Winter Activities to Explore in New Mexico

New Mexico is well-known for its thriving arts community and sunshine-filled outdoor activities. Our member areas offer some of the best history museums and art museums featuring world-famous folk art, sculptures and paintings. There's much to experience outdoors in New Mexico during the winter months, from skiing to national parks, archeological tours and spa getaways.

This winter, explore everything New Mexico has to offer with these amazing winter activities in our member areas. 

Jemez, NM – powered by (JMEC) Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Hot Springs Spa Getaway

Jemez Hot Springs in Jemez Springs, New Mexico is a great place for rejuvenation with natural mineral springs, surrounded by peaceful views of the Jemez mountains. The warm springs are a perfect mid-winter getaway for relaxation and rejuvenation. 

Art Galleries

The art galleries in Jemez are no exception to New Mexico's reputation for fine art. The Jemez Springs Fine Art Gallery is free and open to the public, and it provides a venue for local artists to sell and exhibit oil paintings, sculptures, photography and other works. Jemez Springs Fine Art is a short trip from both Albuquerque and Santa Fe, making it an ideal weekend getaway spot.

Jemez Pueblo 

Public dances at Jemez Pueblo mimic those held for decades. Water still flows through acequias dug more than a century ago and historic adobe or river-rock-and-mortar structures have withstood the test of time. Some of the original families have descendants who still live here.

Take a tour of the Jemez Pueblo's Walatowa Visitor Center, located seven miles south of Jemez Springs, to learn about the area's history. Check out the award-winning Ponderosa Winery located near the village, offering wine tours and tastings.

Looking for more in the Jemez region? Community events within Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative's (JMEC) five-county service area are numerous and change often by season. Check their events page for the latest happenings in their community and throughout their service region.

Grants, NM – powered by Continental Divide Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Route 66 History

Grants, New Mexico, is a great winter trip for history fans and museum lovers because it’s located along historic Route 66. The Route 66 Museum in Grants, located in the Double Six Gallery on this historic roadway, has a collection of old postcards that highlight New Mexico's distinctive stretch of this famous highway. They've digitized, enlarged and presented these postcards as you'd see them on Route 66 between Continental Divide and Mesita. 

Take a drive through the Route 66 neon sign at dusk before you leave. Shaped like a large Route 66 highway shield sign, the drive-thru portal is big enough to accommodate RVs. 

New Mexico Mining Museum

The New Mexico Mining Museum is a replicated underground uranium mine developed by miners in Grants, New Mexico. The museum pays homage to the past uranium boom that earned Grants the moniker "Uranium Capital of the World." 

The self-guided trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view, touch, feel, and absorb the underground world's ambiance. This is a fun and informative activity for the entire family. Relive the adventure of digging underground and experience how the miners worked. Learn about the rich history of mining in Grants/Cibola County, as well as the culture that surrounds it.

For more local news and happenings in Grants, NM check out the latest issue of Enchantment Magazine: The Voice of New Mexico's Rural Electric Cooperatives

Cloudcroft, NM – powered by Otero County Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Skiing

There is no shortage of ski resorts in New Mexico! Ski Cloudcroft, the country's southernmost ski resort, is located high above the Tularosa Basin and provides alpine, cross-country, night skiing, and snow tubing. With a base height of 8,400 feet and a vertical increase of 700 feet, the mountain includes 25 courses served by two lifts. Ski Cloudcroft offers all levels of skiers a variety of trails, as well as ski lessons and equipment rentals.

Shopping at the Burro Street Exchange

A one-of-a-kind shopping experience featuring a mix of retail stores, restaurants and professional offices that reflect the "Old West" feel of Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Along Burro Street Exchange, enjoy the quaint stores along the boardwalk, which include curio shops, coffee and tea shops, a winery, the Burro Street Trading Post, the Burro Street Bakery, jewelry, arts, and a fresh market.

Lincoln National Forest

Lincoln National Forest offers various cross-country ski trails, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and other winter sports for a more untethered outdoor experience. Fish Creek is the starting point for recreational activity. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers can access between one to seven kilometers of maintained trails from there. Snowmobilers can park in a neighboring parking area and enjoy over 100 miles of maintained snowmobile paths.

While the forest contains two cross-country skiing and snowshoeing paths, Upper Karr Canyon Recreation Area, located off Sunspot Highway, offers other winter activities such as sledding and snow tubing. This recreation area with picnic tables and bathrooms is convenient to get to by vehicle and is ideal for groups.

For more ideas and events in the Otero County Electric Cooperative member area, check out the Resources page on their website.

Whether you're looking for frosty outdoor sports, family-friendly winter activities or a relaxing getaway for yourself that's guaranteed to put a smile on your face, look no further than New Mexico.

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About Tri-State

Tri-State is a power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, serving electric distribution cooperatives and public power district member-owners in four states. Together with our members, we deliver reliable, affordable and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West. Visit www.tristate.coop.