Become Enchanted in Angel Fire New Mexico

Things to Do in Angel Fire New Mexico

There are so many fun things to do in Angel Fire, NM with kids, including hiking, fishing, camping, skiing, snowboarding, ziplining, and more.

Angel Fire New Mexico is a great place to head to in summer or winter, with all kinds of adrenaline rushes and activities at high altitude.

Sitting at 8,406 feet in elevation, find this adventure filled town along the Enchanted Circle in New Mexico.

In fact, we can’t talk about Angel Fire without mentioning the towns of Eagle Nest, Taos, and Red River.

Here are fabulous, outdoorsy things to do in Angel Fire and nearby year round. See why families keep coming back for more.

Angel Fire in the Summer

Summer Fun Park at Angel Fire

Nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the Southern Rockies, Angel Fire Resort is an ideal spot for families to enjoy outdoor recreation in every season.

Summer days in Angel Fire can be spent mountain biking, golfing, ziplining, hiking, fishing, paddleboarding, and so much more.

Head to Angel Fire Resort for all of these adventures happening as high as 10,650’:

Angel Fire Bike Park - 32+ Bike Trails
Angel Fire Zipline Adventure Tour - 6 courses!
Scenic Chairlift Rides
Summit Disc Golf
Cross Country Trails
Monte Verde Lake - great for paddleboarding and kayaking
Golf
Tennis & Pickleball

Wonderful Condo on Chili Express Lift

Paddle Boarding in Angel Fire

Monte Verde Lake and Eagle Nest Lake are great spots for launching your paddle board. Monte Verde rentals non-motorized watercraft on site in summer.

We love our Isle Megalodon inflatable paddle board, big enough for 3-4 people, your fishing gear, and the dog!

This best selling paddle board travels easily and is big enough to hold everyone!

We take ours everywhere! Read our review.

PIckleball, tennis, and golf are fun things to do in Angel Fire New Mexico

Hiking in Angel Fire NM

The area around Angel Fire New Mexico offers a variety of hiking trails, including easy hikes, moderate hikes, and challenging hikes.

Greenbelt Trail System

Top hikes around Angel Fire in the Moreno Valley and beyond include the Greenbelt Trail System within the Village of Angel Fire.

These trails are ideal for:

• Cross Country Mountain Biking

• Running

• Hiking

• Snowshoeing

• Horseback Riding

Enlightenment Trail

This challenging trail is over 7 miles out and back and gains 2,000’ in elevation. Give yourself 4 hours to complete. The paths are great and well tended to. Fun fact -You can take the ski lift down!

This trail leaves from El Jefe restaurant. Hiking poles are recommended as it is steep in sections.

Williams Lake is a popular hike near Angel Fire New Mexico

Williams Lake Trail

This moderate hiking trail near Angel Fire is 4.2 miles out and back and roughly 1,000 feet elevation gain. Enjoy a waterfall and Williams Lake. Wear crampons and use hiking poles in winter conditions.

Wheeler Peak via Williams Lake Trail

On the top of our list! This is every avid hiker’s dream hike and one of the best things to do in Angel Fire New Mexico and in the southern Rocky Mountains.

Hike up to the tallest point in New Mexico. Enjoy views of Taos Ski Valley, Sangre de Cristo Mountains and surrounding Wheeler wilderness. The best time to hike this trail is June through October.

View of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains from the top of Wheeler Peak in New Mexico

You will begin your hike to Wheeler Peak through a forest of trees. A third of the way in, you will be exposed, so plan accordingly for the weather and elements. Wear and bring the right gear. The final third of the trail is hiking on scree, so pay attention to your steps. Plan to summit early so you can get back down before early afternoon storms.

This out and back trail is 8.5 miles hard 2,972 elevation gain. Takes about 6 hours to complete. There is a longer 15.6 mile alternative from Red River, mentioned below.

More hikes near Angel Fire

Middle Fork Lake Trail in Carson National Forest
Lower Eagle Nest Lake Trail
Red River Nature Trail

Charming Mountain Cabins in Angel Fire

ANGEL FIRE IN WINTER

Skiers, snowboarders, cross country skiers, and snow tubers love Angel Fire Resort.

