Oktoberfest in the New Mexico mountains
By: J. David Chapman/October 13, 2022
I am writing this week’s column from Red River, New Mexico. We are vacationing with friends in this tiny ski town in Taos County. With a population of 500, it is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains along the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway 36 miles from Taos.
We retreat to Red River every fall for its Oktoberfest festival with the same group of friends. Oktoberfest in the mountains is special with the changing color of the Aspens and clean, cool air. The white snow topping the tallest peaks further adds to the color pallet contrast. As you approach the festivities you can hear the German oompah music and begin anticipating the yodeling and beard contests, microbrews and brats. The best part of the day is spending time with friends and making new acquaintances with people from all over the region. Our day at Oktoberfest is one of my favorite days, events, and times of the year.
The day prior to Oktoberfest is spent with the group hiking. There are three choices when hiking in and around Red River. The first is the Red River Nature Trail. This trail is great for beginners, people adjusting to the high altitude, children, or anyone just looking for a beautiful walk. It runs along the base of the mountain by the Red River and is a great introduction to what Red River has to offer.
The second choice includes a more vertical challenge of climbing the many mountains in the area. Most have beautiful meadows, creek crossings, waterfalls, aspen grove, and lakes along the way. These hikes are moderate to difficult climbs and altitude must be considered. Someone in our group always will be up for this challenge.
The third hiking option, and the one our group chose this year, is hiking the Wild River Recreation Area. It is located within the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument and along the Rio Grande and Red River. We hiked the 2-mile Big Arsenic Trail to the bottom of the Rio Grande. The canyon ecosystem descends 800 feet from rim to river, creating a unique diversity in plant and animal life. Ancient pinon and juniper forests include 500-year-old trees.
Our last day of the annual vacation trek in the mountains is watching college football from the Bull-of-the-Woods – the favorite watering hole in town.
J. David Chapman is professor of finance and real estate at the University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).