Welcome to the Circle A Guest Ranch & Hostel
A 1920s mountain ranch
Our office hours are: 8:00AM to NOON and 4PM to 8PM Mountain Time Tuesday through Saturday
Our Season starts May 1st and ends October 19th this year.
We have about 100 hummingbirds at the feeders here this year. There are three maybe even four species. Evening feeding time is quite the scene.
We are currently rennovating the Honeymoon suite bathroom but it is functional with a toilet and shower. We are in the process of adding some finishing touches and installing the sink.
The apartment bathroom is not quite finished but is operational.
Our season has been cooler than usual due to an unusual amount of rain. 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. We are one of the few remaining 1920's working guest ranches in New Mexico. 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.
WE HOST groups who are looking for a private and relaxed setting for reunions, retreats, vacations, weddings and workshops and individuals looking for a weekend getaway from the city or a beautiful alternative to staying in a hotel on the way to chaco canyon and other area attractions. Since the ranch is just below the Los Pinos trailhead and the Continental Divide trail, we are a stopping and resupply point for CDT hikers and bikers. We are also located in the perfect place for trailriders to stay and head out to explore San Pedro Parks Wilderness.
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.
HORSE FACILITIES: We are currently in the process of updating our facilities for horses. At present we have two corrals and an orchard pasture with water tanks.
Guests stay in THE HACIENDA that was built in the 1920's as a hunting lodge. We have four private rooms upstairs. One, the Honeymoon suite has a private bath and the other three share a bath with the bunkrooms. The small bunkroom sleeps 8 and the big bunkroom sleeps 10. Downstairs is the apartment that includes two private rooms (can be rented individually) a small living room/ dining room area, bathroom and a fully equipped private kitchen. Located at the bottom corner of the top orchard is a yurt for those who want to "rough it" a little more. It is a short walk from the lodge and is furnished with two double beds, dresser and yes, it has electricity. The lodge has a fully equipped kitchen, a large living/meeting room with huge fireplace, and a large terrace. Here at the Circle A, we have a long and colorful history. We often have camp girls from the past revisiting and telling stories of their adventures.
WORK EXCHANGE. We always have projects and chores that need attention. Exchange three hours of your time for a night in a bunk. Ask about this option when making reservations.
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. Even so, the cool night air keeps our adobe buildings naturally air conditioned and sleeping comfortable. Because we are located above 7500 feet elevation, we have an unpredictable spring and winter. We are right on the line where it snows instead of raining. So our season runs from May to October for our guests safety. During our winter to spring months we can have up to several feet of snow fall in one day, making it difficult to impossible to get out even with a four wheel drive and an experienced driver.
One of our longest returning cliests is the The Tracking Project led by John Stokes. If you look carefully while you are out hiking, you might catch a glimpse of a shelter made by one of the groups built out of sticks, bark and pine needles. He draws on his many years of living with Austrailian Aborigines to teach earth centered knowledge to boys (Hawkeye Camp) and girls (Dreamtracking Camp). John is one of the Hawkeye Scouts covered in mud in the picture just outside the downstairs bath off the big living room. He is joined by individuals from various international native backgrounds to add variety to their lessons on natural and cultural awareness, 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 , phone service, transportation to Cuba for shopping, laundry and banking. An hour of free internet is available at the Cuba Library. Hikers are welcome to send packages to the ranch to be held. Please call us so we know you are expecting one.