2025's Towns In New Mexico That Come Alive In The Fall

New Mexico, the “Land of Enchantment,” truly does enchant travelers with its diverse terrain, deep cultural heritage, and dramatic light. Autumn is one of the state’s best-kept secrets: cooler air, sweeping vistas of yellow and orange, and lively community spirit. Generally, the highest elevations in northern New Mexico hit peak color in late September; mid-altitude mountain zones brighten in early to mid-October; and river valleys and foothills often peak by late October to early November. If you have been considering a trip to the American Southwest in fall 2025, check out our list of New Mexico towns where leaf-peeping, local events, and nature intersect beautifully.

Jemez Springs

Jemez Springs sits in a canyon of the Jemez Mountains and offers a striking mix of geothermal features and autumn color, the latter often peaking in mid-October. For fall color lovers, the Jemez Mountain Trail Scenic Byway is a prime route, and the hike to Jemez Falls offers a cool cascade framed by yellow foliage. In 2025, the Valles Caldera Fall Fiesta, running Oct. 4 through Oct. 12, will provide daily ranger-led hikes, cultural demonstrations, stargazing, and an artisan village. Also, make sure to visit the historic San José de los Jémez Mission and Giusewa Pueblo site just north of town, which can be especially atmospheric in autumn’s golden light.

Taos

Taos blends artistic culture, pueblo history, and sweeping mountain scenery. The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway (which begins and ends in Taos) is legendary for fall color, typically peaking in late September into early October. Along the byway, spots like Bobcat Pass or Cabresto Lake deliver dramatic aspen views. Meanwhile, hikes up towards Wheeler Peak or along the Rio Grande Gorge Trail offer immersive foliage experiences. Downtown galleries and the Taos Pueblo (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) make for compelling cultural stops, while the town’s annual Halloween Community Event offers seasonal fun for the whole family.

Cloudcroft

Cloudcroft, at nearly 9,000 feet, is one of the earliest places in the state to show fall color. Aspens and maples along the Sunspot Scenic Byway typically blaze by late September, making this a top early-fall destination. A scenic drive up to Sunspot or through the Lincoln National Forest delivers superb leaf-peeping opportunities. Because of the elevation, snow can even dust the hills in late October. The town is a perfect setting for autumn community events, such as the annual Cloudcroft Fall Festival, held on Oct. 25, 2025. Cloudcroft also serves as an access point for several hiking trails, including the Sacramento North Trail, which has an elevation change of nearly 500 feet in under 1.5 miles.

Ruidoso

Perched in the Sierra Blanca mountains about 45 miles north of Cloudcroft, Ruidoso is a high-altitude refuge where aspens and oaks burst with color by late September or early October. The Sunspot Scenic Byway connects from Cloudcroft through forested slopes and offers memorable leaf-peeping views. Locally, AspenFest is the signature fall celebration, returning Oct. 4, 2025, with a downtown parade and festival at Wingfield Park featuring live music, artisan vendors, food, and a car show. You can also ride or walk nearby trails or head toward the nearby historic town of Lincoln, where stories of Billy the Kid and Old West history come alive against a golden backdrop.

Silver City

Silver City, near the Gila National Forest, gives visitors access to riverside oaks, cottonwoods, and junipers that often peak in mid-to-late October. A favorite leaf-peeping drive is through the forested roads toward the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Also, the nearby Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument preserves 800-year-old ruins tucked into cliffs surrounded by fall color. For a cultural highlight, the Southwest Print Fiesta, held Oct. 10 through Oct. 13 in 2025, celebrates printmakers and printed works of all types. 2025 is also the inaugural year for the Silver Lode Scramble (Oct. 19), which features the unique sport of pack burro racing.

Chama

Tucked near the Colorado border, Chama offers one of the most picturesque fall train rides in the US. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad chugs through aspen-lined slopes and cottonwood corridors, typically peaking in late September to early October, making this ride a must for autumn color lovers. Off the rails, hiking in the Chama River Canyon or the surrounding forest roads also gives immersive foliage access. Chama’s community event calendar is pretty sparse between Labor Day and the beginning of December, letting the fall colors take center stage, but downtown remains lively with a range of local shops, multiple bed-and-breakfasts, and beloved local eateries like Fina’s Diner.

Madrid

Madrid, a former mining town turned creative enclave, sits along the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, about halfway between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. During the peak season in mid-to-late October, the cottonwoods in Madrid Canyon and along Molyneux Creek glow golden. For an elevated view of the fall colors, make the one-hour drive to experience the world-famous Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (Oct. 4 to Oct. 12). Back in town, you can learn more about the region's history of boom, bust, and rebirth at the Madrid Old Coal Town Museum, which is located on the same property as the popular Mine Shaft Tavern.

Autumn Enchantment

All across New Mexico, fall weaves together landscape, tradition, and community. In the small towns profiled above, you will find a signature leaf-peeping route to explore, a community event or festival to enjoy, and local surprises — like historic ruins, hot springs, and railroads — to deepen your travel experience. New Mexico’s peak autumn foliage season spreads out for over a month in different parts of the state, so you have plenty of options for timing your visit. Whether you chase high-elevation aspens or stroll riverside groves, New Mexico in the fall is a mosaic worth exploring.