22 Mar Cloudcroft, NM

Cloud Climbing Railroad RV Park

While exploring White Sands National Park we stayed at the Cloud Climbin Railroad RV Park, we will definitely return to this area in the fall months. The entire area is surrounded by apple farms and mountains. It was stunning, and the weather was completely different between Whites Sands and the rv park. In the summer it would be a wonderful break from the heat of the sand dunes. There are only 7 spaces at this little gem of a park located right off US-82 but there was very little noise. All of the spots are gravel (fairly level) and have full hookups with views of the mountains. The park host came out to greet us and could not have been more welcoming.

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We arrived and set up in the early evening with temperatures in the 50’s and woke to snow coming down and covering everything. There is plenty to explore and enjoy in this area, our first stop was The Old Apple Barn. We had a great chat with the sweet woman working that day and spent over an hour wandering around this store packed with fun items. They make Apple and Pecan pies daily in their own kitchen, we had the apple and it was delicious!! Next door is the WIld Game restaurant serving items like wild boar, and bison sausages and burgers. We planned to have dinner and try a burger but during the “off season” they are only open for lunch.

Just up the road a few miles you will hit downtown Cloudcroft, a breathtaking little town at the top of the mountain. Plenty of cute stores to browse through and cafes to grab a meal. While we were there the snow was really coming down and creating a dreamy feel to this small town lined with tall fir and pine trees and cabins. Due to the weather conditions we were unable to take the full hike so only stopped to take photos at the Mexican Canyon Trestle, built in 1889 and on the National Register of Historic Places. At 323 feet long and the height of a six-story building, the wooden trestle is stunning!