Mountain Runway Lodge - Stay on the Airstrip

Hello, I’m Don, a retired firefighter with a lifelong taste for travel and adventure. As both a frequent vacation-rental guest and a host, I value accurate details, thoughtful preparation, comfort, and clear communication from booking through checkout.

En español: hablo español con fluidez y con gusto ayudo a huéspedes hispanohablantes.

Travel has taken me throughout Mexico and Central America; twice by motorcycle from Tijuana to Vancouver along the Pacific Coast; to Mount Everest Base Camp; across the Pacific on a 40-foot sailboat from San Diego to Hawaii; and to Africa for mountain-gorilla trekking, a Maasai Mara photo safari, and rafting the Nile. I’m also an avid scuba diver and lionfish slayer.

Mountain Runway Lodge brings together two things I love—adventure and the Sacramento Mountains—with a rare front-row view of Timberon’s airstrip. Guests have privacy, and I remain available through Vrbo for practical help or local insight.

Timberon is a remote mountain community at about 7,000 feet, surrounded by Lincoln National Forest and about 32 scenic miles from Cloudcroft. Guests come for quiet, dark skies, abundant wildlife, fishing, golf and forest trails. Groceries, fuel and other services are limited, and cell coverage can be weak. Local roads include maintained gravel and dirt with loose rock or washboard; rain, snow and ice can change conditions quickly, so arrive prepared for a true mountain setting.

Most guests arrive by car. ATVs, UTVs and side-by-sides are widely used around Timberon and on legal nearby trails. Please follow local rules, stay off private property and drive slowly through the neighborhood. Four-wheel drive and good tires are helpful on gravel and dirt roads, especially during rain, snow or ice. In normal conditions, our housekeepers drive these roads every day in a Honda Civic. Download maps before arrival because cell service and turn-by-turn directions can be unreliable.

The entire lodge, wraparound deck, and yard are yours. There's plenty of gravel parking for trailers and 4-wheelers. Timberon's community amenities are minutes away: the stocked fishing lake (New Mexico fishing license required — available at Walmart), the nine-hole golf course, the community pool in summer, and the public 5,200-foot airstrip right across the road — fly-in guests welcome. If you bring a side-by-side, please make sure it has a spark arrestor and is properly licensed for off-road use, and drive responsibly on our community roads.

We're just a message away before and during your stay, and happy to share local tips for Timberon and the Sacramento Mountains.

There is no grocery store in Timberon, so we recommend coming prepared with everything you need. We do have a small convenience store with limited items, but it's best to bring all your essentials. Also, make sure you have enough gas for the 32-mile trip from Cloudcroft, as there is no gas station in Timberon. Please note: reaching the lodge requires driving on a dirt road with loose rock — take it slow. Wildlife: we're surrounded by the Lincoln National Forest, so deer, elk, and other wild animals may be seen outdoors around the lodge. Please enjoy them from a distance.

REMOTE-STAY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Before booking, please confirm you understand that cellular service and nearby services are limited; access includes unpaved roads; wild animals may be outdoors; and fast-changing mountain weather can temporarily affect power, water, or other utilities. Fast Starlink Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, and compatible phones can use Wi-Fi calling.
No outside fires or open-flame grilling without prior host permission.