Being in the northwestern part of New Mexico, our climate differs from many other parts of the state. In some ways, a Farmington winter is the best of both worlds: It gets little snow — and the bit we do get melts quickly — but our proximity to ski resorts in southwestern Colorado means you can get your winter playground on in a hop, skip, and a jump. (Then you can end your day with afternoon golf or mountain biking back here. More on that in a sec.)
Farmington is surrounded by scenic beauty while boasting an array of cultural experiences in town — it’s the perfect home base for a winter vacation.
There’s a great variety of things to do on your New Mexico winter getaway in these parts. Let’s start with…
Outdoor winter activities near us in New Mexico
We already mentioned it, so to begin:
Skiing and snowboarding day trips to Colorado
Like we mentioned, while our little corner of New Mexico has quite mild winters, you have easy access to multiple ski mountains in southwestern Colorado.
The closest are Chapman Hill Ski Area and Purgatory Ski Resort around an hour and an hour and a half north, respectively.
Chapman Hill is rare among ski hills because it’s in the middle of town in Durango, Colorado and is publicly run — including a terrain park, tubing hill, and, at the base, an ice rink that has not only public skating, but drop-in hockey and other recreational activities. Purgatory, about 30 minutes north of Chapman Hill in the San Juan National Forest, is much bigger with eight chairlifts, five terrain parks, and a village for apres ski.
Golf
So, what to do after you’ve already hit the slopes and want something more leisurely?
While there’s snow a quick drive away, Farmington itself is a popular area for winter golfing due to the favorable conditions.
Within Farmington we’ve got four courses with different qualities depending on what you’re looking for. Civitan Municipal is a nine-hole, par three course that’s great for beginners or if you’re looking to just do a quick game — plus they have a footgolf course too, if you like the idea of golf but would rather kick the ball with friends around than spend hundreds of hours working on your swing.
The other public option is Piñion Hills Golf Course, which was recently renovated and has multiple times been ranked by Golf Digest as the #4 municipal golf course in the country.
Ten minutes outside of town is Riverview Golf Course, an 18-hole course surrounded by, as the name would suggest, beauty and nature. And in the opposite direction, 15-20 minutes east of the city is San Juan Country Club — a more challenging 18-hole course that’s home to the San Juan Open Golf Tournament, which just celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024 and has, during that time, welcomed some of golf’s most famous faces.
Compare these four courses more in-depth!
Mountain biking
Even in the depths of December and January, our lack of snow (plus natural landscape) means that the Farmington area is a popular place for winter mountain biking. Popular trails include Anasazi Loop, Alien Run, and Animals River Trail.
Anasazi Loop is in northern Farmington, where you can access it via the Hood Mesa Trail lot. It’s perfect for when you want a fun ride that isn’t too grueling — it’s 2.8 miles with no major elevation gains and there aren’t any steep grades, just gentle ups and downs. (And before we forget, we suggest taking it counterclockwise.)
For a more high-powered ride, you’ll find the Alien Run Trail System, operated by the Bureau of Land Management and named after a supposed “UFO crash site.” The main Alien Run is four miles, but the whole “Super Loop” system itself includes over 16 miles! The entire system is single track and has a bunch of different terrain ranging from beginner to expert, with the Alien Run trail itself having some more tight turns and slicker rock at times.
Lastly is the Animas River Trail. It’s ideal for those wanting a more mellow ride but who don’t want it to be over quickly — at seven miles long, you’ll find a path that’s at times dirt, mulch, paved, or cobblestone, and is shared with walkers and joggers. Animas is great for sightseeing the surrounding area.
Learn more about the available trails and mountain biking resources in Farmington including rentals, repairs, purchases, tours, and more!
Winter walks and hiking in the national parks
Just like with mountain biking nearby, there are a lot of areas in the vicinity for a hike to get some exercise and see the natural beauty surrounding us.
We mentioned it before for cycling, but the Animas River Trail System is great for walking or getting a jog in.
