Red River, New Mexico

We decided on one last trip before school started and my aunt was gracious enough to allow us to stay in her cabin in the Red River NM mountains.

One thing I know my aunt will ask since we just also recently visited Waterton National Park in Alberta Canada is how does Red River compare?

Good question and it’s something I’ve thought about quite a bit.

We flew into Albuquerque, NM from Dallas and drove three hours to Red River which is exactly the drive time between Calgary and Waterton so in regards to accessibility the two areas are just about equal. The drive from Albuquerque to Red River goes through Sante Fe so there’s more traffic on the way than from Calgary to Waterton. The altitude increases all the way from Taos to Red River. What was so surprising about the drive to Waterton is there’s really no foothills before you get to Waterton — it’s just mostly highway until you get to the park entrance.

While both areas are tourist destinations with some local residents, Red River seems to have a few more stores and restaurants (including a nicely stocked grocery) than Waterton, probably due to having a ski area open during the winter months.

One significant difference between the two areas is Waterton Lake that spans the area for miles and really is the centerpiece of the park. It’s a natural lake with several large waterfalls feeding into it from the surrounding mountains.

Since Red River has a ski area, you can ride the ski lift up to the top for some magnificent views of the area. Of course there are great views from top of some of the Waterton peaks as well but you have to hike up there on your own.

I’m not a forest ranger and didn’t complete an animal census, but just from the wildlife we saw, I’d think maybe you’d having a better chance spotting a bear in Waterton than in Red River (even though we did see a bear in Red River one year).

My family had a wonderful time on both ends of the Rocky Mountains this year and will look forward to trips back in a few years when the theme of the summer trip is a mountain vs. a beach vacation.