State Road 518 is a 72.9 mi (117.3 km) long state highway

State highway

State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...

 in northern New Mexico

New Mexico

New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...

. NM 518 begins in the south near Interstate 25

Interstate 25

Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...

 in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, New Mexico

Las Vegas is a city in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Once two separate municipalities both named Las Vegas, west Las Vegas and east Las Vegas , divided by the Gallinas River, retain distinct characters and separate, rival school districts. The population was 14,565 at the 2000...

 and proceeds north to La Cueva

La Cueva, New Mexico

La Cueva is an unincorporated community on the Mora River in Mora County, New Mexico, United States, situated at the intersection of New Mexico Routes 442 and 518. It was established in 1851 by Vicente Romero who found the nearby location of Fort Union provided both protection from the Apache and...

 where the road turns northwest at its junction with New Mexico State Road 442. The road continues northwest through Mora

Mora, New Mexico

Mora or Santa Gertrudis de lo de Mora is an unincorporated community in, and the county seat of, Mora County, New Mexico, United States. It is located about half way between Las Vegas, New Mexico and Taos on Highway 518 at an altitude of 7,180 feet...

 and eventually ends at Ranchos de Taos

Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico

Ranchos de Taos is a census-designated place in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,390 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ranchos de Taos is located at ....

 where the road meets New Mexico State Road 68

New Mexico State Road 68

State Road 68 is a long state highway in northern New Mexico. NM 68 begins in the south in Española at the road's junction with U.S. Route 285 and U.S. Route 84 which run concurrently at that point. The road then runs northeast through Alcalde, Velarde, and Ranchos de Taos, where it meets the...

. The segment of NM 518 between Mora and Ranchos de Taos passes through the rugged terrain of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and provides access to Carson National Forest

Carson National Forest

Carson National Forest is a national forest in northern New Mexico, United States. It encompasses 6,070 square kilometers and is administered by the United States Forest Service...

where camping, fishing, skiing, and other recreational opportunities are available.