Location: Lincoln National Forest, north of the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in south central New Mexico Length: 84 miles (135 km) Time To Allow: 2 hours Description/Highlights/Points of Interest Follow the ghosts of famous lawmen and outlaws through the rugged landscape of the million-acre Lincoln National Forest. From grassy plains to dense pine forests, the region is known for its stunning views and cool mountain climate. Visit historic Lincoln, home to both lawman Pat Garrett and his nemesis, outlaw Billy the Kid. Lincoln's only street is lined with adobe homes and buildings dating back to its colorful and often violent past. Suggested Itinerary Your tour of Billy the Kid Country begins at the Byway Visitor Center. The center is located on U.S. Highway 70 in Ruidoso Downs. Spend time viewing the exhibits and talking with the informative center staff. A gift shop is available here, too. Plan on spending about 30 minutes to an hour learning about the byway and the area's history. N ext door to the visitors center is the Hubbard Museum of the American West. Here, exhibits, artifacts and fine art tell of the special history of the area. Plan to spend about an hour to an hour and a half soaking up all the history here. Heading west on U.S. Highway 70, you'll pass through the village of Ruidoso, and then turn north on N.M. State Highway 48. Traveling about 26 miles (41.8 km) visitors will notice the beautiful Sierra Blanca to the west. The next stop on your tour is in Capitan at the junction of N.M. State Highway 48 and U.S. Highway 380. Here, the Smokey Bear Museum and State Park is a must see for all. Depending upon personal interests, visitors will expect to spend several hours here exploring the park (where Smokey is buried). The museum offers exhibits, games and films about fire safety. Of particular interest is the documentary film about the life of Smokey available at the Park Theater. Traveling southeast on U.S. Highway 380, Fort Stanton will soon appear. Although Fort Stanton is not accessible to the public, the best way to learn about the fort is to stop at the Fort Stanton Post Office and speak with Willie Mae Hobbs. Willie is the expert about the Fort Stanton area, and will direct you to the best places to see. The Fort Stanton Cemetery and Cave are definite stops along the tour. Willie will answer any questions you might have about this historically significant area. Expect to spend an hour or more exploring the area. If a visit to the cave is in order, plan on several hours (or an overnight camp). After Fort Stanton, along U.S. Highway 380, drive southeast toward the village of Lincoln. Here, several hours are needed to fully discover the place where the Lincoln County War occurred and where Billy the Kid made his last escape. Museums and markers are all over this village that looks almost exactly as it did in the 1850s. Wrapping up a visit in Lincoln, finish the last 45 minutes of the Billy the Kid Byway by continuing down U.S. Highway 380 to U.S. Highway 70 in Hondo. Then, drive west on U.S. Highway 70 through San Patricio, Glencoe and back to Ruidoso Downs.