New Mexico Vacation Ideas

[GrayGoose]

I was fortunate to draw a New Mexico Elk tag for this fall and have the wife on board to take a vacation/scout trip down there this summer. We are both teachers so we'll have a good chunk of time that we can spend in the area this summer.

My main goal while there is to get familiar with the unit I drew in terms of access points, trailheads, roads, and terrain. To keep my wife excited about going, what are some things those of you who live there or those of you that have visited would recommend? We'll be in the Northern third of the state and will be driving down from Minnesota. So we'll most likely be driving through the North East part of the state. Are there any towns to make sure we visit, wineries, or historical sites to see? Is there a better month to visit? (June, July, early August). We are both open minded and like to try or explore new things. Any other stops along the way in other states would be welcomed as well.

And just to note we just recently decided to take this trip, so we haven't looked too much into things to do in the state yet. I figured posting here would give me some good leads of things to do.

Thanks!

 

[Felix40]

There is almost nothing in the northeastern part of the state. You could go through Taos or Red River or something but the best thing in the state is the hunting. I would just focus on camping and looking for elk.

 

[DAVIDE1333]

I was fortunate to draw a New Mexico Elk tag for this fall and have the wife on board to take a vacation/scout trip down there this summer. We are both teachers so we'll have a good chunk of time that we can spend in the area this summer.

My main goal while there is to get familiar with the unit I drew in terms of access points, trailheads, roads, and terrain. To keep my wife excited about going, what are some things those of you who live there or those of you that have visited would recommend? We'll be in the Northern third of the state and will be driving down from Minnesota. So we'll most likely be driving through the North East part of the state. Are there any towns to make sure we visit, wineries, or historical sites to see? Is there a better month to visit? (June, July, early August). We are both open minded and like to try or explore new things. Any other stops along the way in other states would be welcomed as well.

And just to note we just recently decided to take this trip, so we haven't looked too much into things to do in the state yet. I figured posting here would give me some good leads of things to do.

Thanks!

You could hire a guide and take a whitewater rafting trip down near Taos on the Rio Grande. A quick internet search shows at least two outfitters. I did that about 20 years ago. It's not large class 5 rapids but a little technical.

 

[ZDR]

I would recommend hitting the Chama area, good fishing on streams, theres the Cumbres Toltec narrow gauge railroad. Its a great ride through some beautiful elk country. Also theres the Georgia O'Keefe museum south of Chama, the Chama River, and the Christ in the Desert monastery is interesting plus its right off the Chama River.
If you're near Cimmaron, its an interesting old cow town. Raton has the Whittington Center shooting range. Its world class plus there is good lodging there, both primitive and modern cabins.
Lots to do if you get off the beaten path.

 

[Gerbdog]

There are indian ruins and cliff dwellings throughout the state, all worth visiting if you have any interest at all in history. One of my favorites just happens to be down in elk town, the Gila cliff dwellings, and the river (fly fishing) and hotsprings in the area are absolutely worth a trip as well. Santa Fe has a requirement that the builds are a pueblo style, so the architecture in Santa Fe has a pretty awesome southwest feel. It's a very artsy and expensive town as well, you've been warned haha. The locations mentioned by other posters above me are beautiful as well, my family and myself visit those locations at least once every summer as well and i end up in Taos a few times a year once ski season is in full swing. Can confirm theres some fun trout fishing in the Rio Grande gorge below Taos.

 

[KHNC]

Just drop her off at a casino, with a good stake pile. Hopefully she will hit a good run at the tables!

 

[Mighty Mouse]

If Indian history interests you, Chaco Culture NHP (aka, Chaco Canyon) is worth a visit. It's in a pretty remote location on the western side of the state though, so it may not fit well into your travel plans.

 

[Austink47]

Chaco canyon is well worth a visit as is Bandolier national monument. The Cumbres Toltec rail road in Chama is fun especially if you bring a few water bottle of wine. Fishing can be great that time of year. The Taos area is interesting. Wild Rivers is a fun place to hike and fish. See what is on the schedule at the Santa Fe opera. Santa Fe in general would be fun to visit, lots of good food. There is plenty to do if you look, just depends on what your into.

 

[GrayGoose]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I'll be up way too late tonight digging into your reccomendations. First time ever exploring the southwest so we'll be easily entertained with the new experiences and scenery even if it is a casino haha.

 

[ArcherAdam]

What unit did you draw?

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[GrayGoose]

What unit did you draw?

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2nd rifle in 6a

 

[WhiteOak]

If your coming down from the northeast it probably won't be far out of the way to drive over the Rio Grande Gorge by Taos, worth seeing and there's a good chance to see some Bighorn sheep. River access for camping, fishing, picnic not far from there. Some amazing areas of the Carson NF to camp hike or fish as well.

Madrid is a really cool place to visit. Great bar food, Nice local art without the Santa fe markup. Not far from santafe NF.

