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Red River is a resort town in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico. We stopped to stretch our legs while driving the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway from Taos.
History
Red River originally started out as a mining camp, with plenty of gold, silver, and copper found in the area. It’s named after the Red River, which flows through the middle of town, and was founded in 1895. It had a peak population of 3,000.
The mining started to dwindle around 1905 and the population dropped significantly. The town, however, survived because of its reputation for good fishing and as a getaway from hot weather. Mining operations ended in 1931, but by then it was a popular tourist spot.
In the summer, visitors can bike, hike, fish, and ride horses all the way up into the mountains. Winter activities include skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. There are also different types of festivals throughout the year.
Brandenburg Park
We didn’t spend more than 45 minutes in the town, mostly walking around Brandenburg Park. There’s a visitor center on the south side of the park at the Red River Conference Center.
Around Town
Walking around the small town, we saw a few gift shops, outdoor shops, and places selling chocolate fudge. There was also an art gallery and jewelry shop. Some of the shops had a good sense of humor.
It was fairly quiet and we didn’t really see any people around. I would like to come back in the future to enjoy some of the outdoor activities, and spend a day or two there.
