New Mexico State Road 120

State Road 120
Route information
Maintained by NMDOT
Length:	119.031 mi[1] (191.562 km)
Major junctions
East end:	US 56 / US 412 toward Clayton
	NM 39 in Roy I-25 in Wagon Mound NM 442 in Ocate
West end:	NM 434 in Black Lake
Highway system
State Roads in New Mexico SR • Minor SR • US ← NM 119 NM 121 →

Mile Marker 12 - where dirt meets asphalt

Mile Marker 8 - during the winter

State Road 120 (NM 120) is a 119.031-mile (191.562 km) long state road in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The route traverses four counties: Colfax, Mora, Harding, and Union, and is the longest state road in New Mexico. The highway's only grade-separated interchange is with Interstate 25 in Wagon Mound.

Route description

Starting as an unpaved road in the far southwestern corner of Colfax County in the community of Black Lake at its intersection with Route 434, the road travels east around the northern edge of Ocate Mesa and then heads southeast down Manueles Canyon on the northeastern side of Ocate mesa.^[2] Due east of the top of Ocate Mesa it enters Mora County and heads south-southeast.^[2] Passing the south end of Ocate Mesa, the road heads southeast and at mile marker 12 becomes a paved road. In winter, this unpaved section is prone to heavy ice, snowpack, and mud.^[3].

After mile marker 12, the road continues southeastward passing the unpaved Los Le Febres turnoff on the right (to the west).^[2] At this point Manueles Creek on the left side of the road is joined by Wheaton Creek to form Ocate Creek, and the road follows Ocate Creek southeast^[2] with the Maxwell Land Grant on the left (NE) and the Mora Land Grant on the right (SW). The road then enters the community of Ocate where it intersects with Route 442. Leaving Ocate again along side Ocate Creek, the road heads east twisting through the foothills of Los Naranjos Peak to the south in the Ocate Creek water gap into the community of Naranjos.^[2] From Naranjos the road leaves the Ocate Creek bed and heads almost straight southeast, passing numerous ranch roads, for 19 miles (31 km) to the town of Wagon Mound.^[2] Ten miles out of Naranjos, the road passes the 7000 ft. La Chata Crater on the left (NE).^[4] Just before the town the road turns east and still on the west side of Wagon Mound, it has its only interchange at its intersection with I-25 (exit 387). The road then crosses the intercontinental railroad tracks of the BNSF Railway.^[4] Within Wagon Mound the road heads east and is called Park Avenue. Leaving Wagon Mound, the road again passes numerous ranch roads heading east, past Los Mesas del Conjelon on the right (south),^[4] for about 12 miles (19 km) and then heading southeast another 12 miles (19 km) to its intersection with the Canadian River at mile post 64. The bridge over the river is 4150 ft long.^[5]

Crossing the Canadian River bridge the road enters Harding County and then heads north-northeast about 8 miles (13 km) into the town of Roy.^[4] The road comes into Roy as the Wagon Mound Highway, then zags up to Second Street and then up to Third Street where it intersects with Route 39. Then heading three blocks east as Third Street, the road turns due north as Floersheim Street and leaves Roy as the Yates Highway. Running along section lines the road heads north and east intermittently, passing numerous ranch roads and going through part of the Kiowa National Grassland which is predominately north of the road,^[6] for 27 miles (43 km) to the community of Yates. Four miles later heading due north the road passes into Union County.^[4] After 12 miles (19 km) in Union County headed mostly north, but still on section lines, the road terminates at its intersection with U.S. Route 56 and U.S. Route 412 8 miles (13 km) east of Gladstone.^[4] A dirt road continues north at that point for a couple of miles into the Don Carlos Hills.^[4]

References

1. ^ "State Routes" (PDF). New Mexico Department of Transportation. http://www.nmshtd.state.nm.us/upload/images/CHDB/State%20Routes.pdf. Retrieved December 20, 20102. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Raton, N. Mex.; Colo., NJ 13-11, 1:250,000 topographic map", 1954, revised 1976 United States Geological Survey
3. ^ New Mexico Department of Transportation road conditions report 31 December 2006 New Mexico Department of Transportation road conditions report 20 January 2007 The site http://nmroads.com/ changes frequently.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Burdett, William H. (1998) The Roads of New Mexico Shearer Publishing, Fredericksburg, Texas, pages 36–37, ISBN 0-940672-52-9
5. ^ "NM 120 – Bridge Replacement Project Canadian River" New Mexico State Transportation Department
6. ^ DeLorme Mapping Company (2000) New Mexico Atlas & Gazetteer (second edition) DeLorme, Yarmouth, Maine, page 26, ISBN 0-89933-317-6