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Questa Ranger District
District Office Information
184 State Hwy 38
Mail to: P.O. Box 110
Questa, NM 87556
Phone: (575) 586-0520
Fax: (575) 586-2010
Hours: Call before visiting.
Office hours - closed on Federal holidays
Products, including fuelwood permits, are not being sold at this time.
The Questa Ranger District is managed for many multi-use purposes; hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling, camping and personal firewood cutting are among the activities. It is nearly 271,555 acres and is located just south of the Colorado border in northern New Mexico. The district includes the communities of Taos Ski Valley, Questa, and Red River.
The district is perhaps best known for skiing opportunities and the Valle Vidal, a special management area considered by many as a crown jewel of northern New Mexico.
The Valle Vidal is a sprawling, 100,000-acre swath of lush meadows, dense forests, craggy peaks and clear streams. After July 1, it's open season on the indigenous Rio Grande Cutthroat trout in the Rio Costilla and the other creeks that run through the area. The first few weeks after the opening of the highly regarded unit attract a hefty amount of visitors looking to wet a line in the legendary Rio Costilla.
Three of the Carson's four ski areas are located on the Questa District. Taos Ski Valley is a premiere destination resort. The base is at 9,207 feet with the highest peak being Kachina Peak at 12,481 feet. Red River Ski Area is located about 35 miles northeast of Taos and offers 57 trails to ski on. The Enchanted Forest is a crosscountry ski area on the district, which offers stunning mountain vistas along meandering forest trails for both skiing and snowshoeing. During the summer, all ski areas offer a wide range of activities from mountain biking to disc golf and downhill slides.
Donated to the Carson National Forest in 1982, the Valle Vidal is well known for its wildlife, as well as its outstanding scenic and recreational opportunities. The Valle Vidal is a veritable Rocky Mountain paradise, with abundant populations of regional wildlife, including mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, bald eagles, and native Rio Grande cutthroat trout. In addition, the vast alpine meadows of the Valle Vidal provide critical habitat for one of the largest herds of elk in New Mexico. The Valle Vidal is a special place to New Mexicans and people from around the world, who come to marvel at its alpine majesty, enjoy outdoor recreation and sporting opportunities, and to view the Valle's prized elk herd.
Some of the area's most dramatic hikes are in this area, with scenes that are reminiscent of landscapes from the "Sound of Music."
Activities
Mountain Biking
Areas for Mountain Biking at Questa Ranger District
Campground Camping
Areas for Campground Camping at Questa Ranger District
- Cabresto Lake Campground
- Cebolla Mesa
- Cimarron Campground
- Columbine Campground
- Cuchilla Campground
- Cuchillo Del Medio Campground
- Elephant Rock Campground
- Fawn Lakes Campground
- Goat Hill Campground
- Junebug Campground
- La Bobita Campground
- Lower Hondo Campground
- McCrystal Campground
- Twining Campground
- Valle Vidal Unit
Dispersed Camping
Dispersed Camping is available on the Valle Vidal Unit
Areas for Dispersed Camping at Questa Ranger District
Lake and Pond Fishing
Areas for Lake and Pond Fishing at Questa Ranger District
- Cabresto Lake Campground
- Eagle Rock Lake Fishing
- Goose Lake Fishing
- Horseshoe Lake Fishing
- Lost Lake Trail 91
- Middle Fork/West Fork Road Trail 487
- Shuree Ponds Fishing
- Valle Vidal Unit
River and Stream Fishing
Areas for River and Stream Fishing at Questa Ranger District
- Cebolla Mesa
- Cimarron Campground
- Columbine Campground
- Columbine Creek Fishing
- Costilla Creek Fishing
- Cuchilla Campground
- Cuchillo Del Medio Campground
- Eagle Rock Lake Fishing
- Elephant Rock Campground
- Goat Hill Campground
- Goose Lake Fishing
- Junebug Campground
- McCrystal Campground
- Middle Ponil Creek Fishing
- Red River Fishing
