PPANM – Professional Photographers Association of New Mexico

August 1-3, 2022
Explore the Enchantment of Northern New Mexico

Registration only $159 for PPANM Members

Join Steve and Jacqueline Kozak as they host this unique road trip to Red River in northern New Mexico.

Part workshop, part photo walk and part vacation, this trip promises to be an experience of fun for photographers and families. TPPA has partnered with the Professional Photographers Association of New Mexico to bring you this very special event.

Red River is a mountain town located in the lush Carson National Forest about 30 minutes north of Taos. The summer temps are glorious, and the location is perfect for any number of day trips for exploring the history and scenic beauty of New Mexico.

Our itinerary is full of opportunities to photograph in this diverse region. From mountain forest to desert landscapes and from exploring historic Taos on foot to high mountain vistas by train, this adventure has more than enough to keep you photographing at every turn.

Image by Janet Thetford.

Monday – We will spend most of the day in and around Red River photographing the sights around town. You will find beautiful images of the flowers, hummingbirds, architecture and the river. We will also gather nearby for some natural light portrait tips and a short program to help you get more out of your camera.

Time permitting, we will also photograph the beautiful Palisades and tour the Vietnam War Memorial.

After dinner, we will visit the Wild Rivers Scenic Area for some edgy photographs (pun intended).

©Steve Kozak

Tuesday – We will make a short drive over to Taos to experience the Taos Pueblo. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. You will also see the San Geronimo Chapel which was completed in 1850. Enjoy a little shopping or getting a tasty treat at any of the quaint little shops located in the Pueblo.

Adult admission: $16 per person
Students (11 and up, includes college with ID): $14 per person
Children 10 and under: Free

Then, it is off to downtown Taos for lunch and a walking tour for photographs of its beautiful architecture. We will also take a short drive to the Rio Grand Gorge Bridge and visit the historic San Francisco De Asis Church.

©Bill Hedrick

Wednesday – We get up bright an early for a drive to Antonito where we will board the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad. This memorable trip takes you through a diverse landscape with some of the most beautiful views of Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.

Once on the train, you can make your way to the open air car and photograph from either side of the train. You will enjoy listening to the docents explain the history and the stories of the landscapes. The train arrives in Osier, CO where you will enjoy a wonderful lunch with all the trimmings plus dessert, before you board the train to complete the trip to Chama. After arriving in Chama, we will board a bus which will take us back to Antonito.

Click here to watch a feature story on this great adventure from CBS News.

This is such a wonderful experience and will be fun for the entire family.

There are a variety of trips and options to choose from. Our group trip will be:

Antonito All Aboard Antonito Excursion A/C/Bd

Depart Antonito Depot at 10:00 am – Lunch at Osier Station – Continue to Chama by Train, Arrive back to Antonito Depot by Bus at 5:25 pm

Ticket prices for the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad Using our code, PPANM22
*CLASSIC COACH CAR: ADULT: $114.75
CHILD: $68 (ages 2-12)

Buy Train Tickets Now

Lodging Details

Our headquarters hotel is Lifts West. Unfortunately, rooms have now sold out. But don’t worry, Red River has a lot of lodging options. Here is a link to some of the properties you might enjoy. There are also campgrounds and several VRBO properties. Steve Kozak knows Red River very well. Feel free to call Steve Kozak at 972-601-9070 for lodging recommendations for you and/or your family.

Registration