Someone once asked me what’s the best time to visit New Mexico. Well… it depends. I guess any time is good, but fall is twice as good as
any other season. It’s not as hot as summer, and if you time your visit
right, you can enjoy the beautiful and vibrant fall colors.
So,
we planned carefully, hoping to catch that perfect moment when the
Colorado mountains had already shed their golden beauty, but the colors
were just beginning farther south. On October 11th, we jumped in the car
and headed toward New Mexico. The forecast didn’t look too bad, but
once we passed Walsenburg, the clear blue sky began to change. We were
stunned to see a cloud shaped like a tornado stretching across the
horizon. Well… this trip was already promising a bit of adventure.
We weren’t in any rush and wanted to enjoy the drive, and part of
that joy is, of course, stopping. Our first stop was planned - La Veta, a
small town we discovered a few years ago and fell in love with (click
here to take a better look - Highway of Legends - La Veta and Stonewall...). The first time we visited was later in the
fall, around late October, and there weren’t nearly as many colors as
this year.
This time, though, we arrived just in time. The bright yellow and
orange leaves lifted our spirits, and the cloudy sky only added to the
mood. We were already thrilled with our timing and eager to see what
awaited us once we crossed the state line.
We walked along the sleepy streets, too early for most travelers to
appear, and, honestly, we liked it that way. Quiet, calm, and
peaceful.
We didn’t stay long - there was more road ahead, so after enjoying
the charm of the little town, we were back behind the wheel in less than
an hour.
And the road… oh, it promised something. With low clouds sitting
atop the surrounding mountains, the landscape looked almost dramatic, and we LOVED it.
It didn’t take long before we entered the rain. Not a downpour that
makes driving miserable, but not a drizzle either. Well, we’d wished
for adventure, and now we had to embrace it.
But mountain weather is never stable or predictable. About an hour
later, we emerged from the rain - just in time to cross the line between
Colorado and New Mexico. Exactly what we needed. We pulled over in
front of the “Welcome to New Mexico” sign and unpacked our sandwiches
for lunch.
We stood there for a while, admiring the cloudy hills and the sun
peeking through the white blanket above. It was simply beautiful.
But time was running short - we wanted to reach Taos before dark
(especially since we hadn’t taken the short and straight road). So, we
got back on the road… and, of course, the rain returned too.
After another hour, we left the highway to explore a side route,
something new, not the same drive we’d taken before. The scenery was
amazing. Low clouds wrapped around the distant trees, and everything
looked different from anything we’d ever seen in New Mexico.
That kind of weather doesn’t happen often here, even in the fall.
Rainy days are scarce, and October isn’t even one of the wetter months
(August takes that title, followed by September). The average rainfall
is only about 1.3 inches, just a third of what New York or Seattle get,
and typically, only four or five days in October bring rain at all.
Well… I guess this was one of those rare days, and we were lucky enough
to catch it.
We loved how the clouds gently touched the trees and bushes - it was truly stunning.
The low cloudy sky felt completely different from the bright blue we
usually see in New Mexico, regardless of the season. And this gloomy sky was combined with gentle but vibrant fall colors! We’d wanted
something new and different from this trip, and we were getting it in
full. And we enjoyed it! ;)
To be continued...
Photos taken on October 11, 2025.
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