High Rolls, NM

Perched in the Sacramento Mountains inside the Lincoln National Forest, High Rolls offers a quiet mountain retreat just a short drive up Highway 82 from Alamogordo. Often paired with its neighboring community of Mountain Park, this scenic mountain pocket sits high enough above the desert basin to enjoy four distinct seasons, cooler summer temperatures, and pine-covered hillsides. Originally settled around the old mountain railroad, it still holds onto a laid-back, rural feel with winding canyon roads, fruit orchards, and plenty of breathing room.

Families with younger kids have High Rolls Mountain Park Elementary right in the neighborhood, while older students head down into Alamogordo for middle and high school. Daily life centers on the outdoors and the area's fruit-growing roots, from roadside cherry stands in the summer to quiet forest trails right out the back door. The local Lions Club brings neighbors together with the annual Cherry Festival in June and Apple Festival in September, filling the calendar with fresh cider, local crafts, and small-town charm.