Discover the Wonders Beyond Cloudcroft
From the surreal white gypsum dunes to historic villages and dark sky communities, the region surrounding Cloudcroft offers incredible day trip adventures.
The World's Largest Gypsum Dunefield
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders— the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating an otherworldly landscape unlike anywhere else on Earth.
Just an hour from Cloudcroft, White Sands offers surreal photo opportunities, sunset sledding down pristine dunes, and ranger-led programs including Full Moon Hikes and Lake Lucero Tours.
~45 minutes from Cloudcroft
$25/vehicle, $15/person
Opens 7AM daily, closing varies
Sled the dunes at sunset
White Sands National Park
Orchards, History & Route 66 Charm
Nestled in the Lincoln National Forest, High Rolls and Mountain Park are charming mountain communities with deep railroad roots. The area is famous for its apple and cherry orchards, celebrated each year with popular festivals that draw visitors from across the region.
Don't miss The Old Apple Barn—a beloved Route 66-style roadside attraction that welcomes 50,000+ visitors annually. The area also offers excellent hiking, including trails to Bridal Veil Falls and the historic Mexican Canyon Trestle.
10 minutes from Cloudcroft
Apple & cherry orchards
High Rolls Mountain Park
The Oldest Village in the Tularosa Basin
Founded in 1705, La Luz ("The Light" in Spanish) is a quiet historic village just 4 miles north of Alamogordo. This artistic enclave is home to painters, writers, and craftspeople who share a passion for creating art and living close to the land.
The village plaza is surrounded by adobe homes and artist studios worth browsing. History buffs will enjoy exploring the La Luz Pottery Company ruins—where workers created distinctive glazed pottery from 1930 to 1955. Tours are offered by the Tularosa Basin Historical Society.
25 minutes from Cloudcroft
Historic pottery & art community
La Luz Village
Mountain Golf & Peaceful Retreat
Timberon is a peaceful retirement and resort community nestled at 7,150 feet in the Sacramento Mountains. Surrounded by Lincoln National Forest, this tranquil enclave offers a true escape from the bustle of everyday life.
The community's 9-hole golf course offers 360-degree views of the Sacramento Mountain Range—a challenging and scenic round under tall pines and blue skies. Beyond golf, Timberon features a lodge, community pool, restaurant, fishing ponds, and even an airstrip.
35 minutes from Cloudcroft
7,150 feet
Timberon Golf Course
Dark Skies & Astronomy Paradise
East of Cloudcroft on Highway 82, the small community of Mayhill has become a haven for astronomers and stargazers. At 7,200 feet elevation in the Sacramento Mountains, the area offers some of the darkest skies in the continental United States.
The New Mexico Skies Astronomy Enclave near Mayhill is a private community specifically designed for astronomy enthusiasts. With HOA covenants restricting light pollution and multiple observatories nearby—including the Remote Astronomical Society Observatory— this is a world-class destination for serious stargazing.
20 minutes east on Hwy 82
Dark sky astronomy community
Mayhill Dark Skies
Make Cloudcroft your home base and explore all the wonders of the Sacramento Mountains and beyond.