52 Weeks of Fun

Not Just Destination Finders, But Destination Storytellers

Mainstreet Raton

Raton Main Street

Local Attractions

Raton is a city and the county seat of Colfax County, located in the northeastern part of the state, just south of Raton Pass and about six miles south of the New Mexico-Colorado border. Ratón is the Spanish word for mouse.

Raton Pass had been used by Spanish explorers and Native Americans for centuries to cut through the rugged Rocky Mountains. Raton was founded at the site of Willow Springs, a stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail cuts through the city, along what is now Business I-25. In 1879, the Atchison-Topeka-Santa Fe Railway bought a local toll road and established a busy rail line. Raton quickly developed as a railroad, mining, and ranching center for the northeast part of the New Mexico territory.

Raton is home to Sugarite Canyon State Park is located 12 miles to the northeast. Activities there include camping, fishing, and hiking. The largest shooting range in the US, the NRA Whittington Center, is located near Raton and hosts national competitions. The Run to Raton, a motorcycle rally that includes camp-outs, vendors, and free music, takes place every July, and Raton is home to the International Balloon Rally, a hot-air balloon gathering, held on the Fourth of July weekend.

MainStreet is a revitalization program for downtown areas developed over the past twenty years by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is based on the premise that historic buildings cannot be saved unless the downtown area itself is prosperous, offering economic viability. Raton MainStreet combines the resources and efforts of local government, downtown merchants, area businesses, and interested members of the community. Raton welcomes visitors to stay, eat, and play with its community partners.

Wikipedia
Wikipedia

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Raton

Raton has one of the most famous sites for viewing the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K-T) boundary, a thin band of iridium from a meteorite that marked the end of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

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New Mexico Tourism Department

Sugarlite State Park provides opportunities for camping, hiking, and fishing.
Wikipedia

Amtrak serves Raton after passing through a tunnel on the Raton Pass.
New Mexico Tourism Department

Raton provides visitors and residents alike with four seasons of activities.
Wikipedia

Raton is home to an International Ballooning Festival.

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