Cimarron Canyon State Park runs for about twelve miles along the Cimarron River on US-64, roughly 30 miles southeast of Angel Fire. The highway descends from the high valley through a dramatic slot of red and grey rock, with palisades of columnar basalt rising several hundred feet on both sides. The river below is one of New Mexico's finest wild trout streams — Gold Medal water under state designations — and fly-fishing for brown and rainbow trout draws visitors from across the region from spring through autumn.
The hiking is low-key but rewarding. Several trails climb out of the canyon bottom into ponderosa pine forest on the rim, giving you views back across the Moreno Valley and toward Wheeler Peak. The Cimarron River Trail follows the water for a few miles and stays easy enough for families. Wildlife is abundant: black bear, mule deer, and wild turkey are common, and the canyon is good birding territory year-round.
At the eastern end of the canyon, the small town of Cimarron was a key stop on the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail during the 1800s. Its centrepiece is the St. James Hotel, built in 1872, where the bullet holes still visible in the pressed-tin dining-room ceiling are genuine — the hotel's register includes names like Jesse James, Buffalo Bill, and Clay Allison. The hotel still operates and is worth a stop for lunch or a drink even if you're just passing through.
If you're combining the canyon visit with the Enchanted Circle drive, take US-64 east from Angel Fire, spend a couple of hours fishing or hiking, have lunch in Cimarron, and return via the same road — round trip is under two hours of driving. The canyon is particularly striking in autumn, when the cottonwoods along the river turn a sharp yellow against the dark rock walls.