Red River, the Best Kept Secret of New Mexico!
I had never heard of Red River, New Mexico until I started digging around and doing some research. My go-to research spaces of Pinterest and YouTube didn’t even offer much on this little gem of a city.
We read more about what they call the Enchanted Circle with cool New Mexico weather, scenic mountains, and rivers from what we could piece together. With Texas nearing 100 degrees in August, this seemed like a drivable escape from the heat.
Once we traversed hundreds of miles and arrived in the quaint and beautiful town we wondered why travelers outside New Mexico have passed this spot up in favor of Colorado! Read on to learn all about this mountain town including Red River things to do, weather, and where to stay.
What is the Enchanted Circle?
The Enchanted Circle is a scenic byway in Northern New Mexico that starts in Taos. You’ll find hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing along this route.
Stops along the circle include Taos, Questa, Red River, Eagle’s Nest, and Angel Fire. The drive will take you about 2 1/2 – 3 hours all the way around if you want the full tour.
How to get to Red River, New Mexico
Red River is a little bit out of the way, but worth it!
If you’re like us and choose the New Mexico road trip route, there are a number of ways to get to there. We took the route of Roswell – Santa Fe – Taos – Red River. It’s a relatively easy and low traffic route.
For flights to New Mexico, you’ll most likely be flying into the Albuquerque airport. You will most definitely need a car and your drive time from there to Red River will be a little over 3 hours. You can find car rentals at the airport and nearby, click here to browse!
Another fun outdoorsy idea – haul a rental travel trailer or rent a full RV for the trip! We used Outdoorsy and thought the process was pretty streamlined. Click here for my discount code to save! We’ve also heard great things about RVshare as an alternative. You can check them out by clicking here.
Note: if you are traveling in the winter to ski, you will be crossing mountain passes. Plan to rent or bring a car that can handle snow and possible ice.
Red River, New Mexico Weather
This is a mountain climate, so Red River weather can really vary. Bring your layers!
In late August we experienced mid 70’s (F) during the day and overnight lows around 40-50 degrees. Afternoon rain showers are common. Even though the temperatures were low, the mountain sun does warm you up during the day.
Spring and fall would definitely require a jacket with highs in the 50 to 60 degree Fahrenheit range.
Expect snow in the winter as this area turns into a skiing destination!
Where to Stay in Red River
We saw so many cute cottages and mountain lodges dotting the roadside!
Since we were pulling a travel trailer, we stayed at an RV park (details below). There are a number of options I’ll outline for you!
RV Park/Cabins: We stayed at 4k River Ranch RV Park and really loved it! This park if just 1 mile from town and made it super easy to head to main street whenever we wanted. Next to the river, this spot offers a fishing pond, sparkling clean restrooms and showers, and a small onsite store. They also have cabins you can rent onsite and in town!
Carson Cabin: Want to stay in cabin with owners who know the area well? Check out Carson Cabin for a cozy yet updated home that has everything you need for your mountain getaway. I especially like the wrap-around deck with scenic views!
Airbnb: My constant go-to for accommodations, as many of you know. If you want to find a cute spot right in town, this is where you should look! I especially like the wrap-around deck with scenic views.
Lodges: If you are looking for that traditional ski lodge experience, there are a number of options here. I especially like the WorldMark Red River Lodge, with a cabin exterior but a modern and fresh interior. The best of both worlds!
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Things to do in Red River
This town has a lot to offer in terms of activities! If you love the outdoors, this is a great place for you!
But don’t worry, there are other options if you’re not an avid hiker or skier! Below are just some of the things to do in Red River.
Summer Activities
Hiking: From easy to advanced, there are a number of trails in this area. We hiked the easy Red River Nature Trail since we also have a “little” hiker. It was just a mile long and borders the river and town with multiple exit points. Link to hikes in Red River.
Fishing: The Enchanted Circle is known for trout fishing. You’ll see fishermen almost anywhere throughout town. You’ll need a New Mexico fishing license, and can get one for just a day, to five days, to annual. Link to License details here.
Mountain Tubing: The ski slope in town turns into a huge mountain tubing slide in the summer. You can also ride the chairlift, and there’s a zipline. So fun! Link to summer activities and costs here.
Jeep or ROV vehicle tours and rentals: If you’re up for an off-road adventure, there are a few companies that rent out vehicles. Link to off-roading routes here.
Winter Activities
Skiing & Snowboarding: With chairlifts and slopes right at the edge of town, Red River Skiing is super accessible. Link to ski pass info here.
Winter Mountain Tubing: If you’re not a fan of skiing, tubing might be an alternative!
Snowmobiling: Another adventure option with a guided tour.
Other Activities
Shopping in Red River: Main street is dotted with gift shops and stores. Take some time to stroll and pop into a few spots.
Wine & Beer in Red River: You can taste wine and sip a flight of beer all within one mile. We visited Noisy Water Winery and Red River Brewing to try out local drinks. I even tried a hatch green chili-infused wine! Both locations were great and I recommend adding them to your list.
Where to Eat in Red River: Since we hauled a travel trailer to this location, we did a lot of cooking at our RV site. This means we didn’t get to try all of the local fare, but did really enjoy our food at Red River Brewing mentioned above. We also heard good things about Dairy Barn and Major Bean Coffee.
Pro Tip: Try to plan your trip to at least include one weekend. We stayed mostly weekdays and realized that most locations in town are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bummer.
Relax and Unwind
With all that adventure mentioned above, this is also a location where you can skip all that and just relax.
We spent a lot of time in camp chairs outside in the fresh air watching the river flow past. In the morning we went on walks. At night we huddled around the campfire and made s’mores.
The point – Red River, New Mexico can be whatever you want it to be. Jam-packed with adventure or time to relax and enjoy cool mountain weather.
Are you planning a trip to Red River, New Mexico? Let me know in the comments!
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Luis
I read a lot of your articles and all the articles are very informative
Plan to Explore
Thank you Luis!