An Afternoon Well Spent !!…read more It has been many years since I've been to the Raton area and typically whenever I was in the area it was just a quick to use the bathroom or get gas. On this visit, it was on a Friday afternoon and I had a few hours to kill and wanted to actually see some of the area. I remembered from years past that there were some lakes up in the mountains that I had always wanted to see and now was my chance. The Park is only about 20 miles from Raton and the roads were not that busy. The drive up is really nice as you see mountains, hills ranches, and some great scenery. On the way to Lake Maloya I stopped at one of the smaller lakes, Lake Alice and spent about half an hour checking it out. There really isn't access to that lake but you can tell its frequented by anglers. It is a nice small scenic lake. I then made my way up to Lake Maloya which is a reservoir for the area and right on the Colorado border. The lake is magnificent!! On a nice warm summer day, there was a nice breeze and no bugs. There were boaters on the lake, some people canoeing and some campers but it was not that busy at all. I spent a good two hours stopping and driving farther up the lake until I came to the gate that takes you to Dorothy Lake ( for another time). The views are just amazing, I suggest bringing a canoe or kayak and spending a good day there. I'm not sure if there is swimming since I didn't see anyone swimming in the water. Next up was Sugarite Canyon, and when you stop at the main entrance they use the honour system where you pay, so please pay!!! I made my way to the visitors center and got a map of the trails. The canyon is a great place to hike and I saw no one else on the trail and felt like I had the place to myself. I can't describe how nice it was walking through the canyon, and all there is to see. I highly recommend hiking with a buddy since it is in a remote area and I saw a few different animal tracks as I made my way through the trails. In short, this area is worth a visit, you can spend a few hours there or a few days, its truly part of the magnificence that is New Mexico.

Google know all about this place but not yelp? We are fixing…read morethat right now. As the parks service says "The nature enthusiast will appreciate the abundance of wildlife, birds, butterflies, and wildflowers among the lakes, creeks, forests, and meadows. Nearly all outdoor recreation activities are possible: Fishing, boating, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and camping." All true. This is a huge park. Full of lakes, trails & wildlife. We took a 6 mile loop trail starting at the dam yesterday and saw NO ONE else. Lots of scat indicate there lots of moose and bear around, so be aware. There are numerous other trails as well add the aforementioned activities. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Kayak rentals right at the dock of Lake Maloya in Sugarite State Park on the day we were there…read more Mike was very helpful getting my kids and I equipped and on to the lake. He also mentioned that he would be happy to meet customers up there on a weekday if we wanted to come again. Kayaking was a great way to enjoy Sugarite!!! Apparently the owner has hidden numerous glass skulls full of money between Raton and Taos. Check out their Facebook page for clues.

Lovers Leap in Trinidad. I left wishing I'd brought a can of spray paint and a bottle of strawberry…read morewine to break on the rocks Who is this Simpson guy? Wikipedia

Simpson's Rest is a terrific vista point lookout showcasing downtown Trinidad, Colorado from high…read moreabove. If you're driving Interstate 25 through Trinidad and if you keep your eyes peeled on the surroundings, you'll discover the sign T-R-I-N-I-D-A-D in giant white letters perched above a rock bluff formation. It's sort of similar in style to the iconic Hollywood Sign out in Los Angeles, California but obviously on a much smaller scale. I immediately took notice of Simpson's Rest and used Google Maps to navigate my way just 10 minutes up a dirt road to reach the summit. I was pretty surprised by how accessible it was without having to hike or work hard to reach it. For around 11am in the middle of June, I had the entire overlook to myself. And I was highly impressed with the views which seemed to span for miles and miles. Simpson's Rest might have been one of my favorite observation points in 2024 with it being so under the radar and such a pleasant surprise. Basically, you have undisturbed 180-degree panoramas standing one hundred feet on top of a rock butte. On the day I visited, the winds were nonexistent, and it felt like the landscape backdrop around Trinidad was similar to an untouched canvas painting. My one and only disappointment were the graffiti stains engraved onto a bunch of the rocks next to the Trinidad Sign. Vandalism like that makes no sense to me. Off to the righthand side of the Trinidad Sign is the "burial place of explorer and trader George S. Simpson" according to Wikipedia. Otherwise, it's just you and the endlessly dramatic sceneries. You can certainly bring lunch with you and have a quiet picnic from the best seat atop Trinidad. In total, the experience can take 15 - 20 minutes for newcomers or for those who are appreciating the sights, 40 - 45 minutes. Simpson's Rest is a great reward for a hidden town like Trinidad, Colorado that probably most people have never heard of.

Nailed it in every way. Great rooms. Great people. Great service. We stayed in the competitor…read morehousing, $70 a night with 2 beds, shared bathroom and shared full kitchen with fridge/freezer and stove. Wonderful. The entire property is amazing. Will explore more when we return next year for the World Championships. Be sure you take time to see the museum and drive back into the mountains (for us, they call 'em hills) to see the mine and the old town. The ranges are superb. Now if they had electronic targets, it would be superior.

