Cloudcroft camping and site seeing--recommendations? (Roswell, Alamogordo: motorhomes, neighborhoods, school district)

[crazyme4878]

We are going camping around Cloudcroft, arriving this Monday. We tent camp, have two small boys, and like somewhere rustic and quiet (well, quiet meaning not a lot of people--my boys are definately not quiet!). Deerhead looked good. The one photo I saw on-line was nice, the write-up said that it was popular with the elk herd, and that there was a steep, winding road to the campground, so no motorhomes allowed. Has anyone stayed at this campground? How far off the paved road is it? We only have a Saturn sedan, so we don't want to go too far on a horrible road. But that said, we did make it to Rustlers' Park in the Chihuahuas okay. (For those unfamiliar with Rustlers' Park, it is at the top of a mountain, at the end of a very, very horrible one-lane well-rutted road!).

Are there any other campgrounds you would suggest?

What are your favorite things to do while in the Cloudcroft area? We like hiking and playing in streams. Caves and neat natural areas are high on the list, too.

And one off-subject question: we are also visiting the area to check it out a little more before a possible job comes up in the area. Is there anyone out there that could tell us what neighborhoods are nicer than others? I know, its a small town, but I thought I would ask.

Thanks a bunch!

[Sparkey]

"...And one off-subject question: we are also visiting the area to check it out a little more before a possible job comes up in the area. Is there anyone out there that could tell us what neighborhoods are nicer than others? I know, its a small town, but I thought I would ask..."

Oh dear Crazyme ~ Consider neighborhood looking outside the Village limits. There are many great neighborhoods that would be great places to raise youngins'. These areas are within the Clouldcroft zip code and school district. Walk down Burro Ave., lots of realtors, lots of pictures.

If you enjoy close proximity with your neighbors, in the village is great. I love Cloudcroft. That's why I wanted to move here for thirty years, and finally did!

I also enjoy living deeper in the forest. That's why I chose a neighborhood out on the mountain.

Good luck to you and your little campers.

[6 FOOT 3]

Deerhead, Black Bear and Aspen are about a mile south of Cloudcroft as you first enter from the west turn where the sign says Sunspot. There's Sleepygrass as that's a little farther down the road. Then there are Apache and Silver Camgrounds on the Mescalero Reservation just north of Cloudcroft on the Inn of the Mountain Gods road. The first 3 i mentioned are right off the road with little to travel on the dirt roads.

I know the ''Rails to Trails'' are popular there to hike on. Also some of the Rim Trails are along the Sunspot Hyway.You have to go see Haines Vista about 2 miles from the turn onto the Sunspot Hyway as you will be right on the Rim overlooking to the Valley 10,000 ft below and you can see White Sands all spread out as i'ts just an awesome view.Stop by the Cloudcroft Chamber on the main road thru town as it's in a little log cabin as they have lots of info

To me the whole town looks the same as i would feel safe anywhere in town there. Have fun !!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.cloudcroft.net/recreation/

[Pintada Kid]

Ive only been to Cloudcroft once in my lifetime from Alamogordo in the Summer to Cloudcroft temps of about 15 or 20 degrees difference. I remember lots of Steep winding Roads but what stood out in my mind was the Tunnel and the parking spots next to the Tunnel where you can crawl on your Stomach if youre afraid of Heights on a Flat Rock and look down the Canyon way down below. <<<<<<DANGER<<<<<<.... I suggest to watch your kids on some of these Cliffs the Wind can come from behind you Suddenly and push you off. Also i would think the Rattlers are out in that area even at the High Elevation and when it rains the Rattlers get wet and they dont Rattle. Caution little kids running around can hit small Cactuses with the sides of their feet and it can be Painful and i always taught my kids to walk around bushes that could have a Rattler resting in the Shade. Remember that the Sun can kill a Rattler so they like the nice cool places...... Wild Animals like Bears and Cougars and Mountain Lions and Bob Cats can be a Danger to Humans and you can become Food so if approached by a 300 lb Animal take off your backpack or shirt and drop it and try to Slowly get to your Vehicle making sure not to Trip or Faint. You might have to take off all your Wardrobe if you are kind of far from your Vehicle but it might save your life. Also DONT EAT a Cheeseburger and Fries right before you go hiking its telling the Wild Animals Eat Me. pintada kid at webtv.net

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by Pintada Kid

You might have to take off all your Wardrobe if you are kind of far from your Vehicle but it might save your life.

