Best Day Trips from Eagle Nest, New Mexico, in the Summer.

What could be the best day trips from Eagle Nest, New Mexico?

After driving through Eagle Nest in northern New Mexico several times, including stopping for lunch one day, we parked our teardrop trailer there for seven days in the summer.

Our son went to Baldy Mountain with his Boy Scouts troop, and we decided to make Eagle Nest our base to explore that part of New Mexico.

We wanted to be close enough to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron to see them leaving for their adventure to Baldy Mountain, and when they return.

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Eagle Nest is a haven for fishermen, but we are not one of them. Ok, don’t roll your eyes, please. Haha. I’m open to experiencing fishing at Eagle Nest State Park–one of these days.

In the meantime, I still enjoy what I like to do, doing road trips and day trips to off-beaten places. Sometimes to heavy touristy destinations.

Check out Discover Cars if you’re looking for rentals.

After searching the websites, I came up with this list of day trips from Eagle Nest, New Mexico, for summer vacation.

Best Day Trips from Eagle Nest, New Mexico, in the Summer.

Here are our day trips from Eagle Nest, New Mexico, that you may want to consider taking when staying in the village, from the closest to the farthest:

DAY TRIP TO CIMARRON

Distance: 24 miles to the east.

Things to do in Cimarron:

– First thing to do is hike the Clear Creek Trail. It is a 4.2-mile out-and-back, moderately challenging route on US-64. I hiked this trail with my dog and felt safe.

– Stop at Palisades Sill. It is a beautiful scenery of rock formations with a canyon stream alongside it.

– Visit downtown Cimarron. Explore the Aztec Mill Museum and the National Scouting Museum at Philmont Scout Ranch, do antique and rock shopping, do a self-guided tour at the historic haunted St. James Hotel, and have lunch at the hotel.    

– Drive to Rayado on NM-21 to visit the Kit Carson Museum. There are blacksmiths, hands-on activities, and free guided tours with actors/tour guides in period dress.

– Don’t miss the Tooth of Time rock outcropping between downtown Cimarron and Rayado.

Restaurants in Cimarron:

– Lambert’s Bar and Restaurant inside the historic St. James Hotel. We enjoyed lunch here. Our son and the troop went to eat here after returning from Mount Baldy.

– Burrito Banquet. We love their burritos. You will see a lot of Boy Scouts here. It’s an outdoor setting.

– Kit Carson Restaurant.

– Cree-Mee Drive Inn. It’s a good place to enjoy a creemee – a Vermont soft serve ice cream – when it’s hot in Cimarron. I asked the worker if the owner came from Vermont, but she didn’t know.

– Cimarron House of Pizza.

DAY TRIP TO RATON

Distance: 65.5 miles to the east.

Things to do around Raton:

– Stop at Dawson Cemetery. It is a historical landmark where many people who were buried here from two different mine explosions in 1913 and 1922.

– Go to Capulin Volcano National Monument. It’s a cool place to learn about a cinder cone volcano. We have visited this National Monument many times on the way to Colorado from Texas.

– Visit Sugarite Canyon State Park. We only stopped at the Visitor Center and drove around the park, but our friends enjoyed paddleboarding here. 

– Do a short hike on the Climax Canyon Trail in the city. (time permitting)

– Drive to Goat Hill, where the city sign is. (time permitting)

– Stroll around downtown. (time permitting)   

Restaurants in Raton:

– Pappa’s Sweet Shop.

– Bruno’s Pizza and Wings.

– Portillos.

– Colfax Ale Cellar.

DAY TRIP TO LAS VEGAS, NM.

Distance: 77 miles to the south.

Things to do in Las Vegas, NM:

– Do a historic walking (driving) tour while hunting for movie locations. Several movies were filmed in Las Vegas, like No Country for Old Men, Red Dawn, Longmire, The Astronaut Farmer, and more.   

– Find the Calumet Cowgirl mural and others. You can do this while doing the historic walking/driving tour.

– Walk around the Plaza. There are lots of historic buildings, including the Castenada Hotels.

– There’s a Montezuma Hot Springs outside of the city. The Hot Spring Community Agreement posted by the entrance says no smoking/vaping and no dogs, among other things. But that’s what a group of people did when I stopped there. Smoking, one was holding his small dog, and LOUD! I left after dipping my toes in the water. Cross your fingers for better luck on your visit.

– Visit Fort Union National Monument in Watrous on the way back to Eagle Nest. You will take I-25 N.

Restaurants in Las Vegas, NM:

– The Skillet. I like their tacos. Our dog could sit outside on the patio with us. I saw that almost every table ordered its Ribbon Fries.

– Charlie’s Spic & Span Bakery & Cafe. We stopped here for their famous Cream Puffs, but they were sold out! I saw lots of people eating here.

– JC’s New York Pizza Department. It was suggested by a local for people who like pizza.

DAY TRIP TO TAOS AND THE ENCHANTED CIRCLE

Distance: 84 miles.

Things to do in Taos and Enchanted Circle:

– Visit Taos Pueblo. It is dog-friendly.

– On the way out to do Enchanted Circle, make a detour to Rio Grande Gorge Bridge on US-64 W.

– Stop at Red River Fish Hatchery before Questa. 

