Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CROSS
COUNTRY SKIING
Just east of Red River, with 16 miles of groomed trails (in addition to 6 miles of trails
strictly for snowshoers), in 400 acres of forestlands atop Bobcat Pass, is the
Enchanted
Forest Cross Country Ski Area
(
&
575/754-6112;
www.enchantedforestxc.com).
Full-day trail passes, good from 9am to 4:30pm, are $14 for adults, $10 for teens 13 to
17 and seniors 62 to 69, $6 for children age 7 to 12, and free for seniors age 70 and over,
as well as for children 6 and under. In addition to cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals,
the ski area rents pulk sleds—high-tech devices in which children are pulled by their
skiing parents. The ski area offers a full snack bar. Equipment rentals and lessons can be
arranged either at Enchanted Forest or at
Miller's Crossing
ski shop at 417 W. Main St.,
in Red River (
&
575/754-2374
). Nordic skiers can get instruction in cross-country
classic as well as freestyle skating.
Taos Mountain Outfitters,
114 S. Plaza (
&
575/758-
9292;
www.taosmountainoutfitters.com), offers telemark and cross-country sales, and
rentals.
225
7
OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Taos County's 2,200 square miles embrace a great diversity of scenic beauty, from New
Mexico's highest mountain, 13,161-foot
Wheeler Peak,
to the 650-foot-deep chasm of
the
Rio Grande Gorge
. Carson National Forest, which extends to the eastern city
limits of Taos and cloaks a large part of the county, contains several major ski facilities as
well as hundreds of miles of hiking trails through the Sangre de Cristo range.
Recreation areas are mainly in the national forest, where pine and aspen provide refuge
for abundant wildlife. Forty-eight areas are accessible by road, including 38 with camp-
sites. There are also areas on the high desert mesa, carpeted by sagebrush, cactus, and,
frequently, wildflowers. Two beautiful areas within a short drive of Taos are the
Valle
Vidal Recreation Area,
north of Red River, and the
Wild Rivers Recreation Area,
near
Questa. For complete information, contact
Carson National Forest,
208 Cruz Alta Rd.
(
&
575/758-6200;
www.fs.fed.us/r3/carson), or the
Bureau of Land Management,
226 Cruz Alta Rd. (
&
575/758-8851;
www.blm.gov.nm/st/en.html).
BALLOONING
As in many other towns throughout New Mexico, hot-air ballooning is a top attraction.
Recreational trips over the Taos Valley and Rio Grande Gorge are offered by
Paradise
Hot Air Balloon Adventure
(
&
575/751-6098;
www.taosballooning.com). The com-
pany also offers ultra-light rides.
The
Taos Mountain Balloon Rally,
P.O. Box 3096 (
&
575/751-1000;
www.taos
balloonrally.com), is held each year in late October. (See “Calendar of Events,” in chap-
ter 3.)
8
BIKING
Even if you're not an avid cyclist, it won't take long for you to realize that getting around
Taos by bike is preferable to driving. You won't have the usual parking problems, and you
won't have to sit in the line of traffic as it snakes through the center of town. If you feel
like exploring the surrounding area, Carson National Forest rangers recommend several
biking trails in the greater Taos area. Head to the
West Rim Trail
for a scenic and easy
ride. To reach the trail, travel US 64 to the Taos Gorge Bridge, cross it and find the trail
head on your left; or head south on NM 68 for 17 miles to Pilar, and then turn west onto
