Angel Fire is a small ski resort town tucked into the Moreno Valley at 8,600 feet, about 25 miles east of Taos. Where Taos Ski Valley attracts serious skiers with steep terrain, Angel Fire is the family-friendly alternative: gentler slopes, shorter lift lines, and the only half-pipe in New Mexico. The resort village itself is quiet and compact, with a handful of restaurants and shops along the main road.
Summer brings a different crowd. The Angel Fire Resort ski mountain converts to a mountain bike park, and the surrounding Carson National Forest offers hiking trails through alpine meadows and stands of aspen that turn brilliant gold in late September. Eagle Nest Lake, about fifteen minutes north, is a popular spot for trout fishing and kayaking. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, located just outside town, is a striking and moving monument worth a stop regardless of your reason for visiting.
Angel Fire works best as a base for exploring the Enchanted Circle, the 83-mile scenic loop that connects it with Taos, Red River, and Eagle Nest. The drive takes about two hours without stops, though the views of Wheeler Peak and the Sangre de Cristo range will tempt you to pull over repeatedly.