Beautifully remote.
Homesteaded in 1898, Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center sits at the headwaters of the beautiful Vallecitos River high in the Tusas Mountains of northern New Mexico. The area has a rich Native American history with the Anasazi, Jicarilla, Apache and Ute tribes. Over 300,000 acres of rolling, forested mountains and wilderness of the Carson National Forest, including some of the most majestic old growth forest in the Southwest, surround the retreat, a 135-acre private in-holding situated 8,880 feet above sea level and 11 miles from paved highway. Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center is located 50 miles west of Taos, New Mexico, just two and a half hours from Santa Fe and three and a half hours from Durango or Albuquerque.
A network of trails winds through the retreat center and in the surrounding landscape, including a stunning section of the national Continental Divide Trail, offering extraordinary opportunities to explore diverse environments and reconnect with nature within a short distance of the comforts of the retreat center lodge.
“I’m consciously decreasing freneticism. I make more family time. I let go of some pet peeves. I am still renewed by having Vallecitos in my heart and soul and I’m more focused on my work.”
– George Cofer
Prepare for anything.
At 8,800 feet above sea level, mountain weather can be dramatic and surprising in any season. Our guests enjoy rustic, comfortable, heated casitas, yurts and tent cabins with the opportunity for tent camping during warmer months. Dress in layers, and don’t forget to pack a pair of hiking boots!
May and Early June
Daytime high temperatures range in the 40s to 70s F°. Nighttime and early morning temperatures can dip down to freezing, and rain and late-season snow are possible. As Canada geese return to the ponds, the meadows green up with new grass, and the aspen put out their first buds and leaves. At this quiet time of year, you’ll likely see elk grazing across the river.
Late June, July, August and Early September
Daytime temperatures are generally in the 50s to 80s F°. Nighttime and early morning temperatures typically drop down into the upper 40s and 50s F°. Afternoon showers are not uncommon during this time of year, often called the “monsoon season.” Geese and ducks swim in the ponds with their fledglings, a multitude of wildflowers color the meadows, and the warm butterscotch aroma of Ponderosa pine fills the air.
Mid-September and October
Days and nights grow gradually cooler, with temperatures from the 40s to 70s F° during the day and freezing at night. The aspen leaves and meadow grasses turn deep gold. The elk once more trek through and around the retreat during their rutting season, their haunting, bugling calls filling the air in the evenings and mornings.