Attended a rifle course here, and was very impressed…read more The Whittington Center has a number of facilities where people can stay: RV slots with full 30/50 amp service, water, and septic; a wide variety of cabins or buildings where people can stay. These facilities are kept clean and polished; the beds are very good, large closets, clean carpets; the kitchen area is spotless, scrubbed clean, and well-stocked for dishes, utensils, etc. The landscape is neatly maintained to minimize fire damage, which is reassuring. The buildings are all very well maintained. Only drawback (minus 1/2 point): no air conditioners. That's a limiting factor for me, but for me, alone. The cabin I stayed in, one of the "Founders" series, had four separate bedrooms, each with a private bath. Very, very clean: bring your own towels. If I correctly understood some of the guests that shared my cabin, NRA members can stay here regardless of whether they're attending a course. One other thing which I love; no televisions! There are sooooo many different ranges: bow and arrow; pistol; carbine; rifle; shotgun. The ranges are in excellent repair, the facilities well-maintained, freshly painted, no garbage, and it's obvious that they groom their ranges for brass and expended shotgun cartridges. No trash anywhere.... I love it! It's obvious that the ranges were built with safety in mind: our instructors were very keen on briefing is daily about safety -- and believe me, they didn't miss a trick. The roads are all well-maintained, even though they're not paved: my vehicle and kidneys appreciate that. The Center's property abide with deer, antelope, elk, various large cats, black bears, and countless varieties of birds. Drive carefully, day and night. It's a quiet place to stay... interrupted during daylight hours by the sounds of freedom. Well done.You nailed it! P.S. The only truly dangerous place is the gift shop.

You just can't imagine how fantastic this place. The setting is in the Vermejo valley in Northern…read moreNew Mexico surrounded by mountains many which are still snow capped in June! After sitting on the veranda in the cool evening crisp clean mountain air we enjoyed the majestic view while having a few cocktails and reviewing the days adventures. This evenings menu had gourmet entrees that are first class. Our group had: Piñon Crusted Trout Pan seared Bison Tenderloin Grilled Ranchero Beef Ribeye Country Fried Quail Knots Seared Sea Scallops Friends listen this food was unbelievable. The chef knows his business. Any if nothing on the menu feels right, then ask the Chef for an off the menu item....like a gourmet cheese burger. They aim to please. The wait staff couldn't have been more accommodating or friendly. They had no problem with substitutions or asking for extra. They know how to make customers happy. Put a visit to Vermejo Park Ranch on your bucket list. Truly you will not be disappointed.

Vermejo Park Ranch has a history that has been sustained in its current usage. In 1841, it was a…read moreland grant from Mexico, and has been used for cattle ranching but recently it has been a sheltered tract reserved for hunting and fishing. Under current ownership, significant effort goes into maintenance of stable healthy populations of elk, deer, antelope, bear, turkey and bison. The guest buildings remain as they must have been 70 years ago and the 920 sq. miles continue to host several different ecosystems from wetlands to tundra above timberline. This site doesn't aim at 5 star modern luxury but rather maintaining that level of luxury consistent with reduced degradation of the land by the visitors and staff. No human effort is spared to make this a top flight experience. Everyone we met went out of their way to ensure our comfort, satisfaction and safety. "Fracking" is going on and is evident from the many gas wells one sees dotting the landscape. The gas company is responsible for many of the graded roads on the ranch. The most frequent use of the site is for guided hunting and fishing. We went for a guided nature photography experience. One finds this place with some difficulty. State Highway 555 turns into a gravel road a few miles from the minimally marked turnoff to the ranch. An electric gate blocks the entrance and is opened remotely if the telephone systems are working. While we were there the entire area had been blacked out by Centurylink. No fault of theirs but still an inconvenience. Check in was quick and simple. Rooms are situated around the main lodge which was rebuilt after a fire in a modern rendition of the prior structure. We stayed in an annex to the main lodge called Casa Minor. Our bedroom was large, 30 x 40 feet, with bay windows facing the front lawn. The bathroom was wheelchair accessible as was the shower. Two queen beds were comfortable and heating and cooling effective with a ceiling fan. Other rooms we saw with a single queen bed were smaller. Meals were gourmet, frequently featuring either a bison, elk, wild turkey or antelope meat option and tours of the working kitchen were encouraged. Usually hors d'oeuvres and a cocktail party with a full bar began as the first group returned to the lodge and continued until all groups are back and ready for dinner. Since different groups are returning from various distances, dinner can be late. A cooking class for preparation of game is planned and should be wonderful. Days here begin early so that one can be in place at sunup and frequently end with a drive back to the lodge after sunset, whether one is hunting with gun, bow, rod, or camera. All of the guides have a patina of experience but some more than others. We drew Gene Coon and he made the experience a gem. He used his ample experience to craft an exposure to the things we wanted to shoot photographically. He carefully judged our abilities and kept us safely within them.

Excellent service and great, knowledgeable people. Highly recommend a visit when in Trinidad!read more

Super friendly, knowledgeable and great ride recommendations. They were also able to swap out…read moretubeless tires same day after a gnarly side-wall puncture so I didn't have to miss the next day's ride. They even cleaned the bike! These guys are awesome.

UNBELIEVABLE Course! CHALLENGING! This course was named Golfweek Magazines "#14 Resort Golf…read moreCourse in the US" and #5Best New Course in the Nation back in 07'. The man himself designed this course yes you know it this is a Nicklaus design. Much like Breckenridge this was one of the most challenging courses I've played in Colorado. I made the mistake and starting this course out walking it! DO NOT WALK this course if it is your first time on it! The par 72, 7,669 yard course with fewer than 40 bunkers is an enjoyable experience for all who appreciate Colorado Golf. The unique black sand bunkers are a tribute to Trinidad's rich mining heritage. The course is already famous for #16 Intimidation, intimidation, intimidation! This par three is a very short, simple and straightforward, save for the fact there is a tee, a green and NOTHING else in between! If you can manage to not freak out you might actually PAR this hole. ps you gotta try this course Colorado Golfers I promise it won't disappoint!

Trinidad lanes is the BEST place I have ever been!!! It is so clean and a great environment. You…read morecan really tell the owners put a lot of effort and care into making it a fun clean environment! We always have an absolute blast. I couldn't recommend it enough!

Clean and well-maintained. An almost retro feel. Would recommend if visiting Trinidad and you have…read morenothing to do. Easy proximity to multiple dispensaries. Recommend visiting the dispensaries before bowling as it may make your experience even better.