series of deep sinkholes. Lea Lake is spring fed and has good visibility for swimmers and scuba divers. The 8-mile perimeter road is a great surface for cycling and running. There are also nature trails to run on. 

Closer to town, Toles enjoys the Cielo Grande Recreation Area. “It has paved trails suitable for running, walking or biking, but not competitive cycling,” he says. 

And when the weather is ugly, the Roswell Recreation and Aquatic Center has an eight-lane indoor swimming pool. 

An Evolving Outdoor Scene 

Daniel Cederberg also enjoys the area around Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. 

“All the county roads around Roswell are pretty nice,” he says. 

And biking isn’t the only sport catching on. There’s a growing group of kayakers and paddleboarders that go down the Pecos River, Daniel Cederberg says. With so many options, Daniel and Megan see a bright future that started blossoming during the pandemic. 

“It was a good opportunity because people wanted to get out of the house,” Daniel says. “We’ve grown the community’s bike culture.” 

There are a couple of biking groups in town and Moon Rock Outfitters has organized cleanup events, nighttime glow rides and art tours. 

“We’re just trying to show people that their city is easy to ride,” Daniel says. “That’s kind of our business model: getting people on bikes, keeping them healthy and bringing the community together.” 

With a thriving cycling community, the time is now to hop on a bike and enjoy the ride in Roswell.