Meet the mountain with an epic rock climbing adventure
By Jay Foley
As you take in the mountains and serene mesa vistas of Taos County, look closely and you will notice several cliffs dotting this majestic Northern New Mexico landscape.
Camping 101
Camping, glamping or whatever, these basic rules will not fail
By Craig Smith
Northern New Mexico is a camper’s paradise. Whether you use an RV, car or tent, camping is a great way to discover Taos and its beautiful surroundings. But — plan ahead.
Hiking Taos
Sage advice and solid 411 on hiking in Northern New Mexico
By Cindy Brown
One early summer morning, a friend and I were hiking quietly on a trail in southern Taos County.
Splash Mountain
Run the Rio Grande and Rio Chama with New Wave Rafting
By Haven Lindsey
Sipapu at 70
A magic portal to outdoor recreation in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
By David Lerner
According to many North American Indigenous creation stories, a Sipapú is a cosmic portal and a sacred place of emergence.
Snow Voyagers
Whether you’ve lived in Taos your whole life or you have just arrived, the vast landscape of Taos County will always have something to satisfy your outdoor desires.
Story & Photos by Jay Foley
End of an Era
Taos Ski Valley ski instructor Bernard ‘Dadou’ Mayer remembered
By Geoffrey Plant
Legendary Taos Ski Valley ski instructor Bernard “Dadou” Mayer died in August, 2022. He was 82. Mayer followed his brother, Jean Mayer, another lareger-than-life denizen of the slopes, from the French Alps to the United States in order to take a job at the Taos Ski Valley in 1958. Jean Mayer, who with the help of his family and several other early ski valley legends, built the Hotel St. Bernard and was the technical director of the Taos Ski School, died in October 2020.
Grande Rio
The Rio Grande is the quintessential fly-fishing experience in Northern New Mexico
By Tamra Testerman
Washing down a sandwich with a cold beer on the tailgate of his truck gazing at the Milky Way slung low above the craggy canyons carved from the volcanic rock of the Taos Pueblo — the sound of a steady river below snaking its way to the Gulf of Mexico — Taos local John Nichols, author of “The Milagro Beanfield War” and 18 other books, describes the conclusion of a perfect day fly-fishing on the Rio Grande.
Ski Central
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By Cindy Brown & Photos By MIke Hawkins
Welcome to skiing in paradise. Around the Enchanted Circle of Northern New Mexico, you’ll find skiing and riding for every taste and level of ability. From double-black diamond runs at the legendary Taos Ski Valley to the family-friendly slopes of Sipapu, Angel Fire and Red River, skiing and riding here is more than just about sport — it’s about pristine forests, sunshine, history, culture, community and finding a place that reflects who you are as a skier and a person.
Rock Steady
Here we are, getting back to basics after all our worlds were interrupted by COVID-19. Now is the moment to get outside and reinvigorate a vital love of the outdoors.
By Jay Foley
There is no better way to reboot and return outside than joining one of America’s fastest growing sports, rock climbing!
Get In Gear
High-risk high-reward options for mountain biking in Taos County are vast.
by Jeans Pineda
Who is running the river this year?
In addition to the Racecourse, there are Rio Grande rafting trips offered on the more challenging.
Taos Box, as well as the mellow Orilla Verde; Also Rio Chama trips are also available.
Rio Grande River Rafting
Fun and rejuvenation for the spirit with the rapids coming fast and the spray up all around, there is little time to talk.
by Cindy Brown
Essential tips & outdoor gear
Before venturing out in winter, here are a few tips to keep you warm and safe.
Feathered friends
Breathtaking beauty
Enjoy winter fly-fishing in Northern New Mexico.
experience the stark, solitary beauty to being on a river in the winter.
By Tamra Testerman
The bigger animals native to our region are mostly in hibernation, most of the birds have migrated to warmer climes, there are fewer people on the roads and in the woods, and there is a breathtaking stillness not found any other time of year.
Winter stargazing
Our own galactic neighborhood
Don’t like skiing?
Here are five great alternatives to enjoy some winter adventure
By Ellen Miller-Goins
No doubt sitting by a crackling fire under a warm blanket is wonderful but if you choose this option, you are missing out on a truth: being outdoors in Northern New Mexico during the winter is magical, beautiful, exhilarating and … fun!
If you consider skiing or snow
Happy glamping
“Glamping” (glamorous camping)
By Ellen Miller-Goins
Camping in a lavishly appointed tent dates back at least to the 16th Century. Today, “glamping” can range from 5-star resorts to comfortable but rustic accommodations that are, at the very least, a step up from sleeping on the ground with nothing but a thin wall of nylon between you and the elements.
Be a cowboy again
Were you still playing cowboy in the backyard long after other kids had abandoned their six-shooters in favor of light sabers?
By Ellen Miller-Goins
You are in luck. You’ve come home. Northern New Mexico is home to many working ranches, and also features opportunities for playing cowboy on horseback — even in winter.
