Cimarron, New Mexico

Once the home of the Jicarilla Apache and Ute Indian, Cimarron, located on the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail, became the hub of a mining and ranching empire when Lucien Maxwell, heir to the Maxwell Land Grant, built his center of operations here after moving north from Rayado.

The pioneer spirit that gave rise to Cimarron brought famous and infamous people alike. Names like Wyatt Earp, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill Cody, Clay Allison, Frank and Jesse James all have added to Cimarron'shistory. We have the famous St. James Hotel (National Historic Landmark, built in 1876), probably most famous for its ghosts and haunted rooms. We also have the Philmont Scout Ranch located 4 miles out of town.

Colin Neblett Wildlife Area (33,116 acres) and Cimarron Canyon State Park lie west of town. In an area where deer and elk are very abundant, most folks are fishing the river for trophy Cutthroat, Rainbow and Brown Trout.

North of town is the Valle Vidal unit (100,000 acres) of the Carson National Forest. The unit is home to about 2,000 elk living in a wildlife paradise and the fishing is superb. You have to look sharp because there are only two roads into Valle Vidal and the signs are not large. The road into the Barker Wildlife Area is just out of town on the east side. A little further east is the road leading to the Dawson Cemetary, now listed on the National Historic Register.

A New Mexico hunting or fishing license is required, if you are interested in that type of recreation, and special seasons and regulations apply in some areas.