Outdoor Recreation

Early November is a quieter, gentler time to watch elk in the Moreno Valley. The bugling that echoed across the meadows around Angel Fire in late September and early October has faded, the rut is over, and herds are settling into the serious business of feeding and regaining strength before winter. On a still morning, you may find cows, calves, and young elk grazing in open meadows near the forest edge, heads down in the dry grasses, lifting now and then to scan the valley.

Saturday, October 31, 2026

From Angel Fire, the Enchanted Circle runs north through Eagle Nest and up NM-38 to Red River, and just beyond that town the road gives way to one of northern New Mexico's great motorized climbs. Greenie Peak rises to 11,221 feet and is known locally as the highest peak in New Mexico that can be reached by a motorized vehicle. Late October is the tail end of its season, which is exactly why it rewards a careful, well-timed visit.