The arrival of Fall in the Enchanted Circle of New Mexico brings ample opportunities for memory-making days and captivating nights. There are several festivals to enjoy, but we’d like to shift your focus a bit on getting adventurous! As you drive the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, a scenic eighty-five-mile loop, you find yourself immersed in a rich history, offering you endless adventures along the way! Spend two hours or two days as you enjoy each town! The choice is yours! So, hop on board, let’s take a virtual cruise around the Enchanted Circle and discover what adventures we can find!
Taos
Bordered by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos offers you the opportunity of a living history lesson. Built as early as 1000-1450 A.D., the Taos Pueblo is a true adobe home, which offers insight into the beautiful history of Native American life. You can experience how the Indians live in Adobe homes without electricity or running water. Taos offers adobes, museums, breweries, restaurants, and even llama trekking! At Wild Earth Llama Adventures, you can enjoy a day hike complete with gourmet lunch or even opt to camp for the night with a llama as your companion and assistant for carrying your gear. What an awesome memory to make with your family and friends!
Questa
Next stop is Questa! A quick and scenic thirty-minute drive from Taos, Questa offers a unique and quaint small town, rich in history and charm. With rare access to the river, you can hike down into the Rio Grande Gorge, and stumble across genuine petroglyphs! If you’re up for a physical challenge, grab a bicycle and wheel the thirty-two-mile round-trip adventure from Questa to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. If hiking is more your thing, then this is definitely the place for you! The Questa Dome, The Candy Store, and Highway 38 all offer you granite cliffs where you can rock climb to your heart’s content!
Red River
Time to head East and stop in Red River: Grab your camera! With Red River Off-road, you’ll be enjoying the beautiful Fall scenery and amazing color-changing Aspens without a care in the world! Offering ATV, OHV, and Jeep tours, Red River Off-road will get you off the beaten path and out into the wonders of Nature! If you’re needing exercise, take a sixteen-mile round trip hike up to Wheeler Peak, offering you a panoramic view from 13,161 feet! We’re pretty sure you’ll get some amazing views of the Fall colors from there!
Eagle Nest
A quick trip 18 miles South and we’ve arrived at Eagle Nest! While passing through on our tour of the Enchanted Circle, make sure to swing by Cimarron Canyon State Park. This state park offers a lake that is regularly stocked with Salmon and Trout. You can take a try at fly fishing, or hop on board with the latest trend of Bowfishing, which is allowed at this lake park.
Angel Fire
Next up is Angel Fire! Angel Fire, New Mexico is home to The Vietnam Veterans National Memorial, offering a tribute of appreciation to the servicemen and families who sacrificed so much for our Country. To close out this day’s adventure, take a wagon ride with Nancy Burch’s Horse Drawn Wagon Rides to truly experience the Old West.
As your adventure winds down, you’ll find yourself completing the Enchanted Circle along the Palo Flechado Pass. This road offers peaceful, winding, and beautiful views of the Autumn colors as the trees start to change color and prepare for colder temperatures. Upon approaching your point of origin, be sure to stop and take in the gorgeous sunset at The Overlook, with breathtaking views of the Enchanted Circle which provided you with so many awesome memories!