This ski resort’s 560 acres of terrain with rolling cruisers, tree runs, a terrain park, plus one of New Mexico’s top ski and snowboard schools.

You can hit the slopes for Night Skiing too!

Don’t miss the epic tubing hill, a Nordic Center with over 7 miles of terrain, and a sledding hill perfect with elementary aged kids.

Angel Fire in winter is a wonderful playground for all ages and is also popular over spring break.

RELATED READING: Whether you're considering a beach vacation, hiking in national parks, or a colorful road trip, here are our top 10 favorite spring break trips over the years.

SNOWMOBILING

The area around Angel Fire offers fantastic snowmobiling opportunities.

Bobcat Pass Adventures offers snowmobiling and sleigh rides.

Roadrunner Tours offers snowmobile tours, sleigh rides, and dinner rides.

Eagle Nest Marina offers hunting/fishing licenses and guided trips. You can find ice fishing equipment rentals and sales.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

While you are in Eagle Nest, be sure to spend some time at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (34 Country Club Rd, Angel Fire, NM 87710).

My father is a proud Vietnam Vet, so this was especially memorable experience for him as he showed his grandkids a Huey helicopter and recalled his time of service.

Don’t miss the Huey helicopter, gardens, and fabulous 360 degree views. You will also find a chapel, picnic spots, and other benches in the shade to stop and ponder.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, was built by Dr. Victor Westphall and family in memory of his son’s death and others in Vietnam.

TAOS Ski Valley

Just 42 miles from Angel Fire NM, you can hit the powder in Taos Ski Valley.

The Taos ski terrain is mostly suited to strong intermediates and experts, although it's mostly renowned for the latter. Over half of the marked trails are black or double black and there are also lots of great chutes and terrifying off-piste runs.

Why the Taos Ski Valley Resort is so appealing:

First, Taos Ski Valley boasts shorter lift lines taking you to challenging steep and deep ski runs in a unique setting.
The resort village itself leans European, but the town of Taos offers wonderful New Mexico culture and history.
This bohemian town of Taos is steeped in Hispanic and Pueblo Indian cultures and wows with enduring adobe architecture and cool shops.
Walk and gaze through art studios and galleries – find paintings, pottery, bronze castings, woodworking. Enjoy watching artists in their element. Find canyon art guide brochures at the Taos Visitor Center.
Taos is romantic and ideal for couples.

Best Taos Vacation Rentals

The Rio Grande Bridge

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in Taos New Mexico is the second highest bridge on the U.S. Highway System. Its spectacular views make it a must-see in Taos!

Locally known as the "Gorge Bridge" or the "High Bridge", this steel deck arch bridge across the Rio Grande Gorge is located just 10 miles northwest of Taos, New Mexico.

Hanging 600 ft above the Rio Grande, it is the tenth highest bridge in the United States.

Walk across the bridge or hike alongside it.

Eagle Nest

Just an easy 15 minute drive from Angel Fire, Eagle Nest is a sweet hidden gem with easy access to fishing, camping, and hiking along the Enchanted Circle.

Here’s what we loved about Eagle Nest.

Fishing at Eagle Nest Lake State Park

If you’re looking for some fun outdoor activities with your family, consider heading to Eagle Nest Lake.

Eagle Nest Lake State Park has a wide range of activities for everyone, including hiking, fishing (both fly fishing and shoreline), camping, paddleboarding, and more.

Anglers, this lake is regularly stocked with trout and salmon, but is also good for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch. You can fish from the banks or by boat. Boat rentals available from Eagle Nest Marina.

Beautiful morning out on Eagle Nest Lake, just 15 minutes from Angel Fire

Red River

Brimming with local brews, special events, and live music, Red River offers lots of things to do in summer and in winter.

Red River is a small resort town in New Mexico in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Just 29 miles from Angel Fire and 36 miles from Taos, you’ll find this sweet mountain town in the middle of the Carson National Forest.

