The sprawling landscape of New Mexico, from desert to mountain, will be on full display come the autumn season. Now is the best time to get outdoors and soak up the natural beauty of the state. From trekking through wildlife refuges to stargazing at local campgrounds, here are the best outdoor fall activities to enjoy in New Mexico!
See the enormity of the cosmos at the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary near Alma. It was the first sanctuary of its kind in North America. You’ll get a 360 degree unobstructed view of the glorious night sky. Contact the Friends of the Cosmic Campground to get invited to one of their star parties. Before heading out to this primitive campground swing through Alma, the closest town, for a meal at the quintessential mom-and-pop diner, the Alma Grill. Don’t miss the Alma Store next door for some last minute provisions.
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Get up-close-and-personal with some inhabitants of the Chihuahuan Desert at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, 50 miles south of Albuquerque. If you’ve never seen a pronghorn antelope or mule deer, this is the place for that first-time encounter. If you go in November, don’t miss the Festival of the Cranes, a celebration heralding the return of sandhill cranes to the nearby Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. This area is a birdwatchers nirvana. Best time to go is early morning, so grab a cup of coffee, or latte, at M Mountain Coffee in Socorro to keep those eyes open.
Go apple pickin’ at Nichols Ranch and Orchards in La Luz. The Nichols Family has been harvesting fruit on this land for more than 100 years. Get ready to walk through the orchard with a full basket of apples—there are so many options to choose from. Make a stop in Alamogordo at The Old Post Antique Mall and see if you can snag an old apple-picking bucket or canvas bag to make the experience unique. Not far from Nichols is the Old Apple Barn. It’s filled with loads of ideas of what to do with the lug of apples you just picked.
Grab your shoes and your tent, and maybe a few other things, and get outside in the pristine beauty of the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness near Taos. If you want some company, take along a wooly buddy, that will even carry your gear, and go on a trek with Wild Earth Llama Adventures. Single and multi-day hikes come with a naturalist guide, as well as the lovable llamas. Stop at Taos Mountain Outfitters before heading out and snag a “chullo,” an Andean hat with earflaps made with llama wool. Those beasts of burden are going to love you!
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Hook up with World Balloon in Albuquerque and you’ll be heading up, up and away at this high-flying adventure. You lift off at sunrise, so a hot cup of something from Humble Coffee Company would be good to take along. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, so be sure to take pictures!
Fall is all about color. See it all first-hand with a scenic drive along the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. The Carson National Forest is in full fall color radiance, with gold, yellow and orange dominating the vistas. If you don’t want to make the drive yourself, hook up with Red River Offroad and get a seat on one of their fall foliage jeep tours. Or, hop aboard the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad for a scenic chug aboard an authentic steam train past glowing Aspen trees and through the spectacular Chama Valley.
Experience the crisp, fresh fall air with a hike on the Zuni-Acoma Trail found in El Malpais National Monument near Grants. Considered the New Mexican badlands, this desolate looking environment is replete with the beauty of open grasslands and forests filled with wildlife. Don’t want to go it alone? Take a hiking and cave tour with Heritage Inspirations where you’ll clamber over the rugged landscape and into a lava tube cave. The tour begins at Hotel Chaco, a good place to spend the night before or after your adventure.
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Fall is crush season in the winemaking business. The New Mexican vineyards are aglow with autumn colors and people busily harvesting grapes for the next vintage. It’s a lovely time for wine tasting. Stop at one of the largest vineyards in the state, Casa Abril just west of Santa Fe and sip a selection of their award-winning wines. Take a self-guided tour or book of the winery or book a day trip with Santa Fe Selection and leave the driving to them.
Before the snow hits, jump on a mountain bike and ricochet down the Winsor Trail, one of the gnarliest in the Santa Fe area and some of the best downhill riding you’ll find. For information and directions, stop by The Broken Spoke in Santa Fe. Not only will you get the lowdown on the trail, you’ll also find an incredible selection of gear, trained mechanics in case your bike needs a tune-up, as well as a good selection of rentals.
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