Welcome to the Circle A Guest Ranch & Hostel
A 1920s mountain ranch
Our office hours are: 4:00PM to 7:00PM Mountain Time Monday through Saturday
Our Season is from May 1st through October 15th
We are currently rennovating the Honeymoon suite bathroom and expect to be finished in about two weeks. The bedroom will be available starting June 8th and the bathroom is a short walk down the veranda. The apartment bathroom is not quite finished but is operational.
Our season has been cooler than usual due to daily rain showers for the past three weeks. So if you are coming from out of state, be prepared for the cooler weather. We recommend a light jacket and a sweatshirt or sweater for night time.
THE CIRCLE A RANCH is a Hostel and Meeting Place located within the Santa Fe National Forest, adjacent to the San Pedro Parks Wilderness. We are five miles from Cuba, an hour and a half from Albuquerque, and two hours from Santa Fe.
OUR CORNER of the Land of Enchantment is a fascinating part of the southwest. High desert and badlands flank the ranch to the west and south. Mounains and hot springs to the east and north. The Circle A Ranch is located at the hub of many day trips to historic area attractions.
WE HOST both groups and individuals who seek a relaxed setting for reunions, retreats, vacations and workshops. Often hikers from the Continental Divide Trail join us and riders mount their horses and ride into the wilderness area adjacent to the ranch..
ANIMAL POLICY at the Circle A Ranch requires guests to make special arrangements. We have our own working dogs at the ranch who condsider this their territory. Guest dogs must have proof of current shots and be pack friendly. We also have three resident horses, several cats and teeming wildlife who do not appreciate being chased. We request that you DO NOT allow this behavior! Dogs must be leashed within 100 yds of the compound and specifically around other guests. We request that dogs stay outside the hostel due to some guests' allergies. We have a small fenced in area with a dog house where dogs can spend the night. We are currently in the process of updating our facilities for horses. At present we have a two corrals and an orchard pasture with water tanks.
THE HACIENDA was built in the 1920's as a dude ranch/hunting lodge. We have private rooms, an apartment, and bunk rooms upstairs and outside a yurt that is often used by families. We have two fully equipped kitchens, a large living/meeting room with huge fireplace, and a large terrace. Read about the Circle A's colorful history.
WORK EXCHANGE. We always have projects and chores that need attention. Exchange three hours of your time for a night in a bunk. Stay a day or a week. Call us
WEATHER conditions here are frequently ideal. Northern New Mexico often has 300 days of sunshine a year. On a really hot summer day, it may get into the upper eighties. And it's not the heat; it's the lack of humidity. And the cool night air keeps our adobe buildings naturally air conditioned. But to live above 7500 feet elevation you have to like winter. Depending on weather conditions we are open from mid-May to late October, but special arrangements can be made for winter experiences.
WHY do people come and stay at the Circle A Ranch? We are one of the few remaining 1920's guest ranches. Our location is the ideal base for day trips to some of New Mexico's most unique and historic sites. We are less than two hours drive to Chaco Canyon, Ghost Ranch, Abiqui,where Georgia O'Keefe painted, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Bandelier National Monument, Valles Caldera, Jemez hot springs, Jemez Pueblo, and lesser known places of interest.
The Tracking Project led by John Stokes, draws from his many years of living with Austrailian Aborigines. John focuses on earth centered knowledge for boys (Hawkeye Camp) and girls ( Dreamtracker Camp). He is joined by individuals from various international native backgrounds. They offer programs of natural and cultural awareness, including traditional tracking, survival skills, storytelling, dance, music, peacemaking and martial arts.
HORSEBACK RIDES are not available this year at the ranch. Our horse wranglers, Kenny and Claire, are brand new proud parents as of March 9th and will not be traveling from Silver City to the north this year with their horses.
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE thru-hikers, whether they join us in May while heading north or in October while heading south, may enjoy the CDT Package which includes camping, phone service, transportation to Cuba for shopping, laundry and banking. An hour of free internet is available at the Cuba Library.