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location-pin Colfax County, NM
Outdoor Recreation
Colfax County is an outdoor lover’s paradise, with scenic hiking trails, great fishing spots, and campgrounds perfect for nights under the stars. Explore mountain terrain by bike or horseback, and in winter, enjoy skiing and snowboarding nearby. With stunning landscapes in every season, it’s the perfect place for your next adventure.
LONG RANGE
SNOW
SPORTS
CAMPING
BIKING
Cimarron Canyon State Park
GOLFING
HIKING
FISHING
HUNTING
....and so much more!
Climax Canyon Trail
Hiking & Trails
If you love fresh air and big scenery, you’ll feel right at home on Colfax County’s trails. Hike through landscapes that change with the seasons like wildflowers in spring, cool mountain escapes in summer, and crisp autumn views in fall. Every trail offers something new to discover.
Angel Fire Greenbelt Trails
Location
Angel Fire
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
4.7 Miles
Oeste Vista Loop
Location
Angel Fire
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
2.6 Miles
Palo Flechado Pass Trail
Location
Eagle Nest
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
8.5 Miles
Lake 14 Trail
Location
Maxwell
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1.9 Miles
Elliot Barker Trail
Location
Angel Fire
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
2.6 Miles
Sawmill Park Trail
Location
Eagle Nest
Difficulty
Hard
Length
10.8 Miles
Prairie Trail
Location
Maxwell
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.5 Miles
Philmont Road Trail
Location
Cimarron
Difficulty
Hard
Length
11.1 Miles
Lakes, Parks & Nature
Looking for the perfect outdoor reset? Colfax County’s lakes, parks, and natural spaces offer the best way to unplug, explore, and enjoy the beauty of northern New Mexico
Lake 13
Monte Verde Lake
In the heart of Angel Fire, Monte Verde Lake is a picturesque high-mountain lake perfect for easy summer fun. It’s stocked with trout, and visitors can enjoy fishing, non-motorized boating, and relaxing along the shoreline with mountain views all around.
Springer Lake
Just outside Springer, Springer Lake is a local favorite for fishing and relaxing in wide-open scenery. It’s known as a top northern pike lake, and it’s also stocked with rainbow trout, with camping and picnic areas nearby.
Maxwell Lakes
The Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge is dotted with shallow playa lakes and wetlands, creating one of the best spots in the area for wildlife viewing and birding. Lake 13 is the largest of the refuge lakes, and the area is perfect for quiet nature drives, photography, and peaceful outdoor time.
More outdoor fun!
Raton Golf Course
& Country Club
Play a laid-back round at the Raton Golf Course & Country Club, a scenic 9-hole course designed for golfers of all skill levels. Whether you’re squeezing in a quick game or spending the afternoon on the greens, it’s a fun and easy way to enjoy the outdoors.
NRA Whittington Center
NRA Whittington Center is a world-class outdoor destination just outside Raton, offering 33,300 acres of wide-open scenery and 25 shooting ranges for every discipline. Visitors can also enjoy training programs, guided hunts, lodging, cabins, and camping.
Goat Hill
& Iridium Layer
Goat Hill & the Iridium Layer offers panoramic views of town near the iconic “RATON” sign, plus a fascinating piece of Earth’s history. Nearby, you can see an exposed iridium-rich rock layer that is linked to the asteroid impact that contributed to the dinosaurs’ extinction about 66 million years ago.
Enchanted Circle Drive
The Enchanted Circle Drive is one of northern New Mexico’s most iconic scenic routes—an 84–85 mile loop that winds through mountain valleys and charming towns like Taos, Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest, and Angel Fire. You’ll circle the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (with views near Wheeler Peak), pass lakes and forested landscapes, and find plenty of easy stops for photos, short hikes, fishing, and local shops along the way. It’s gorgeous year-round, but especially stunning in fall when the aspens turn bright gold.
Capulin Volcano National Monument
Capulin Volcano National Monument is a must-see stop near Raton, offering one of the most unique outdoor experiences in the region. Visitors can drive a winding road all the way to the summit, then hike the Crater Rim Trail for sweeping 360° views across the surrounding volcanic landscape.
Angel Fire Resort
Angel Fire Resort is a year-round mountain destination in Colfax County that offers adventure in every season. In winter, visitors hit the slopes for skiing and snowboarding, and when the snow melts, the resort turns into a summer playground with downhill mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, golf, zipline tours, hiking, and lake activities at Monte Verde Lake. With its high-elevation views and family-friendly atmosphere, it’s an easy add-on to any Colfax County itinerary.
