280 Red River Vacation Rentals & Short Term Rentals

About Red River

With things to do in every season of the year, Red River is an adventure-filled town in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the southern portion of the Rocky Mountains. The population hovers just under 500, making this a small-town a tourist-friendly place to be. The Red River Ski Area provides visitors with space for snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, and summer activities like hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. In fact, in 2016 Travel and Leisure named Red River #18 on America’s Favorite Towns. Read on to see why it’s is such a beloved place.

Things to do in Red River

Most known for its outdoor recreational activities, Red River offers visitors just about everything they could want in the summer vacation. For starters, the Red River Community House provides free family fun activities ranging from guided hikes, crafts for children, a drumming workshop, and a mountain concert series. For the adventure-minded individual, Red River offers whitewater rafting in the famous Rio Grande. A unique experience in Red River, off-road vehicles and jeeps may be rented (or you can drive your own) and used to explore the mountainous areas surrounding Red River. Local companies also offer guided jeep tours, if you’d rather sit back and let someone else do the driving.

Winter activity offerings in Red River are just as impressive as its summer offerings. Skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling are just the start of the possibilities in Red River. The Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area provides ample space and trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. In addition, Red River Ski and Summer Area is a great place for tubing down some hills. The cold weather doesn’t stop this town from providing some of the best outdoor areas and activities to its visitors.

If all these activities aren’t enough, Red River also hosts many events throughout the year. The Aspencade Arts & Crafts Fair takes place every September. There, guests will enjoy booths of hand-crafted items, pottery, jewelry, and delicious food. This year, the fair will also feature the Red River Folk Festival at Aspencade, which brings talented artists from across the country to entertain the crowd at the festival. Red River also hosts an annual Oktoberfest, Christmas Eve Fireworks and Torchlight Parade, and Bingo in the Park, among others.

Day Trips from Red River

A 45-minute drive from Red River, Taos is a mecca for artists of all types. The Harwood Art Museum of the University of New Mexico provides world-renowned art to the Taos community, and supports local Taos artists in their journey to creating world-renowned art. Exhibits are constantly changing and the museum provides free art programs and events for children. Taos also houses the Taos Mountain Casino where you can test your luck at the slots. Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort is another great place to go during any season of the year, where in addition to providing the traditional summer and winter activities, the resort also offers a free, world-class disc golf course to its guests. The course was named by Disc Golf Digest as one of the top five scenic courses in the country. Taos also has a number of spas and salons if you’d rather be pampered on your vacation, as well as some great locally-established restaurants. This is definitely a day trip worth the drive!

Transportation in Red River

If traveling from out-of-state, Red River is best reached via a flight to Santa Fe, New Mexico. From the airport, it will take around 2 hours and 15 minutes to get to Red River. Renting a car is the most efficient and cost-effective way to get to the town. Red River is located just off Highway 38, and don’t worry, you can’t miss it.

The best way to get around the town is to walk. Since Red River is just a little over a mile long, tourists can easily walk around the town and duck into shops and restaurants. For those who would rather get a ride, the town offers its Red River Miner’s Transit, a free year-round, seven-days-a-week, wheel chair-accessible service. This will take you anywhere in town, including to and from hotels and ski slopes.

Red River Accommodations

Tripping.com offers over 160 vacation rentals in the Red River area. If you’re coming in the winter for some skiing or snowboarding, Tripping.com has condos with fireplaces and incredible views of the slopes so you can enjoy them both up close and from a distance. In the summer, choose a rental with picnic tables and a deck to relax on with friends or family while you take in the scenery of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

After a long day of hitting the slopes or taking the jeep out in the mountains, many visitors are ready for a bite to eat and a good beer. Luckily, Red River has you covered. The Bull o the Woods Saloon is a crowd pleaser. In the summer, their outdoor patio is open to customers and live music entertains patrons through the night. Dairy Bar is a great place for a quick burger and fries, and Shotgun Willie’s Café is a Red River staple.