Scenic Drives Near Taos
HeyTaos · Scenic Drives
Scenic Drives Near Taos
The Enchanted Circle, the High Road to Santa Fe, the Low Road through the Rio Grande Canyon, and the Arroyo Corridor to the ski valley. Four drives, four completely different landscapes, all within a day of Taos.
The Enchanted Circle
An 84-mile National Forest Scenic Byway looping from Taos through Red River, Eagle Nest, Angel Fire, and back. The route circles Wheeler Peak at 13,167 feet, the highest point in New Mexico. Direct drive time is 2.5 to 3 hours. Plan a full day with stops.
Clockwise route from Taos: North on Hwy 522 through Questa, east on Hwy 38 through Red River, south through Bobcat Pass to Eagle Nest, west on Hwy 64 through Angel Fire back to Taos. The Bobcat Pass section at 9,820 feet is the high point of the drive and often snow-covered into spring.
| Stop | What's There |
|---|---|
| Questa | Small village at the junction of Hwy 522 and Hwy 38. Molycorp mine (now closed) shaped the local economy for decades. Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River access nearby. |
| Red River | Former gold mining town. Hiking, trout fishing, chairlift with summer mountain views, lodging, and restaurants. Fills up on summer weekends. |
| Bobcat Pass | 9,820 feet. The highest point on the loop. Good pullout for views toward Wheeler Peak. Aspen color is outstanding here in mid-October. |
| Elizabethtown (ghost town) | About 6 miles south of Red River. First incorporated town in New Mexico territory, founded in 1870 after a gold strike. Ruins only, but the roadside marker is worth stopping for. |
| Eagle Nest Lake State Park | 2,400-acre high-altitude lake. Rainbow trout and landlocked salmon fishing, kayaking, bald eagle and elk viewing. $5/vehicle day use fee. 575-377-1594. |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Angel Fire | White chapel on a hillside in the Moreno Valley, built by a father in memory of his son. Architecturally striking, quietly moving. Free. |
The High Road to Santa Fe
A 105-mile scenic byway connecting Taos and Santa Fe through Spanish Colonial mountain villages in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The route reaches 8,500 feet at Truchas. Allow 4 to 7 hours with stops. Gas stations are sparse on the route , fuel up before leaving Taos.
| Stop | What's There |
|---|---|
| Ranchos de Taos | Starting point. San Francisco de Asis Church, built in 1816. The massive adobe buttresses on the back are the famous view. Active parish. 575-758-2754. |
| Las Trampas | San Jose de Garcia Church, built between 1770 and 1776. One of the best-preserved Spanish Colonial churches in New Mexico. Small village, no services. |
| Truchas | 18th-century Spanish colonial village at 8,000 feet with views of the Sangre de Cristo range. Working art studios and galleries. Setting of Robert Redford's film The Milagro Beanfield War (1988). |
| Chimayo | Southern anchor of the High Road. Santuario de Chimayo is a 19th-century pilgrimage church where visitors take handfuls of healing dirt from a hole in a side chapel. Rancho de Chimayo restaurant serves traditional New Mexican food in a historic adobe. 505-984-2100. |
The Low Road to Santa Fe
Hwy 68 south from Taos to Espanola, then Hwy 84/285 south to Santa Fe. About 70 miles total, approximately 75 minutes without stops. The Low Road runs through the Rio Grande Canyon between Taos and Espanola, following the river through narrowing canyon walls and past several river access points and the Orilla Verde Recreation Area.
The Low Road is the faster route to Santa Fe and has scenery of its own. The river canyon section from Rinconada to Embudo is particularly tight and dramatic. Embudo Station, a historic railroad stop that once served the narrow-gauge Chile Line, has a seasonal outdoor restaurant and beer garden at the river.
The Low Road and High Road are best combined as a loop: take one direction to Santa Fe, return via the other. Most visitors prefer the High Road outbound with stops and the Low Road back for speed.
The Arroyo Corridor (NM-150)
The road to Taos Ski Valley runs north from El Prado through Arroyo Seco village, then northeast up the Arroyo Hondo canyon to Taos Ski Valley. About 18 miles from Taos Plaza to the ski valley base. The canyon section is narrow, winding, and dramatic, with the creek running alongside and the canyon walls closing in.
Arroyo Seco village is worth a stop: a handful of galleries, boutiques, and the Abe's Cantina and Cocina for straightforward New Mexican food. The John Dunn Bridge road turns west off NM-522 before Arroyo Seco and leads down to the Rio Grande and the hot springs.
Driving Tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fuel up before you leave | The High Road and Enchanted Circle have limited gas stations. Fill up in Taos before either drive. |
| Check weather before the Enchanted Circle | Bobcat Pass can have snow or ice into May and again by October. The NM Department of Transportation posts road conditions at nmroads.com. |
| Fall is the best time for the Enchanted Circle | Aspen color peaks at Bobcat Pass around mid-October. The loop gets busy on fall weekends , start early. |
| The High Road takes longer than it looks | The mileage is not the issue; the narrow, winding roads through the villages are. Budget 4 hours minimum for the High Road with any stops. |
| Cell coverage is limited | Download offline maps before leaving town for any of these drives. The High Road and parts of the Enchanted Circle have poor or no cell coverage. |