– In Questa, you may want to visit Artesanos de Questa.

– Or, last time we drove the Enchanted Circle, I saw the sign of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. It is in a remote area, where the Apollo 15 astronauts were training along the rim of the Rio Grande. I followed the sign, and it took forever to get there.  

– Take a break in Red River.

– You will drive through Bobcat Pass.

– Watch for the Elizabethtown sign, the old gold mining town. We always missed the sign, though.  

Restaurants in Taos:

– The Burger Stand @ Taos Ale House. We stopped here because they have a patio where we could sit with our dog, and we didn’t want to go back to town before continuing with the drive of the Enchanted Circle. Burgers and fries were delicious.

– La Cueva Cafe.

– La Terraza de Taos Cocina.

– Dairy Bar in Red River. We stopped here for ice cream and shakes.

DAY TRIP TO LOS ALAMOS

Distance: 93 miles to the southwest.

Things to do in Los Alamos:

– Take a self-guided Pueblo Loop Trail and climb to cavates (small human-carved alcoves) in Bandelier National Monument. If you are up for a more challenging climb and not afraid of height, go to Alcove House, 140 feet above the floor of Frijoles Canyon.

– Visit the Bradbury Science Museum.

– Walk around the Manhattan Project National Historical Park with stops at the Los Alamos History Museum and Oppenheimer House. Don’t forget to take selfies with Oppenheimer and General Leslie statues.

– Explore the Los Alamos Nature Center.   

Restaurants in downtown Los Alamos:

– Yuan’s Dumpling and Noodle House.

– Origami.

– Beaf and Leaf Cafe.

– Pajarito Brewpub and Grill.

Restaurants in White Rock, the gateway to the Bandelier National Monument:

– Pig and Fig Cafe. Don’t forget to order their Sweet & Spicy Brussels Sprouts.

– JR’s BB+.

– Hungry Bear Food Truck.

– El Rigoberto’s Tacos White Rock.

– Sirphey at Bandelier. It is next to the Bandelier NM Visitor Center. A new friend I met at the park had lunch here. She said their Green Chile Cheeseburger was delicious.

DAY TRIP TO SANTA FE

Distance: 99 miles to the south.

Things to do in Santa Fe:

– Visit the three old churches in downtown Santa Fe: San Miguel Mission Church, Loretto Chapel, and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

– Walk around the historic Santa Fe Plaza. I am always amazed by the unique adobe architecture in town. Santa Fe is a different capital in the country.

– Walk or drive along Canyon Road Arts District.

– Take the highway to Taos on the way back to Eagle Nest.  

Book this Santa Fe Historic Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour for a personal history lesson of the old churches, important figures, the Pueblo Revolt, and the Spanish reconquest.

Restaurants in Santa Fe:

– Cowgirl BBQ. We like their Mother of all Green Chile Cheeseburger, Chili Relleno, Chile Cheddar Fries, and Ice Cream Baked Potato. They have outdoor seating where our dog could sit with us.

– The Shed.

– Coyote Cafe & Rooftop Cantina. 

Or take this Santa Fe Food Tour that includes three food tastings, one wine tasting, a walking tour, and a guide.

There you go. I hope these suggestions will help your stay in Eagle Nest be memorable like ours.

Let’s see what you can do in Eagle Nest.

Things to do in Eagle Nest, New Mexico.

– Stroll through the village. 

– Fishing for trout and salmon at Eagle Nest Lake State Park.

– Kayak, canoe, row, or paddleboard on Eagle Nest Lake State Park.

– Hike the Eagle Nest Lake Trail. It’s dog-friendly.

– Visit Eagle Nest Visitor Center & Gateway Museum.

– Enjoy hand-crafted beers at Comanche Creek Brewing Company.

– Stop at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire.

Where to eat in Eagle Nest, New Mexico?

I was shocked to see a Thai Restaurant across our RV Campground in Eagle Nest.

Eagle Nest is a small village in north central New Mexico. It is home to fewer than 300 people year-round. So you know why I was shocked.

We ate at Thai Angel Restaurant (that’s the name of the restaurant) twice. Both were in the evening when we didn’t feel like cooking after the long day trips. I liked their Red Curry and Drunken Noodle. My husband enjoyed their Pad Thai.

Another place we tried was Kaw-Lija’s, when we drove through the village several years ago. We enjoyed their burgers and fries, and ended with ice cream.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to eat at all the restaurants in the village. My husband cooked breakfast every morning, we were out during the day, and most restaurants were closed when we arrived back in Eagle Nest.

Here are other restaurants that you may want to check: Eagle Nest Cafe, Lucky Shoe Bar and Grille, Laguna Vista Restaurant, and Golden Eagle Grill.

Eagle Nest, NM Weather in the Summer.

July is the hottest month in Eagle Nest, with an average high temperature of 78°F! June average high is 75°F, and August is 76°F. Don’t you love it?

The lowest average temperature in July and August is 42°F, while in June it is 37°F. So, yeah, you still need to bring a hoodie or a jacket.

We had to turn on our heater in the trailer overnight. Haha.

But when we traveled to Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Taos, Cimarron, Raton, or Los Alamos, the temperature during the day was in the 90s in some places. It was in the 100s when we visited the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument near Questa.