Is Red River Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Red River, New Mexico, might be a small mountain town, but it has epic things to do for outdoor lovers.

Whether you’re planning a trip next week or in the next decade, this town is forever surrounded by protected wilderness.

Red River’s downtown tips its hat to mining history as it still evokes that Western town feel.

What was once a booming mining town is now a town of 500 people, but the wingspan of recreation spans more than a million surrounding acres, with New Mexico’s highest mountain watching over the land.

This town is less than an hour from Taos and Taos Ski Valley but doesn’t draw nearly as large crowds—just the way some adventures want it.

The bonus is that you can parlay a trip to Red River into a Taos trifecta.

As if this town needed more accolades, it’s also on the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, an 84-mile circle around Mount Wheeler.

Whether you want to drive, ski, float or hike your way into the heart of the New Mexico mountains, Red River offers something for everyone.

Warnings & Dangers in Red River

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here, but a high-profile shooting in 2023 left a stain on the tourism industry. We'll talk a little later about why you shouldn't let that deter your plans. This is a wonderful place to visit and is likely now safer than ever.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

The main road through Red River is walkable at just a mile long, but a free shuttle can help you get around if you don't want to walk it. Red River Miner Transit also takes people to and from the ski resort year-round. Taxis and rideshares will be available sparingly, but a rental car will give you the most flexibility.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

The risk is low, but with any tourist community, you should keep your belongings secured and only carry what you need with you. There might be people looking for a crime of opportunity.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

At this elevation (8,671'), you'll get snow in winter as well as in the shoulder seasons. While snow is good for the ski resort, it can also bury roads and make it treacherous to travel. Wildfires are another big risk that can lead to hiking dangers, air quality risks, and road closures. Flash flooding and severe thunderstorms can build quickly in the warmer months. You need to stay weather aware here.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Most years, Red River doesn't see a single robbery. Since 2000, there hasn't been a year with more than two. It's a low risk.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

This is another low risk as the town is so remote. There are no hard targets nearby, and it's a rather rugged area to access in the first place.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

You can learn about the latest scam risks through the Better Business Bureau, local law enforcement, and the New Mexico Attorney General's website. The risk is low if you know the warning signs, so being educated is critical.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

This is another low-risk, but any wilderness area should not be explored solo. I feel slightly hypocritical saying that as I hike alone often, but I can say that fear of the risks keeps me from going more than a few miles from safety. Traveling in a group of three is ideal. When you're in town, the risk is still low, with plenty of people around in well-lit, busy, and secured areas.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The 2022 Water Quality Report shows no violations and full compliance with all state and federal regulations. You can also learn a lot about water conservation by reading it or visiting the New Mexico Water Conservation Alliance.

Safest Places to Visit in Red River

Even if you have concerns about visiting a small town of just 500 people, the fact that there’s an updated and abundant tourism website signals this is a great place to visit.

RedRiver.org is a tourism site.

You can download a free travel guide without having to give any personal information.

Walking down Main Street is a great way to get a lay of the land.

The streets and sidewalks are wide, with plenty of shops, restaurants, and activities spread out, with a park at the center of it all. Look for Frye’s Old Town for great souvenirs and summer gunfight reenactments from the Old West days.

The downtown area also has adventure rental stores where you can get gear for whatever activity you plan to do.

That does include ATVs/UTVs/OHVs (off-road vehicles), horseback riding reservations, and fly fishing.

Several nearby businesses offer musical experiences with a meal, like the Bobcat Pass Wilderness Adventure’s “Cowboy Evening” and the “Rocking 3M Chuckwagon” on Bitter Creek Road.

You can also visit one of several saloons in town to get live music with a meal at a much lower price, but also not as unique of an experience.

The ski resorts nearby are Red River Ski & Summer Area and Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area, though both offer year-round activities.

Several tour companies in the area offer rafting adventures, with the famous “Rock Garden” on this stretch of the Rio Grande.

You’ll drop 90 feet in less than a minute.

Rafting tours are open to everyone, and expert guides will help keep the trip as safe as possible.

Scenic river tours are available that will keep you away from the rapids.

You can research one of the many wilderness areas nearby, which means it’s protected land.

Most areas are part of the Carson National Forest.

Options include Wheeler Peak Wilderness, Latie Peak Wilderness, Columbine-Hondo Wilderness, and Pecos Wilderness.

Places to Avoid in Red River

Red River is too small to have a bad part of town.

That’s good news most days, but it also means when shootings like the May 2023 one happen, it’s usually in a crowd of people.

The best thing you can do is avoid large crowds where fights or trouble seem to be brewing.

This is a popular community for motorcycles, and you should not assume that all motorcyclists are in a gang.

I lived near Laughlin, Nevada, which was plagued by a “Biker Brawl” in 2002.

For years, everyone has said, “That’s where the motorcycle gangs hang out.”

It’s not.

It’s a place where retirees hang out.

But one incident can mark a community.

You should also avoid going into any wilderness area without checking a few things first:

• Is there a wildfire burning or a wildfire risk? (nmfireinfo.com)
• Is there part of the area that is scarred by wildfire or storm damage? (use the website for the wilderness area)
• Are there storms in the forecast? (NWS Albuquerque and then search Red River)
• How deep is the snowpack? (Ski resorts post this information daily)
• How are the roads to get there? (Use NMroads.com)

Safety Tips for Traveling to Red River

So... How Safe Is Red River Really?

Red River is a small town of just more than 500 people and, therefore, has a small law enforcement department overseen by a Marshal.

Crime ranks in single digits for most categories in 2020 and the years before, but no official data has been released since then.

Despite all the number crunching, I could do for you, what’s really going to haunt Red River forever is the shooting at the Red River motorcycle rally in May 2023.

Three people were killed and five more hurt in a biker gang war, connected to a photograph taken in Albuquerque a few days before.

And, no, I’m not downplaying the cause.

“It was in Albuquerque, and what we’re being told it was over somebody taking a picture with a different gang; it’s something as stupid as that,” New Mexico State Police Chief Tim Johnson said at the time.

What is worth noting and repeating is that this incident is in no way indicative of the safety of Red River.

Between 2000 and 2020, there was just one homicide in the town.

On top of that, this is probably now the safest time to visit Red River since law enforcement learned lessons about planning and securing the tourist areas better than ever before.

If you have any questions, Marshal James Johnson invites you to contact the department.

He said in part, “I would like all persons in the Town of Red River to understand that no phone call is unimportant to us, and if you have a need for the Police Department, even if it is a simple question or minor concern then you should feel free to contact our Communications Center.”

How Does Red River Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

International visitors need a visa or visa waiver, but your eligibility for the waiver depends on your country of origin. You'll also need a passport that isn't within six months of expiring.

Currency

Only the U.S. Dollar will be accepted here. Take care of currency exchange at your home bank or a regional branch of your home bank. The Albuquerque airport won't have a currency exchange option.

Weather

Since Red River is at 8,700 feet above sea level, you'll miss the extreme heat the rest of the state experiences. Even in July, average temperatures in the town get into the low 40s(F). Bring plenty of layers. Sunscreen is necessary any time of year as the elevation makes sunburn happen faster.

Airports

You can use Colorado Spring Airport or Albuquerque International Sunport, but those are going to be road trips of 3-4 hours. Taos has a regional airport with Taos Air as the only provider. That airport is 45 minutes away. Sante Fe has a regional airport with service by American Airlines, about two and a half hours away.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance should include supplemental health insurance and adventure insurance, especially if you plan to ski or go rafting.

Red River Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

New Mexico - Safety by City