Ideas for New Mexico trip?

[chadh2o]

If your near Raton and the Colorado Border -- Capulin Volcano National Monument -- you have to get there pretty early the road going up( entrance) to the crater edge closes early around 4PM -- but the area closes at sunset -- excellent views -- many many years ago I saw distant thunderstorms to the north in Colorado moving southeast toward Kansas and Oklahoma you could make out tornados forming trying to drop down, pretty impressive -- all kinds of nasty weather, but where we were the weather was excellent, beautiful day !!!!! -- we were able to walk down into the crater. Impressive day !!!!!!

https://www.nps.gov/cavo/index.htm

Good luck planning and going on your quest !!!!!!!

Damn shame the NM health dept shut down the Capulin restaurant. Best burger twenn there and yonder.
Silverton eats, The Pig. The food network did a show with them a few years ago.
Durango eats, San Juan Brewery. Good food and better brew.
Ouray eats, see pic. Big red building on east side on main st with crayon all over the walls.
Add. Maggie's Kitchen in Ouray.

 

[AKguy1985]

We really enjoy the northern NM southern Colo area. The trains are one of our trips. The wife prefers Durango- Silverton, I prefer Chama-Antonita. My recommendation, if you do Chama-Antonita, take train from Chama to Antonita and bus back. We did the train from Antonita to Chama one time. Never again!
Lots of neat trails out of Pagosa Springs can be made by pickup. As been mentioned before, we wouldn't even consider going to Taos and not stopping by Michael's Kitchen. Also, another plug for the play at Palo Duro Canyon.

I have rode the Cumbres and Toltec twice and have had a blast each time. 90% of the time I would be in the open air car taking pictures. Their season opens memorial Day weekend, I think. It's well worth the cost of admission. I usually stay in pagosa springs and make the short drive to Chama.

 

[AKguy1985]

Damn shame the NM health dept shut down the Capulin restaurant. Best burger twenn there and yonder.
Silverton eats, The Pig. The food network did a show with them a few years ago.
Durango eats, San Juan Brewery. Good food and better brew.
Ouray eats, see pic. Big red building on east side on main st with crayon all over the walls.View attachment 201203

Been there, had a very tasty burger. Wrote my name on the wall somewhere.

 

[dennishoddy]

We really enjoy the northern NM southern Colo area. The trains are one of our trips. The wife prefers Durango- Silverton, I prefer Chama-Antonita. My recommendation, if you do Chama-Antonita, take train from Chama to Antonita and bus back. We did the train from Antonita to Chama one time. Never again!
Lots of neat trails out of Pagosa Springs can be made by pickup. As been mentioned before, we wouldn't even consider going to Taos and not stopping by Michael's Kitchen. Also, another plug for the play at Palo Duro Canyon.

Why didn't you like the trip from Antonito to Chama?

 

[chadh2o]

Snow maybe a little deep that early in the season, but they do dozer some trails up high. This was north of Silverton a couple years ago, late June.

 

[dennishoddy]

Snow maybe a little deep that early in the season, but they do dozer some trails up high. This was north of Silverton a couple years ago, late June.View attachment 201204

We found the same caused by snow avalanches in that same location in July. Two years ago.

 

[chadh2o]

Definately take a fishing pole. And a camera. You never know what will walk down the street.

 

[AKguy1985]

A few years ago I stayed in Victor Colorado at a friend's house, the guy that was running the liquor store next door was outside on the barbecue while it was snowing and there was a fox hanging out begging for scraps. What does the fox say? I want chicken!!

 

[1911er]

If you make it to Taos, drive on a little further to Arroyo Seco.

 

[PanhandleGlocker]

If you make it to Taos, drive on a little further to Arroyo Seco.

They had a pretty good ice cream stand there last time I was there. “The Taos Cow”. Heck... even just drive all the way up to the ski valley. That’s a beautiful drive all in itself.