Good news for anyone rolling into Red River today: the mountain roads are in fall cruising shape. Our morning checks of New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas traveler sources turned up no reported closures on the routes most visitors use, including NM-38 over Bobcat Pass, US-64 through Eagle Nest and Taos, I-25 by way of Raton and Springer, and the US-285 corridor. It is a dry, breezy Tuesday for the drive in, so the main job today is simply to take the curves at mountain pace and enjoy the ride.
In town, expect a partly cloudy day with a high near 57 degrees after a chilly morning in the 40s. Southwest winds of 14 to 15 miles per hour will gust to around 30, which can tug at high-profile vehicles, trailers, and rooftop cargo on exposed stretches, especially crossing Bobcat Pass, the highest mountain pass in New Mexico, and along the open Moreno Valley floor toward Eagle Nest. Skies stay mostly clear tonight with a low near 36, so early Wednesday departures will want a warm layer within easy reach.
The Enchanted Circle itself is straightforward today. NM-38 runs about 29 miles from Questa through Red River to US-64 at Eagle Nest, climbing over Bobcat Pass with the usual tight curves and wildlife crossings at dawn and dusk. From Taos, US-64 winds through the Rio Grande Gorge country before joining the Circle, while drivers coming from the east on US-64 from Clayton or from I-25 at Raton will find the familiar two-lane climb into the Moreno Valley. Watch for deer and elk near the roadside in low light, and give cyclists room on the narrow shoulders.
For the drive-in states, conditions are calm but changing later this week. Texas Panhandle drivers heading home by way of Dalhart and Clayton should know a strong cold front is forecast to sweep Texas Thursday into Friday, dropping Amarillo to a Friday high near 59 and Dalhart to around 35 on Saturday morning, with frost possible. Here at home, Wednesday brings afternoon showers to Red River with a high near 53 and an overnight low near 28, and a freeze watch is posted for Taos County early Thursday from 2 to 9 a.m. If your trip spans midweek, plan Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning drives with extra care on wet or frosty high-elevation pavement.
A final courtesy note for October travel: New Mexico State Police are running sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols in counties across the state this month, so buckle up, keep speeds down in the canyons, and let a sober driver handle the evening run back to your cabin. Before any departure, a quick check of NMRoads, COtrip, or DriveTexas takes a minute and confirms conditions have not changed. Drive safe, take your time on the Circle, and we will see you in Red River.