📍Enchanted Circle (Taos to Red River), New Mexico

Arrive by mid-morning once the sun has softened the overnight ice, and the riverside trail north of downtown is yours nearly alone—just the tumble of cold water over stones muffled by snow-banked edges and the hush of pine boughs bending under fresh white weight. Little ones can stomp through shallow drifts on the flat riverside path while you point out ice crystals forming along the rocks; this is the gentlest possible introduction to the mountains, no steep grades, no rush. Bundle up—the mist off the moving water adds a bite to the cold, but it's a small price for having this postcard-quiet valley essentially to yourselves.

After lunch, ease into a quiet 45-minute wander through this frozen-in-time mining ghost town—weathered cabins standing silent against an enormous winter sky, snow dusting the old timber like sugar. Kids under 10 tend to love the scavenger-hunt feel of spotting old mining artifacts scattered on the hillside, and the site's stillness (near-empty even in peak season, and utterly silent in winter) means no crowds to navigate with a stroller or wandering toddler. Keep this one short since footing can be uneven and slippery—a slow loop through the main cabin cluster is plenty.

Arrive early—by 9am the light is soft and gold through the pines, and the riverside trail is quiet enough to hear individual snow-crumbs falling from branches. This second visit lets you explore a different stretch than yesterday: the upper canyon narrows, where hemlock branches arch overhead and the rushing water carves black channels through white banks. It's an easy, flat walk perfect for young families, with plenty of spots to pause, point out icicles, and let kids touch the cold stones (with mittens on).

Skip the summit push entirely this time of year—Wheeler Peak's high trail is for teens and adults only in winter conditions—but the base viewpoint near the trailhead offers a genuinely awe-striking look up at New Mexico's tallest peak, snow-capped and immense against the sky. This is a photo-and-point stop, not a hike: 20-30 minutes to let kids crane their necks up at the mountain, snap a few photos, and talk about how big the world is, then straight back to the warm car.

Arrive by 9:30am and the frozen-edged lake is utterly still, granite cliffs and dark evergreens doubled in the glassy water where it hasn't iced over—a hush so complete you can hear your own footsteps in the snow. Stick to the accessible shoreline viewing area near the dam rather than venturing onto uneven trail sections; it's plenty for young kids to take in the scale of the mountains reflected in the water, and short enough not to test anyone's patience in the cold. This is a look-and-breathe stop, not an exploration one—30-45 minutes is often the sweet spot for little ones before fingers get cold.