Wagon Mound, NM

Wagon Mound sits on the open plains of northeastern New Mexico, named for the distinctive volcanic butte that looks like a covered wagon rolling across the horizon. For generations, travelers along the Santa Fe Trail watched for this landmark as a sign that fresh spring water and the Rocky Mountains were within reach. Today, Interstate 25 runs right along the edge of the village, giving residents wide-open prairie views and an easy route north to Springer or south to Las Vegas.

ATTRVacaypicts / CC BY-SA 3.0

With fewer than 300 residents, Wagon Mound offers a quiet, unhurried pace where neighbors know one another by name. Local life revolves around the all-grades public school, a community garden, and a handful of hometown gatherings throughout the year. It is a peaceful, secluded pocket of Mora County for people who value wide open spaces and a true small-town setting.