If you’re more in the mood to get out of town, about 45 minutes south of Farmington are the Bisti Badlands (also known as the De-Na-Zin Wilderness) known for dinosaur fossils and unique rock formations. Bisti Badlands is especially popular not just with hikers, but also photographers looking to capture images they can’t find anywhere else. About an hour and a half south of town is also Chaco Culture National Historic Park, a World Heritage Site famous for its Ancestral Puebloan ruins. Along with hiking trails, the park has also had an observatory for over 25 years to allow visitors extraordinary views of its night sky.
Angel Peak Scenic Area is closer to town, about 45 minutes southeast on the way to Chaco Culture Park. It’s known for its prehistoric fossils and scenery, particularly the 7,000-foot Angel Peak.
Wildlife spotting (and even more scenic views)
The Farmington area also has some fantastic spots to go bird watching and see other wildlife. Lake Farmington and the Animas River Walk Trail System (again!) are especially good locations, with over 100 species of birds migrating through. During winter, you’ll see heron, bald eagles, snow geese, cardinals, and more. To see birds and learn more about the other local wildlife, check out the Riverside Nature Center.
Beyond all these recreational activities, during the winter there are also lots of opportunities to…
Explore New Mexico’s rich culture and history
Whether pre-Columbian or contemporary, Farmington boasts a proud history and curious culture. While here, why don’t you check out:
Local art galleries and trading posts
Being in a unique part of the continent, there’s so much to explore that you can’t get anywhere else. To get a sense of it, we have many museums including:
- Museum of Navajo Art and Culture
- Farmington Museum
- Bolack Electromechanical Museum
- Bolack Museum of Fish and Wildlife
To experience this culture, heritage, and history in person, however, there are up-close options…
Historic landmarks
Okay, back to the outdoors.
We’re lucky in Farmington to not just be surrounded by natural beauty, but the preservation of our local First Nations’ history going back millenia — take, for example, Aztec Ruins National Monument and Hovenweep National Monument. Both of these are pre-Columbian relics, the former ruins that were originally built by the Ancestral Puebloans in the 1100s, and the latter featuring the ruins of six ancient Ancestral Puebloan communities.
The Salmon Ruins, located about 20 minutes east of us in Bloomfield, include a heritage park, cultural museum, and research center, as well as offering tours of the site.
Lastly is Mesa Verde National Park, back on the Colorado side a bit over an hour north of us. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park exploring the heritage of 27 Pueblos and Tribes, with some of the best-preserved sites from the Ancestral Puebloan people anywhere.
Delicious dining and winter cuisine
In town, you’ll find plenty of dining options, including traditional New Mexican comfort food — while it’s certainly a cousin to the cuisines of northern Mexico, Texas, and elsewhere in the southern Rockies and American Southwest, you’ll find New Mexican food is really its own distinct thing. Try chile-based dishes like green chile stew, posole, and New Mexican tamales.
You’ll also find places for coffee, spiced wintery wines, and craft breweries for cozy nights out or to warm up during the day.
Check out more on where to dine in Farmington — from New Mexican cuisine to barbecue, family to nightlife.
A few last tips and things to know when visiting our corner of New Mexico in the winter
Many people use Farmington as a “home base” when coming to this part of the country.
Even though we don’t get a bunch of snow here and, when we do, it melts pretty quickly, you should still be aware so that any weather events don’t catch you off guard. We get about 12 inches of snow total per year, with average monthly lows from December through February in the low 20s, and highs in the 40s.
And, while many visitors come through on road trips, airport options include Albuquerque International Sunport, Durango La Plata County Airport in Colorado, and the Four Corners Regional Airport. From Albuquerque, there’s also a shuttle available.
We might be biased, but our part of the world is really a special place, and an especially unique one in the winter. We encourage you to explore all this region has to offer in Farmington and beyond — and when you’re here, don’t forget to see what special events are on.
Hope to see you soon!