Red River

Some hikes earn their lake. The Middle Fork Lake Trail, Trail 487 in the Carson National Forest above Red River, is one of them — a difficult two miles one way that climbs from 9,650 feet to a quiet alpine lake sitting at 10,845 feet. Mid-October is close to the last comfortable window to make the climb before winter takes the high country back, and for hikers who like their trails steep, wooded and uncrowded, it is one of the finest short backpacks-or-day-hikes left on the fall calendar.

The clock is ticking on one of the easiest fishing stops in Carson National Forest country. The Red River City Ponds, right in the town of Red River, are open to fishing from March 1 through November 15, according to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. That leaves about a month from mid-October to make a last visit before the ponds close for the season.

Two northern New Mexico mountain towns that have long been linked by a winding highway will soon be linked by trail as well. The Carson National Forest has approved the Questa to Red River Trail, an approximately 11.9-mile unpaved, multi-use pathway between the Village of Questa and the Town of Red River.

October is the sweet spot for trout in northern New Mexico. Summer's heat has loosened its grip, water temperatures are dropping into the trout's comfort zone, and fish that spent the summer holding deep are feeding with purpose. This week's state fishing report, compiled from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, shows favorable conditions across Carson country — from the Pecos River to the Rio Grande near Questa.

New Mexico's only full-service cross-country ski and snowshoe area is at a crossroads. The Enchanted Forest, tucked into the Carson National Forest three miles east of Red River at the top of Bobcat Pass, is for sale — listed at $250,000 after what its owners describe as the worst winter in 40 years.