The 6 Coldest Places in New Mexico Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine

Source：AZ Animals Time：January 1, 2024

Winters are amazing in the United States. Every state experiences winters in distinct and unique ways. Some states experience very cold winters, while others have sunny and delicious winters. States like California, Arizona, or even New Mexico experience a little bit of both, depending on where you live. When it comes to the Land of Enchantment, some places are so cold, that you will be frozen stiff. Let’s take a look at the six coldest places in New Mexico that will send shivers down your spine.

Eagle Nest

The 6 Coldest Places in New Mexico Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine — Eagle Nest was originally called Therma and was renamed Eagle Nest in the 1930s.
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The village of Eagle Nest has consistently gotten low temperatures. It’s located in northern New Mexico in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which is an extension range of the Rockies. The village only has a population of about 300 people and it’s a tight-knit community that is home to Eagle Nest Lake State Park. Opening in 2010, you can enjoy fun-filled activities like fishing, hiking, and camping. About 250 mornings per year, the temperatures don’t go above 32 degrees, and around 40 of those mornings, they go below 0 degrees. Furthermore, snowfall is intense and the village averages 62 inches every year.

Red River

The village of Red River is a popular tourist destination because it has all the amenities that people want to enjoy amazing ski days. Red River has a population of 542 people and is the snowiest place in the state. Usually, the village gets 40 inches of snow over 62 days every year. Located near Taos in northern New Mexico, Red River has average temperatures of around 35 to 37 degrees, although those temperatures drop to 8 degrees at night. The coldest nights during the year occur in the winter and can get as low as -8 degrees.

Taos

If you want perfect cold temperatures and the opportunity to ski as well, Taos is the perfect city for you. It is one of the coldest cities in New Mexico with average temperatures of 40 to 45 degrees, and around 12 degrees at night. Even the summers are cool in Taos with averages never reaching more than 86 degrees during the day. With a population of 6,600, Taos is known for its Native American history and culture, including an adobe complex used for centuries in Taos Pueblo. The city is also known for its ski valley nearby.

Clayton

Considered one of the coldest cities in the United States, Clayton is considered the coldest city in New Mexico. Its average temperature is 54 degrees and its daily maximum doesn’t even reach 70 degrees. Clayton is located in northeastern New Mexico, close to the border between Oklahoma and Texas. With a population of 2,755, Clayton houses the Herzstein Memorial Museum and has the most haunted places than anywhere in the state of New Mexico.

Angel Fire

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Angel Fire is a village known for its resort that boasts some of the best ski slopes in the state. Eagle Nest Lake is nearby and ensures you can explore the area with beautiful hikes and other nature activities. The village, which has a population of about 1,200 people, has some of the coldest temperatures in the state. Its temperature averages do not reach 30 degrees during the winter months. The coldest temperature recorded in Angel Fire was -39 degrees on February 3, 2011.

Gavilan

It would be remiss of us to not include Gavilan. Why, you ask? Because the lowest official temperature ever recorded in the state of New Mexico was in Gavilan. It happened on February 1, 1951, with a whopping -50 degrees. Furthermore, the city is located in northern New Mexico, which is the part of the state where the coldest temperatures in the state exist.

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are the six coldest places in New Mexico that will send shivers down your spine. These places have experienced some freezing weather that will leave you in awe. These temperatures have reached freezing numbers and have stayed like that for weeks on end. Of course, once you make your home there, you get used to it. But if you ever visit, make sure you are prepared. Bring thick jackets and extra layers, and do all that you can to make your stay in these six cold places in New Mexico as comfortable and as warm as possible.