Situated at an elevation of just over 8600 feet and within the heart of the Sacramento Mountains and the Lincoln National Forest, Cloudcroft (pop 700) is an alpine oasis amongst the deserts of southern New Mexico. Cloudcroft's economy is primarily tourism based, though the Mescalero Apache Reservation which incorporates 460,000 acres of land to the south of town, also contributes to keeping this small mountain hamlet afloat. Cloudcroft is a favorite destination for many outdoor recreationalists, offering good access to the mountains and forests that surround it which, in turn, are ripe with adventure. Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, downhill and cross country skiing and golf are only a few of the activities that Cloudcroft is well known for.
Lodging in Cloudcroft is a bit limited due to the size of the town, though visitors will be able to find surprisingly affordable options around town, ranging from bed & breakfasts to cabins to full service hotels. There isn't much variety in the dining options available in Cloudcroft, but the establishments that do exist here offer filling, home-cooked meals that range from cheap to moderately expensive in price.
Cloudcroft is best accessed via a scenic drive from Alamogordo on US Highway 82 eastbound as it winds into the Sacramento Mountains. To learn more about Cloudcroft, select a topic of interest from the left-hand navigation bar.
