This section is entirely in New Mexico beginning in Grants and wending its way south to Antelope Wells or the alternate ending in Columbus. Cyclists will contend with finding enough water or dealing with too much of it on the ground mucking up the route in the monsoon season of the Southwest. South of the impressive badlands terrain of El Malpais National Monument the route visits Pie Town, famous for its… you guessed it. After skirting the barren Plains of San Agustin, then climbing across the exceptionally rugged mountains of the Gila National Forest – where each steep descent is followed by an equally steep climb – the route pulls into Silver City. Here the mountains end and the desert begins, surrounding you all the way to the door to Old Mexico.