The J-9 Narrow Gauge Scenic Byway has had many twists and turns, both literally and historically. 

This isolated road winds through a beautiful and dramatic landscape. It started as a primitive trail forged by early settlers and miners, and became a crude toll road in 1877. J-9 now parallels or overlays about ten miles of the old railroad bed from Dulce northeast to the Colorado border. Most of the original track has been removed, but a short segment remains at the junction of US 64 and J-9 (called Narrow Gauge Street here) in Dulce. Continuing north, the road narrows, and rock outcrops and tall pines loom down from either side. This is not a road to drive in wet or very cold weather.