By Sandra Petersen
Red River, New
Mexico, lies along state Highway 38 in Taos County, about 8,750 feet above sea level. An area of mountains, valleys, and abandoned gold, silver, and copper mines, Red River is not far from Wheeler Peak, the highest summit in the state.
History
Red River has changed from a prosperous 1800s mining town to almost a ghost town to a rejuvenated mountain retreat and place to homestead during the 1920s Dust Bowl years and later.
Geography
Carson National Forest and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains surround Red River, which is located on the 84-mile Enchanted Circle scenic drive. Sawmill Mountain lies to the north, and Black Mountain is to the southwest of the town.
Features
Many of Red River's businesses are situated along state Highway 38, also known as East and West Main Street, but the Red River Ski Area is located on Pioneer Road.
Seasonal Activities
Mountain biking and hiking on the 138 miles of area trails are popular activities during the summer. Snowboarding and cross-country, alpine, and Nordic skiing are the main tourist draws during the winter.
Fun Fact
Road names like Gold Dust Trail, Last Chance Trail, Tenderfoot Trail, High Cost Trail, and Claim Jumper Street reflect Red River's mining history.
Resources
About the Author:
For almost four years, Sandra Petersen has written fiction stories and non-fiction articles for sites like FaithWriters, Associated Content, Helium, Textbroker, and Triond as well as Demand Studios. Petersen attended the University of Wisconsin-Superior and earned her Bachelor's degree in elementary education with a minor in music education.
