Red River NM Community Profile
The town of Red River nestles between mountain peaks in the valley along the Red River, a mountain tributary to the Rio Grande River. The community sits at 8,750 feet elevation, surrounded by the Carson National Forest and the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The climate is montane and alpine, with typical winter lows below zero and summer highs in the 70s. It is not unusual for thunderstorms to roll through the Red River area on summer afternoons.
Gold miners first came and settled in the area in the mid-1800s. Nowadays, the local economy depends upon winter tourists who ski and snowboard, and summer tourists who come to hike, mountain bike, drive ATVs, or just sit back and relax in the comfortable cool summer temperatures. Approximately 1,200 seasonal homes help to house many of these visitors. The Red River Ski Area rises to the south of town with a vertical drop of about 1,600 feet. The Red River mountain ski area includes 58 trails and six lifts on 290 acres, and typically attracts more than 120,000 ticket-buyers in a typical winter season. In the summer, lifts continue to run for the many mountain bikers, hikers, and sightseers who visit the area.
For a fee, wintertime enthusiasts can also explore the 21 miles of groomed skiing and snowshoeing trails that have been established at the Enchanted Forest Cross-Country Ski and Snowshoe Area, located just about three miles to the east of town. In Red River, there are many private rental services that lease out everything from snowmobiles and ATVs, and popular summer activities include trail riding on horses stabled in the area.
The town of Red River provides and administers municipal services for residents, visitors, and the nearly 200 businesses in the community. The town hosts a series of popular summertime events, beginning with the Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally that typically attracts more than 20,000 motorcyclists for the long holiday weekend.
Red River Population
Estimated Red River 2016: 477 year-round; approx 4,000 seasonal
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/); UNM Bureau of Business & Economic Research
Red River Taxes
Gross Receipts Tax (Jul-Dec 2018): 8.6250 percent on goods and services
Source: NM Taxation & Revenue
Residential Property Tax Rate (2018): 22.199 mills
Source: N.M. Finance & Administration (http://nmdfa.state.nm.us/Certificate_of_Property_Tax.aspx)
Red River Schools
Questa Independent School District: Red River Valley Charter School, Questa Elementary, Questa Middle School, Questa High School; Cimarron School District: Eagle Nest Elementary, Eagle Nest Middle School, Cimarron High School, Moreno Valley High School
Red River Public Recreation Facilities
General: Brandenburg Park, Woerndle Park, Mallette Park
Hiking/Biking/ATV-Snowboarding: Carson National Forest, 208 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571, (575) 758-6200, http://www.fs.usda.gov/carson; popular trails including Red River Nature Trail, Columbine Trail, Sawmill Park Trail, Middlefork Trail, and Goose Creek Trail.
Fishing: Red River, Town Ponds
Red River Form of Government
Mayor/Town Council and Town Administrator, with mayor and four councilors serving four-year, staggered terms: http://redriver.org, (575) 754-2277 / (877) 754-1708
Red River Town Transportation
Red River Miner’s Transit: free year-round service, with door-to-door service, (575) 770-5959; town-operated heliport; North Central Regional Transportation District (NCRTD) – free year-round service, twice daily connection with Questa-Taos route, http://www.ncrtd.org/
Red River Health Services
Main Street Medical Clinic
(family health and urgent care)
421 East Main St
Red River, NM 87558
(575) 754-6330
UltiMed Clinic (open in winter only)
located in the Lift House building of the Red River Ski Area
200A Pioneer Road
Red River, NM 87558
(575) 754-1773
https://ultimed.com/locations/red-river/
Red River Driving Distances
Angel Fire: 30-miles (40 min)
Taos: 37-miles (49 min)
Taos Ski Valley: 41-miles (1 hr 1 min)
Santa Fe: 106-miles (2 hr 12 min)
Albuquerque: 170-miles (3 hr 4 min)
Denver: 277-miles (4 hr 18 min)
Oklahoma City: 510-miles (8 hr 8 min)
Phoenix: 585-miles (9 hr 17 min)
Dallas: 645-miles (9 hr 57 min)
Houston: 879-miles (13 hr 13 min)
