Is There Anything To Do On 'The Mountain' In The Next Few Months? Plenty

The Cloudcroft Reader Summer Field Guide

Jun 11, 2024

Illustration of the Rim Trail by Hannah Dean

Cloudcroft is an ideal summer place—especially for those seeking low-key entertainment through the arts, sciences, and outdoors.

Please keep reading for a few of our favorite pastimes and venues.

ART

Majestic landscapes, unique flora, fantastic beasts, and exciting people: it’s no wonder Cloudcroft boasts a vibrant grassroots art scene. Here’s a list of brick-and-mortar art spaces.

Off the Beaten Path: A cheerfully pink gallery and gift shop by Berle Van Zandt and Donna Rand. They carry handmade work from many artists in various mediums and sizes. Bonus: the gallery operates a shelter and funds a trap and release program for Cloudcroft’s stray cats.
Blackbear Coffee Shop: Oil painter and Lost Lodge resident Drew Gaines currently has a small-but-powerful solo exhibition on display: a group of commanding surrealist plein aire works.
Aspen & Ivy: Located in the Village Plaza off James Canyon Highway, this shop carries work by local artists and bespoke handmade and artisan goods from all over, curated by owner Nicole Alcorn.
In a newly remodeled space in the Pine Stump Mall, The Bruce gallery carries art by Cloudcroft’s own Samantha Odom. Odom’s vibrant murals can also be found at the CHS Gym, the two walls that bookend Burro Street Exchange, and the Turquoise Shop.
The historic Old Red Brick School House is home to the Michael Nivison Public Library and the Cloudcroft Art Society (CAS) Co-op Gallery. CAS’s juried membership is open to regional artists working in any medium.

Cloudcroft Art Workshops (CAW) also occur in the Old Red Brick School House (ORBSH). Week-long courses run from the beginning of June until the first week of August. You can sign up for painting, drawing, fiber arts instruction, and more.

On Thursday, June 13th, CAS, CAW, and the High Valley Weaving School in the ORBSH basement will host the “Art on the Mountain” event from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Note that the building’s roof and front entryway steps are currently undergoing repairs, so you may have to enter through the Weaving School.

MUSIC

You can stroll a magical fairy garden lulled by the sounds of live instrumentals with the Shady Pines Chamber Players, a passion project located at 200 Fox in Cloudcroft. The Shady Pines garden is open for strolls from 2:00-5:00 PM from August 3rd to 7th and again from September 1st to 5th. Donations are welcome.

Several businesses, including Cloudcroft Brewing Company, The Lodge, Mad Jack’s Mountaintop Barbecue, and Dave’s Cafe boast live music throughout the week.

On June 29th, Mad Jack’s will host a 5:30 PM dance after the Outhouse Races. The good-humored event returns thanks to the Cloudcroft Fun Committee and entails precisely what you might imagine.

FESTIVALS

The Chamber of Commerce will hold the second annual Cloudcroft Beerfest on June 22nd and 23rd. With vendors, food, and libations, Saturday features musical guests Champagne Problems and Old Time Radio. Sunday features Spivey’s funky sounds and Rose Water Blues.

More Chamber events:

Christmas in July Jamboree; July 13th-14th at Zenith Park
Art & Wine in the Cool Pines; August 2nd-4th
Lumberjack Day Arts & Crafts Show; September 14th. This popular event includes axe throwing, chainsaw competitions, a kids’ event, relays, and more.
The Camp of the Tall Pines in Weed hosts the Thunderbird 3D Archery Shoot over Father’s Day weekend. You can sign up here.

On July 20th, the 28th Annual Weed Bluegrass Festival kicks off at the Weed Community Center. Six bands play, lunch is catered, and Sunday morning starts with a short devotional and gospel music. Individual and family tickets are available.

EDUCATIONAL and RECREATIONAL

A range of family-friendly educational events happen throughout the summer.

The Michael Nivison Public Library puts on an annual summer reading program. While the village searches for a new library director and staff, the library is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM. Due to construction, hours are subject to change.

Cloudcroft Light Opera Company (CLOC) keeps the laughs, boos, and hisses rolling at the Zenith Park Pavilion through their lively summer melodramas—and are preparing for their July show, “The Groom Has Cold Feet.”

Catch free PG films at the Burro Street Exchange every few weeks, starting at 7:30 PM. Bring a chair or blanket to the back parking lot. On June 15th, they are showing “The Goonies.”

The Sacramento Ranger District office for the Lincoln National Forest is located just south of the village on Highway 130. Drop by for recreation ideas, maps and publications, outdoor safety and ethics education, and more.

The Sunspot Solar Observatory visitor center is open all week from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, only 16 miles south of Cloudcroft. The Observatory is home to the Dunn Solar Telescope, the “one-of-a-kind solar telescope that produces some of the sharpest images of the Sun available in the world.” You can tour the telescope on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday between 12:00-2:00 PM.

Cloudcroft also makes for incredible stargazing— a designated international dark sky community.

GOOD SPORTS

Athletes of all ages can compete in a few endurance races:

The Cloudcroft Ultra 53k, 9.5-mile, and 4.75-mile trail runs follow the Rim Trail on August 17th.
The High Altitude Classic mountain bike race starts at its namesake shop, High Altitude, downtown in the village on September 8th.
The second annual Gran Fondo Cloudcroft road bike ride is on June 22nd. Organized by Eric Collins, a Las Cruces-based Zia Velo team cyclist, the event has the 87.2-mile Gran Fondo, the 61-mile Medio Fondo, and the 44.7-mile Petit Fondo. If you would like more info, please email questions@topflightk9.com.

Disc Golf enthusiasts can check out the dog-friendly, highly-rated 18-hole Cloudcroft Community Disc Golf Course at 230 Mescalero Avenue. Zenith Park is home to the 9-hole, cart-friendly Byron Ligon Disc Golf Course, conveniently close to a playground and restrooms.

Also at Zenith: Pickleball! To find out when folks are planning to play, you can follow the Pickleball Addicts of Cloudcroft (PAC), a new pickleball organization in Cloudcroft, on their Facebook page. They regularly meet on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 8:00 AM.

Just over an hour to the north, All Season Adaptive Sports at Ski Apache specializes in outdoor accessibility. On July 7th, they are hosting the Cornhole for Adaptive Tournament for 2-person teams—with a $300 first-place prize. Usually operating for winter sports, this is their first year launching a summer adaptive program, which includes bowhead adaptive mountain biking, trekking, fishing, disc golf, and adaptive rock climbing.

For the yogi: Alex from Instant Karma leads a yoga class on the lawn at The Lodge on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM, complimentary to hotel guests and locals.

If you want to cool off surrounded by pine trees and blue skies, check out the Timberon Swimming Pool. It is open Memorial Day through Labor Day, Thursday through Monday, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Adults-only water aerobics classes are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 -11:00 AM. Pool fees are $5 per person, and swim passes are available. Bring cash and fill your tank—Timberon doesn’t have a gas station.

There’s no shortage of offerings on the mountain this summer. Did we miss your favorite? Let us know here or in the comments.