 

[ArcherAdam]

2nd rifle in 6A

Gotcha. I don't know that area. I drew 53 last year which is where red river and taos that were mentioned earlier are. Sorry I can't help. Good luck!

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[RS_Non-Res]

Hey Goose, NM GMU 6A is not far from ABQ, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Taos.

NM vs. MN (heh) size comparison below for reference = pretty similar size, but there are fewer roads and less pavement, and geography where you're headed sometimes means "you can't get there from here."

https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/state-size-comparison/new-mexico-usa/minnesota-usa

It takes time to drive east to west across the Jemez mountains b/c the road isn't very straight. Bring Dramamine. On one hunt I felt crappy for three days before I realized that motion sickness on the drive in and altitude while up there was getting to me.

Bring your high clearance vehicle for driving forest roads inside the unit. There's only one paved road inside the GMU, others go around. Google says it takes 110 minutes to drive 68 miles across the mountains from Los Alamos to Cuba or 140 minutes to drive 143 miles around.

In Cuba its Bruno's for New Mexican eats or Subway. There's groceries, gasoline, a hardware store, and cops that take the speed limit seriously.

World-class pueblo ruins at Bandelier National Monument and cool little slot canyon at Tent Rocks National Monument are maybe on the way to 6a but still 1-2 hours drive from Cuba. Chaco is not "on the way if you're driving from MN but very impressive too. They found timbers there that were brought from 60 miles away.

Los Alamos has an epic approach from east or west, a really cool Atomic/Nuclear Age museum, there's a "brewpub" that has really good food and beer but maybe try a week day. Do not try to take your firearms through the National Lab in either direction. That's an effective way to get them taken away and a chance to spend the night on a pipe cot in 'otel federale', use the hockey bypass instead (yes NM has hockey and Wild fans too).

In Santa Fe the Opera is world class. My brother in-law says Santa Fe is a great place to buy some really expensive 'stuff.' Right in town by the plaza there are very nice rock shops, leather shops (boots, hats, and tack), chocolatier, Christmas ornaments, a great little French cafe (crepes!), Coyote Cafe (Mark Miller) is Santa Fe's iconic restaurant defining modern southwest cuisine (reservations), lots of other great food in SF, but plenty of meh too. Some great Catholic tourism in SF too: Oldest standing Catholic church in the country, Cathedral, Stairs, pueblo revolt and bloodless reconquest about 100 years prior to American Revolution, High Road Missions, Chimayo but that's starting to get farther away..

That ought to keep the non-hunters in your family busy for a few weeks.
I got more but I'm a little short on experience points here at RS.

 

[William Sublette]

There is almost nothing in the northeastern part of the state. You could go through Taos or Red River or something but the best thing in the state is the hunting. I would just focus on camping and looking for elk.

Supper at Texas Reds , in red River.

Explore Taos.

Rio Grande Gorge at Taos.


The wife would love those.

 

[ZDR]

Since youll be hunting in 6A, @RS_Non-Res gave some great ideas. There are some great places to camp in that unit and good trout fishing as well.
Chaco Canyon is not fair from Cuba and Durango is an easy drive from there. Also the San Juan river has world class trout fishing but is a bit warm in the middle of the summer. Feel free to PM me if you would like. I grew up in that part of NM and have taken several elk in unit 6.

 

[GrayGoose]

Thank you all again for the numerous suggestions. @RS_Non-Res you really put in perspective the travel challenges/differences. Much appreciated. Not my first time in the mountains to know that the travel is different but I definently feel a lot more comfortable with insight about the roadways in the area.

@ZDR thanks for the offer. When I've done more homework I may take you up on that.

Happy to be apart of this community. Thank you all again for the great ideas. I cant tell who is more excited, my wife or myself. We look forward to visiting the area.

 

[wytx]

I would loop down through Hatch if it's chile season.

 

[GrayGoose]

I would loop down through Hatch if it's chile season.

Great idea, I read about those chilies not all that long ago too. Seems worth while to check out and get some if we can.

 

[LaGriz]

Red or Green? (Will be asked this each time you eat)

One of the few places I go and without feeling deprived on the food. Love me some some NM cosine. Plus one on the Chama visit and the Narrow-gage train ride. Good experience in Taos with a local traditional dance group performing at a fine restaurant. Santa Fee has some cool history and some really good food. We caught an Arts & Crafts + Jewelry festival once in the oldest State Capital City in America. High end stuff for sure. Good place to get some Elk Ivories made in to earrings for the Wife. All over the state, they have many talented craftsmen that make all kinds of stuff. On one successful hunt I got my woman a Leather and woven wool purse. She learned to like it more as people would approach her to learn where it came from. Expensive for sure, but memorable. Good fishing below the El Valdo dam in your unit. They stock rainbows and I caught a nice Brownie! Killed 2 of my best bull elk in Northern NM. Its by far my favorite place to hunt. Happy for you Brotherman!

LaGriz