South of San Jon, NM 469 climbs to the top of the mesalands, and the entrance to the Caprock Amphitheatre and Ralph Stanfield Memorial Nature Trail. 

The story of this area's ancient history is told at Mesalands Dinosaur Museum in Tucumcari. Ute Lake, Santa Rosa Lake, and Conchas Dam state parks are all located on this byway. They offer fishing, camping, and picnicking. Santa Rosa, known as the City of Natural Lakes, is famous for scuba diving in the middle of the desert. Blue Hole, a natural, 80-foot deep pool, is a mecca for divers. Santa Rosa is also home to Janes-Wallace Dam Lake, Park Lake, and Perch Lake.