Angel Fire, NM Road Trips

Surrounded by mountains that rise as high as 13,000 feet, Angel Fire is intrinsically scenic. Numerous hiking and mountain biking trails complement the well-marked scenic routes for automobiles. From the top of Agua Fria Peak (the mountain owned by the Resort), you can see Philmont Boy Scout Ranch, Wheeler Peak, parts of Colorado, and the eastern end of the Cimarron River valley. The top of the mountain is at 10,800ft in elevation though, so be careful of altitude sickness and sunburn. The chairlift ride takes about 20 minutes and gains (or loses, if you ride it down) about 2,000ft in elevation in that short amount of time. In the summers, Angel Fire hosts Music From Angel Fire, a multi-week music and art festival that celebrates New Mexican musicians and artists from primarily the Northern New Mexico region. It really is a hidden gem of the region. 1 Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, 34 Country Club Rd (just off US 64 north of town), ☏ +1 575 377-2293. Visitor center open daily 9AM-5PM, Chapel open 24 hours a day. One of the first major Vietnam War memorials in the United States, this picturesque sail-shaped chapel was completed in the early 70s by the parents of Marine First Lieutenant David Westphall, who was killed in Vietnam. Free. (updated Dec 2015)

Angel Fire Resort is the town's main draw, and has a near-monopoly on activities in the town, owing that the Resort owns the mountain and ski resort, the country club, and a lake to the south. As Angel Fire is primarily a resort town, this section will be separated into activities that can be done during the Winter Season (usually mid-November to early March or April, depending on the snow) and the Summer Season (May to early October when the first snows fall). Usually in the off-seasons most restaurants and activities are closed. Winter Season In the winter the mountain is turned into a ski and snowboarding resort with three chairlifts on the front side and one on the back. Included on the mountain are terrain parks for both skiers and snowboarders, glade runs, and occasionally (if the snow is good) some light cross-country skiing (more like hiking) to get to some Black runs that are squirreled away on the backside. The Resort also offers a ski school for children and the occasional adult beginner, and has a bunny slope with its own lift for practice runs. Information about ski school can be found on the Resort's website and must usually be booked in advance. Parallel to the bunny slope is a tubing hill, where people with tubes (which can be rented - usually for kids) can ride a small conveyor belt and then tube down the hill. The Angel Fire mountain contains numerous Green, Blue, and Black runs, and all are usually easier than their counterparts at resorts like Taos Ski Valley or Ski Red River.

Angel Fire boasts about two dozen restaurants, all in moderate price ranges. Restaurants occasionally change year to year, especially since the Covid-19 Pandemic hit the region, so this list may change. Almost every restaurant is closed on Mondays in Angel Fire, and in the summer the restaurants in the Lodge are not open except on select occasions for private groups. (Updated 27 November 2022) Angel Fired Pizza, 3375 Mountain View Blvd, ☏ +1 575 377-2774. Great crisp crust pizza and good service. The Bakery and Cafe @ Angel Fire - 3420 Mountain View Blvd. A bakery with delicious baked goods and breakfast foods. Usually the only restaurant open during the mornings, and (because the Lodge does not offer breakfast services) usually is where people go to get breakfast foods. Elements Fine Dining, Located on the upper floor of the Angel Fire Country Club (the side you enter from the guest parking lot), probably the finest restaurant in town (no strict dress code but don't show up in a swimsuit and flip-flops), serving everything from pub food to veal & venison to surprisingly fresh (given the location) seafood. El Jefe - 10 5 Springs Rd. A Mexican-style restaurant located just off the entrance to the Chili Express (but outside the mountain proper). A good place to find meals with Hatch chili peppers included. Legends Bar and Grill - Located on the second floor of the Lodge at the base of the mountain. Fancy pub food (burgers, fries, etc.). Ideal for a meal before or after a day of skiing. Only open during the winter season. Mikuna Grill - 48 N. Angel Fire Rd.

Zebs Restaurant and Bar. Ritchie Slater Winery, Hwy. 434 and County Rd. B-3 (Osha Road) (In Black Lake, just south of Angel Fire, NM). Amazing hand-crafted, award-winning wines in one of the most beautiful settings on the planet. Most dine-in restaurants serve alcohol but it must be consumed on the restaurant grounds. Alcohol can also be purchased at the grocery store but must be consumed indoors.

Almost all property in the town is owned by the Resort or private owners. However, the Resort does offer tourists the option to rent a house, condo, or chalet for the duration of their stay as an alternative to staying in the Lodge. The limited selection of accommodations includes resort hotel, cabins, B-and-Bs, condo rentals and motels. Many property owners will privately rent out their lodging through apps like Airbnb. Angel Fire Resort also offers a high-end RV park located just outside Palo Flechado Pass (the road to/from Taos). For better choices, some people prefer to stay in Taos. Some lodging exists in neighboring towns like Eagle Nest (a 30-40 min drive north) but not to the degree that Angel Fire offers. The Lodge at Angel Fire Resort, ☏ +1 844 218-4107. Lodge at the base of the ski mountain, offering dining, indoor pool/hot tub, a fitness center, free WiFi, and pet friendly rooms. The pool here is only for Lodge guests; the public pool is located in the Country Club. (updated Nov 2022) Angel Fire RV Resort, ☏ +1-855-421-0308. Adjacent to the Lodge at Angle Fire Resort; 102 paved spaces with 30/50-amp full hook-ups, a clubhouse, and lots of amenities. (updated Dec 2015) Elk Horn Lodge - Near the center of town (just north of the grocery store and Angel Fired Pizza). Offers some lodging for up to 8 people per 'room'. Monte Verde RV Park & Campground. 1 Rustic Chalet Cabin, 43 Jackson Hole Dr, ☏ +1 575 377-6441, [email protected]. Check-in: 3pm, check-out: 10am. Has a hot tub, fire pit, high speed WiFi, is pet friendly and is close to lift.

US 64, a well-maintained but mountain road, passes through Angel Fire between Taos and Cimarron. NM 434 junctions at 64 just north of Angel Fire and continues in a north-south manner to the town of Mora and provides an alternative route in/out of the town. A small county-run airport in the town handles private planes. The nearest airports with commercial scheduled service are Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The nearest Amtrak railroad station is in Raton, 80 miles to the east on US 64.

The Resort and a few other local businesses maintain shuttles; otherwise transportation is by foot, horse, ski, snocat, or private car. In the winter Resort shuttles act almost as buses, taking skiers and snowboarders between the different parking lots and the resort, and occasionally making stops at some condos (usually if notified ahead of time). On days with high winds, shuttles will take skiers and snowboarders to the top of the mountain or the base of the backside.