Yeah and i can see the look on the Judge's face as i'm trying to explain why i'm running around in the forest naked....

[crazyme4878]

Originally Posted by 6/3

Deerhead, Black Bear and Aspen are about a mile south of Cloudcroft as you first enter from the west turn where the sign says Sunspot. There's Sleepygrass as that's a little farther down the road. Then there are Apache and Silver Camgrounds on the Mescalero Reservation just north of Cloudcroft on the Inn of the Mountain Gods road. The first 3 i mentioned are right off the road with little to travel on the dirt roads.

I know the ''Rails to Trails'' are popular there to hike on. Also some of the Rim Trails are along the Sunspot Hyway.You have to go see Haines Vista about 2 miles from the turn onto the Sunspot Hyway as you will be right on the Rim overlooking to the Valley 10,000 ft below and you can see White Sands all spread out as i'ts just an awesome view.Stop by the Cloudcroft Chamber on the main road thru town as it's in a little log cabin as they have lots of info

To me the whole town looks the same as i would feel safe anywhere in town there. Have fun !!!!!!!!!!!

Things to do, Activities and Recreation around Cloudcroft

Thanks for the info. I'm glad to hear that the campgrounds are close to the road--we want to explore the area, so we don't want to go down 10 miles of potentially bad dirt roads everytime. Plus it will be easier to check them out before deciding. I'm also glad to here about the rim trails on the Sunspot Hwy.; hopefully we will go to the observatory's visitor center, which I think is down that road (my son loves space!). I think I have already seen the Haines Vista--I think that is where I almost drove off the road! When we were moving from MI to AZ, I got lost in Roswell (I know, on one hand--how?! On the other--well, cue the spooky music!), so I ended up taking the county highways instead of the interstate and went through Cloudcroft. I remember driving into Cloudcroft from the east and thinking "this would be an awesome place to live." And then, of course, I got to the western end and going down the mountain...unfortunately, I couldn't stop (I mean, I couldn't stop to explore, not that I couldn't stop the car...)

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by crazyme4878

." And then, of course, I got to the western end and going down the mountain...unfortunately, I couldn't stop (I mean, I couldn't stop to explore, not that I couldn't stop the car...)

Yeap the western side from Cloudcroft to Alamogordo and Viceversa is extremely different than the gentle climb/decline going to and from Artesia on the eastern side. You'll see all the Truck Runaway ramps going down the hill.

[chilegal]

Originally Posted by 6/3

Yeap the western side from Cloudcroft to Alamogordo and Viceversa is extremely different than the gentle climb/decline going to and from Artesia on the eastern side. You'll see all the Truck Runaway ramps going down the hill.

And they are working on the road by the tunnel so you can't stop and check that stop out.
Have fun andbring a raincoat... its beeen raining about every afternoon this week.
Jane

[crazyme4878]

Originally Posted by chilegal

And they are working on the road by the tunnel so you can't stop and check that stop out.
Have fun andbring a raincoat... its beeen raining about every afternoon this week.
Jane

I was wondering if you were getting as much rain as us. Thanks for mentioning it, or I might have forgotten to bring my son's umbrella--and then I would have been in trouble! Its his new favorite pasttime (playing in the rain), but he has a hard time understanding that simply bringing mom or dad outside doesn't stop the lightening!

Does anyone have a favorite trail? My son can hike about 3 miles.

[chilegal]

Originally Posted by crazyme4878

Does anyone have a favorite trail? My son can hike about 3 miles.

I can't help you there, but if you want to "play" in Timberon e-mail me and I will get you to my place. I can give you the tour..
Jane