Taos is in one of the most beautiful locations in the state with a lot of history, both ancient and modern. The Taos Native-Americans "The Red Willow People" have lived in the area for the last 1,000 years after possibly moving there from the Pot Creek Pueblo which was abandoned in about 1320. It is one of the two pueblos (the other being the Acoma Pueblo (Sky City) off I-40 west of Albuquerque) that is open to the public. (They are both closed to the public during the Covid-19 epidemic).

The town of Taos lies in a bend of the Sangre de Cristo mountains at the foot of the tallest mountain in the state, Wheeler Peak. Driving to the town from Santa Fe you can either drive through the Rio Grande gorge or take the High Road through the small Pueblo and Hispanic towns of Nambe, Chimayo, Truches, Ojo Sarco, Las Trampas, Picuris, Penasco and Ranchos de Taos along the way. A route to get there is to go north from Santa Fe on USHwy-285/84 to Espanola continue north on USHwy-285 to Tres Piedres then east on USHwy-64 to Taos across the gorge bridge. This way will take you through the Ponderosa pines of the Carson National Forest.

The Taos Pueblo was a trading center for the northern pueblos, Apaches, Navajos, Utes, Comanches, Anglo and French trappers and Hispanics in the past since a break through the mountains to the plains is not too far away.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s it was the center for the Taos Art Colony which was made up of famous people such as Bert Geer Phillips, Ernest L. Blumenschein and Mabel Dodge Luhan. Other artists such as Eanger Irving Couse and Joseph Henry Sharp lived there as well. Taos was also visited by others such as D.H. Lawrence, Georgia O'keeffe and Ansel Adams.

Today it is fun to visit the old downtown plaza, the Bent Street shops, New Mexico's first govenor, Charles Bent's house (where he was murdered by local Hispanics and Taos Pueblo Indians in 1847), Kit Carson's house and the Millicent Rogers Museum. It is also worthwhile to travel ten miles north on Hwy-522 to US Route-64 to go over the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Drive a little further north on US Route-285 to see and visit the community of Earth Ship houses.

On the way to the Taos Ski Valley it is fun to visit the little shops in the little town of Arroyo Seco or to drive north on NMHwy-522 to the small village of Arroyo Hondo to the John Dunn Bridge which crosses the Rio Grande at almost water level. John Dunn was quite an interesting local character.

Taos has many festivals througout the year, but our favorite that we have attended for many years is the Michael Hearne's Big Barn Dance. For many years we went when it was held at the Old Blinking Light Restaurant attended mostly by local C&W dancers. It is now held downtown in the Kit Carson Park and is not the same although there are still many fine musicians on the adjenda.

Our favorite places to stay overnight are either the Casa Benavides Historic Inn or the El Pueblo Inn. We have stayed in the Sagebrush Inn, the Hampton Inn or if you want a really quiet, fancy place the El Monte Sagrado Living Resort & Spa.

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Gallery

High Road to Taos Art Tour - Last two weekends of September

 

On the way to Taos

Truches	Rio Grande Gorge	Arroyo Seco