New Mexico in winter

Question for the forum
Any recommendations on winter overlanding with a focus on New Mexico. I live in Oklahoma and have the itch to go somewhere west vs going east again
Looking for recommendations for late December. Focused on:
Remote yet accessible locations where seasonal closures won’t impact
Not concerned with cold but don’t want to be in single digits at night
Any input or suggestions appreciated
Thanks

 

Should head over towards the San Juan mountains in Colorado

 

You might have luck finding info here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-mexico-owners-bs-thread.32579/unread

 

Thanks - is Colorado open ( Covid). I actually lived near mint rose in the late 90s. ( cimarron ). When you say San Juan’s - where you thinking?

 

Montrose lol not mint rose - stupid autocorrect

 

Silverton, Telluride, Ouray, Alpine Loop, Black Bear Pass, Engineer Pass etc

 

Yeah I am looking for remote camping locations - Ouray etc all nice but not what I am thinking - the high country lovations you suggested will be closed for winter I would expect?
I appreciate you taking time to suggest though

 

In late December?

 

Some trails may be closed for winter but it’s always something to check on prior to leaving. I have done the alpine loop in mid January last year

 

Really ? Ok I didn’t think they would be open so that is great to know and I appreciate the deets love that part of the world !

 

Wow, I figured there would be 10+ Feet of snow up there .

 

Yeah I did a search they close the alpine loo in October which makes sense
I lived out there in the early 90s at 7700 ft
We got a ton of snow so it didn’t make a lot of sense to me
But it was along time ago
There are roads that stay open eg: big cimarron is open but that’s because there are houses up there . I’m gonna keep this on the burner for early summer .....

 

I'm not sure what your definition of early summer is, but keep an eye on the snow pack for the San Juans. Some years we have a pretty quick early melt, but other years with a large snow pack and a cool, long spring it could be August before you can access many of the trails. The summer of 2019 most of the trails out of Silverton, Ouray, and Telluride didn't open until late July into August.

 

about a foot of snow hit alta lakes, just south of telluride, memorial day this year (or was it labor day? whichever was in September). Was 100 degrees in junction the day before too. wild temp swings. point is, its probably all covered in snow right now

 

Thanks for all the replies guys
This thread got a little sideways when someone suggested doing the Alpine loop in December- I was looking for deets on anew Mexico in the winter - with a focus on southern NM .

 

lol i got sidetracked in my response.

i was gonna suggest southern central colorado (spanish peaks, sand dunes may be fun but still kinda cold). in NM theres white sands near the border of Mexico. Lifestyle Overland on youtube did a few NM videos (s2e34) this summer. I can't imagine too much would get covered in snow. guadalupe hills, sacramento mountains

I've been toying with the idea of a similar trip so interested in what other people suggest.

 

Thanks yeah those are areas I have been looking at too
Not worried about cold too much but access in and out
Will be doing trip alone and while I carry all the recovery gear needed to get out of a situation I’d rather just be smart and not get into a dicey spot
If I head down there I will put together a trip report
- still on fence between NM and another trip into A more familiar area - Aka Ozarks
..... need a 2nd rig to go with me on these long trips

 

. Now an alpine loop run this summer would be cool! Get a bunch of good dudes together for a long weekend trip before or after the mass crowds hit

 

Getting dumped on rn

 

FYI - Colorado is getting dumped on and most passes and trails are closed for winter.