- Rio Grande Fishing
- Twining Campground
- Valle Vidal Unit
Day Hiking
Areas for Day Hiking at Questa Ranger District
- 4th of July Canyon Trail
- Bull Creek Trail 85
- Bull Creek Trail 85
- Cabresto Lake Campground
- Cebolla Mesa
- Cimarron Campground
- Columbine - Twining N.R.T. Trail 64, 69
- Columbine Campground
- Columbine Canyon Trail (#71)
- Cuchilla Campground
- Cuchillo Del Medio Campground
- East Fork Trail 56
- Elephant Rock Campground
- Exploration Trail
- Fawn Lakes Campground
- Gavilan Trail (#60)
- Goat Hill Campground
- Goose Creek Trail 65
- Goose Lake/Gold Hill Trail
- Heart Lake Trail 85
- Horseshoe Lake/East Fork Trail 56
- Italianos Canyon Trail #59
- Junebug Campground
- Lake Fork Trail
- Lake Fork Trail 82
- Lobo Peak Trail #57
- Long Canyon Trail 63
- Lost Lake Trail 91
- Lower Hondo Campground
- Manzanita Canyon Trail 58
- Middle Fork/West Fork Road Trail 487
- Midnight Trail
- Pioneer Creek Trail
- Pioneer Road 485 Trail
- Placer Fork Trail # 72
- Powderhouse-Little Costilla Peak Trail
- San Cristobal Canyon Trail 78
- Sawmill Park Trail 55
- Twining Campground
- Valle Vidal Unit
- Wheeler Peak Summit Trail (#67)
- Wheeler Peak Trail (#90)
- Williams Lake Trail (#62)
- Yerba Canyon Trail (#61)
Backpacking
Areas for Backpacking at Questa Ranger District
- Bull Creek Trail 85
- Cabresto Lake Campground
- Columbine - Twining N.R.T. Trail 64, 69
- East Fork Trail 56
- Gavilan Trail (#60)
- Heart Lake Trail 85
- Horseshoe Lake/East Fork Trail 56
- Italianos Canyon Trail #59
- Long Canyon Trail 63
- Lost Lake Trail 91
- Manzanita Canyon Trail 58
- Midnight Trail
- San Cristobal Canyon Trail 78
- Sawmill Park Trail 55
- Wheeler Peak Trail (#90)
- Yerba Canyon Trail (#61)
Horse Riding
Areas for Horse Riding at Questa Ranger District
- 4th of July Canyon Trail
- Bull Creek Trail 85
- Bull Creek Trail 85
- Cimarron Campground
- Columbine - Twining N.R.T. Trail 64, 69
- Columbine Canyon Trail (#71)
- East Fork Trail 56
- Exploration Trail
- Gavilan Trail (#60)
- Goose Creek Trail 65
- Goose Lake/Gold Hill Trail
- Greenie Peak/Midnight Meadows Trail
- Heart Lake Trail 85
- Horseshoe Lake/East Fork Trail 56
- Italianos Canyon Trail #59
- Lake Fork Trail
- Lake Fork Trail 82
- Lobo Peak Trail #57
- Long Canyon Trail 63
- Lost Lake Trail 91
- Manzanita Canyon Trail 58
- McCrystal Campground
- Middle Fork/West Fork Road Trail 487
- Midnight Trail
- Pioneer Creek Trail
- Pioneer Road 485 Trail
- Placer Fork Trail # 72
- Powderhouse-Little Costilla Peak Trail
- San Cristobal Canyon Trail 78
- Sawmill Park Trail 55
- Valle Vidal Unit
- Wheeler Peak Trail (#90)
- Williams Lake Trail (#62)
- Willow Fork Trail #104
- Yerba Canyon Trail (#61)
OHV Trail Riding
Areas for OHV Trail Riding at Questa Ranger District
Picnicking
Areas for Picnicking at Questa Ranger District
- Cabresto Lake Campground
- Cebolla Mesa
- Cimarron Campground
- Columbine Campground
- Cuchilla Campground
- Cuchillo Del Medio Campground
- Eagle Rock Lake Fishing
- Elephant Rock Campground
- Fawn Lakes Campground
- Goat Hill Campground
- Junebug Campground
- La Bobita Campground
- Lower Hondo Campground
- McCrystal Campground
- Twining Campground
Sledding/Tubing
Areas for Sledding/Tubing at Questa Ranger District
Skiing/Snowboarding
Areas for Skiing/Snowboarding at Questa Ranger District
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
Areas for XC Skiing/Snowshoeing at Questa Ranger District
- 4th of July Canyon Trail
- Bull Creek Trail 85
- Columbine Canyon Trail (#71)
- Ditch Cabin to Sawmill Park Trail
- East Fork Trail 56
- Exploration Trail
- Gavilan Trail (#60)
- Goose Creek Trail 65
- Greenie Peak/Midnight Meadows Trail
- Horseshoe Lake/East Fork Trail 56
- Lake Fork Trail
- Long Canyon Trail 63
- Lost Lake Trail 91
- Mallette Canyon Trail
- Manzanita Canyon Trail 58
- Middle Fork/West Fork Road Trail 487
- Pioneer Creek Trail
- Pioneer Road 485 Trail
- Powderhouse-Little Costilla Peak Trail
- Valle Vidal Unit
- Wheeler Peak Trail (#90)
- Williams Lake Trail (#62)
Snowmobiling
Areas for Snowmobiling at Questa Ranger District
Location