Things To Do
Golf at the Lodge at Cloudcroft
This golf course is one of North America’s oldest and is celebrating its 125th season in 2024. At over 9,000 feet in elevation, it is the 5th highest in the US! NOTE: For those interested in a round of golf, you should visit the website to reserve a tee time ahead. The Lodge warns that tee times can book up in the summer.
Cloudcroft Disc Golf Course
For those frisking for a discing, this is the local venue to rip. Discs not provided. No tee times are required, but hiking shoes are!
White Sands National Park
The world's largest gypsum dunefield, it truly lives up to its name. The famous white sands are seafloor remnants from the ancient Permian Sea and contain the oldest found traces of humans in North America-- footprints over 20,000 years old! The highlight of White Sands is sledding down the dunes, so plan ahead to procure a saucer sled or buy one from the gift store. Please be aware that there is no shade and the sun is very intense here. The drive to White Sands is about 45 minutes from Cloudcroft. This is a national park, so there is a $25 fee per car unless you have annual or golden parks pass.
Sunspot Solar Observatory
Take a beautiful half-hour drive to the Sunspot Solar Observatory with scenic views of the Sacramento Mountains and Tularosa basin below. The towering Dunn Solar Telescope was the most powerful instrument of its kind for decades following its creation in 1969 and continues to contribute important observations of the sun to this day. The visitor center and facility is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a small entrance fee.
Hike #1: Osha Trail
The Osha Trail is a mellow 2.5-mile loop just on the outskirts of Cloudcroft through some pleasant forest land. The main Osha trailhead is located just west of Cloudcroft at the junction of U.S. 82 and Muchachita Street just up the road from the Mexican Canyon Trestle Vista. It should be easy to find on the right side if you head west out of town. Parking is available at this site.
Hike #2: Trestle Recreation Area
The top track Alamagordo-Sacramento Mountain Railway, the famous "Cloud-Climbing Railroad!" Once the highest standard gauge railroad in the world, the line would transport lumber from the surrounding forest down to sawmills in Alamogordo and wealthy passengers escaping the heat up from El Paso. The steepness of route necessitated a number of innovations, including switchbacks and an s-curve. Just outside of town, at the Trestle Recreation Area, there are number of trails that follow the remains of the old railroad and its trestles, the most impressive of which is the iconic Mexican Canyon Trestle. The trails are relatively short but hilly with great views below. There is a small access fee for the site, unless you have a national lands pass.
Hike(s) #3: Lincoln National Forest Trails
There are lots of trails in the surrounding Sacramento District of the Lincoln National Forest. The Cloudcroft Ranger Station close to the Lodge has trail maps and information. If you cruise down the Sunspot Scenic Byway (State Road 6563), there are a number of trailheads and bucolic picnic areas in the aspen to check out. Bluff Springs is a nice area about a half hour away, with the Willy White trails that follow the remnants of some decaying logging railroad lines. The Rim Trail is a longer trail with a number of access points. Note: This time of year, parts of the forest will be crowded with Texans cruising their ATVs around the trails.
McGinn's PistachioLand
This place claims to have the world's largest pistachio.