Heading East from Socorro on Highway 60 are plenty of great places to visit on the way to the Very Large Array. Water canyon is beautiful and you'll pass right through there on the way to MRO, the Magdalena Ridge Observatory which consists of two major facilities: a 2.4-meter fast-tracking telescope and a ten-element optical/infrared interferometer that is under construction. The MRO itself doesn’t do tours, but if you have a car that can handle some steep-ish grades on a primitive road, you can drive all the way to the MRO gate, and check out some amazing views. Be warned there are some places in the road with vertical drops over the side of 100 ft or more with no guardrails, so bring your nerves!
MRO 2.4 meter telescope.
The old Magdalena mine is reportedly a neat visit, as is the old ghost town of Kelly, now in ruins. And if you are lucky, you might see a detonation at EMRTC, the Energetics and Materials Testing Center. This is the place where the Mythbusters did some of their largest explosive tests, and is located around the backside of Mt. Baldy. If you have time, take a hike up South Baldy Trail.
Kelly.
If you keep going west on 60 after the VLA, you'll eventually come out to the Datil, where you can stop for a snack or some treasure from the super-friendly folks on the side of the road. After ward, head on into the southern mountains of the Cibola National Forest, and check out the Enchanted Tower, a cool rock formation and arguably the best spot for sport climbing in New Mexico. The tower is a hundred-foot high formation of welded tuff that overhangs on three sides.
Enchanted Tower.
Right about now some refreshment is in order, so keep on heading west on 60 to Pie Town! It's a long way down a very desolate (but beautiful) road to Pie Town, so be sure you have water in the car in case you get stuck with a flat tire. Make sure to gas up first! The main pie shop is great, and there are several others to choose from as well. There is another radio telescope dish just outside of town, part of the VLBA (Very Long Baseline Array). This one is much bigger than the ones at the VLA.
Pie Town just held their yearly festival; from Albuquerque you can make a scenic loop by taking 25 South to Socorro/Magdalena on hwy 60, to the VLA, and out thru state roads 603, 36 and 117 back up to I40. The ride is gorgeous right now with wildflowers still blooming everywhere. Be sure to check out La Ventana Arch on 117 as you hug the outskirts of El Malpais.There are plenty of places to pull off and take in the scenic views or go hiking.