Red River is a great stop if you’re driving the Enchanted Circle too.

In the winter, Red River offers skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. Red River averages over 200 inches of snow each year making it a winter recreation paradise. Red River is known throughout the region for the diversity of its' special events and live music scene.

Sleep in sweet Red River cabins

Camping and hiking trails abound all around Red River. Here are 10 best campgrounds around Red River.

We say hike Wheeler Peak.

The hike to Wheeler Peak from Red River (East Fork Trail #56 > Lost Lake Trail #91 > Wheeler Peak Trail #90) is a classic mountain hike. You will hike along streams and by lakes and cross mountain meadows with wild flowers.

The hike to Wheeler thru Red River is a long 16 miles round trip. Your reward is the summit with sweeping views from the highest point in New Mexico.

Find great restaurants, souvenire shops, go-carts, and more in Red River.

Camping in the Land of Enchantment

Camping around Angel Fire in the summer can be heavenly.

Don’t own an RV? Neither do we!

We rented an RV from Outdoorsy.com that was delivered and set up ahead of time to Golden Eagle RV Park.

When our 6 night stay was over, we took out the trash and drove off. The RV owner came and towed it away and cleaned it up after us.

Glamping made so easy!

Get Expert Advice

Need help deciding or planning your next family vacation? Book a one hour consultation call with me. Ask me questions and gather tailored advice and next steps for putting together your next adventure.

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OWN AN RV? EARN OVER $50,000 PER YEAR

List your RV for free and rent whenever you want, with full renter verification and vehicle insurance options.

When you list your RV, you can set your rates and control your RV rental schedule.

Earn extra cash to help pay off your rig or fund your next adventure.

Golden Eagle RV Park

We loved Golden Eagle RV Resort & Grill as our cozy base for 6 nights during our recent family reunion in June 2022. With 5 RVs lined up side by side, we relished great views, spotless bathrooms, hot showers and live music in the summer.

The Grill serves up fresh home cooked meals morning, noon and night, if you don't feel like cooking for yourself. Owners Nathan and Lisa are very accommodating and they go above and beyond to make you feel at home. Ask Nathan about fishing on Eagle Nest Lake - he’s the best!

You can easily walk from here to Eagle Nest coffee and ice cream just down the way. Eagle Nest is the ideal location between Angel Fire and Red River along the Enchanted Circle. We would definitely stay here again.

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Eagle Nest State Park

At 8,200 feet in elevation, Eagle Nest Lake State Park offers a cool retreat from the summer heat for fishermen, boaters, campers, hikers, and wildlife watchers.

Just 15 minutes from Angel Fire NM.

Cimarron Canyon State Park

Camp near Palisades Sill in Maverick Campground in Cimarron Canyon State Park, only 15 minutes from Eagle Nest and 30 minutes from Angel Fire New Mexico.

If you love primitive camping, this is the place!

Palisades Sill

Check out Palisades Sill, cliffs cut by Cimarron River in igneous rock, Cimarron Canyon State Park, near Eagle Nest and Angel Fire New Mexico.

Drive Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway

The most popular driving tour in New Mexico, this National Forest Scenic Byway circles Wheeler Peak, the highest in New Mexico at 13,161 feet.

The Enchanted Circle showcases the best of New Mexico's unique heritage and picturesque landscapes.

Distance: 84 miles/136 KM

Driving Time: 2-1/2 to 3 hours

Route: From Taos Plaza, Hwy. 64 north to Hwy. 522 north to Questa; Hwy. 38 east to Red River, then south to Eagle Nest and Angel Fire; Hwy. 64 west to Taos.

Here’s a Enchanted Circle Map to help you get your bearings:

With so many things to do around Angel Fire New Mexico, it's an ideal summer vacation at 8,406’.

Winter in Angel Fire is also filled with all kinds of outdoor adventure.

Found on New Mexico's Enchanted Circle, near Eagle Nest, Taos, and Red River, check out all the fabulous activities in Angel Fire year round, and see why families keep coming back to this wonderful gem.