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Taos, New Mexico · Travel guide

Taos New Mexico Taos Pueblo Gorge Bridge and Ski Valley

Taos sits on a high plateau in northern New Mexico, at nearly seven thousand feet, where the sagebrush plain runs west to the deep slash of the Rio Grande Gorge and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains rise sharply to the east.

By WiserMap TravelUpdated October 2026 9 places10 min read
Taos, New Mexico
Photo: Luca Galuzzi (Lucag), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
The white adobe San Geronimo Chapel with twin bell towers at Taos Pueblo, New Mexico Taos Pueblo The tree-shaded historic plaza of Taos with adobe storefronts, New Mexico Taos Plaza and the historic district The adobe building of the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico Harwood Museum of Art The adobe home that houses the Millicent Rogers Museum north of Taos, New Mexico Millicent Rogers Museum +5 more places
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The result is a small town with an outsized cultural life. In a few days you can walk through a living pueblo, browse galleries around a historic plaza, stand on a bridge high over a river canyon, ski or hike in high alpine terrain and finish each evening with a plate smothered in red and green chile.

At a glance Taos
  1. Best timeSeptember and early October for gold aspens; winter for skiing.
  2. How longThree days for town and Pueblo; add a day for the Enchanted Circle or hiking.
  3. Getting thereDrive from Santa Fe in about an hour and a half, or from Albuquerque in under three.

Why visit Taos

Taos rewards slow travel. Its adobe buildings, low and earth-colored, blend into the land, and the mountain called Taos Mountain dominates every view.

The art history is especially rich. The Taos Society of Artists, founded in 1915, put the town on the national map, and later figures such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Agnes Martin and the writer D. H. Lawrence spent time here.

Outdoors, the range is just as wide. The Rio Grande del Norte National Monument protects the gorge and the surrounding mesas, Taos Ski Valley is one of the most respected ski mountains in the West, and summer brings rafting, mountain biking and alpine hikes to the highest point in New Mexico.

Taos Pueblo and the historic town

The white adobe San Geronimo Chapel with twin bell towers at Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

Taos Pueblo

A short drive north of the plaza, Taos Pueblo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Walking tours led by Pueblo members explain the community's history and traditions, pass the white adobe San Geronimo Chapel near the entrance, and you can visit artisans' shops selling pottery, jewelry, drums and fry bread. Allow two hours.

Practical tip: this is a living community, not a museum. Follow posted rules, stay out of areas marked off-limits, ask before photographing any person, and never enter homes unless invited.

San Geronimo Chapel stands near the entrance of Taos Pueblo. Photo: Bradley Weber, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The tree-shaded historic plaza of Taos with adobe storefronts, New Mexico

Taos Plaza and the historic district

Taos Plaza has been the heart of town since the Spanish colonial period.

Practical tip: park once in one of the public lots near the plaza and explore on foot, since streets are narrow and busy in summer.

Taos Plaza has been the center of town since the Spanish colonial era. Photo: CaroleHenson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Art museums and historic churches

The adobe building of the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico

Harwood Museum of Art

Founded in 1923 and now part of the University of New Mexico, the Harwood Museum of Art on Ledoux Street traces the art history of Taos, from Hispanic religious art and the Taos Society of Artists to modern work.

The Harwood Museum of Art focuses on art made in and around Taos. Photo: newmexico.photographer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The adobe home that houses the Millicent Rogers Museum north of Taos, New Mexico

Millicent Rogers Museum

A few miles north of the plaza, the Millicent Rogers Museum occupies an adobe home and holds an outstanding collection of Native American and Hispanic art, including Pueblo pottery, Navajo weaving, turquoise and silver jewelry and religious folk art.

The Millicent Rogers Museum holds Native American and Hispanic art of the Southwest. Photo: Peter D. Tillman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

La Hacienda de los Martinez

Southwest of the plaza, this fortress-like hacienda dating from the early nineteenth century has rooms arranged around two courtyards, showing how a wealthy Spanish colonial family lived, traded and defended itself on the frontier.

The massive sculpted adobe buttresses at the back of the Ranchos de Taos church, New Mexico

San Francisco de Asis Mission Church

About four miles south of town in Ranchos de Taos, the church of San Francisco de Asis was completed in the early nineteenth century and is one of the most photographed churches in America.

The church of San Francisco de Asis in Ranchos de Taos is famous for its adobe buttresses. Photo: Liveon001 © Travis K. Witt, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

The gorge, the mesa and the mountains

The steel Rio Grande Gorge Bridge spanning a deep basalt canyon, Taos, New Mexico

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

About ten miles northwest of town on US Highway 64, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge spans a basalt canyon roughly 650 feet deep, with the river running far below. Walkways on both sides allow you to stroll out to the middle and look straight down.

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge carries US Highway 64 high above the river west of Taos. Photo: Daniel Schwen, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Curving off-grid Earthship homes built with recycled materials on the mesa, Taos, New Mexico

Earthship Biotecture

Just west of the bridge, the Greater World Earthship Community is home to self-sufficient houses built from used tires, bottles, cans and earth, collecting their own water and power.

Earthships are self-sufficient homes built from tires, bottles and earth on the mesa west of Taos. Photo: Biodiesel33, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

This national monument protects the river canyon and surrounding mesas north of Taos.

The rocky summit ridge of Wheeler Peak above alpine meadows, Taos, New Mexico

Taos Ski Valley and Wheeler Peak

Around twenty miles northeast of town, Taos Ski Valley is known for its steep, challenging terrain, a small Alpine-style village and the high Kachina Peak lift.

Practical tip: start summer hikes at dawn to stay ahead of afternoon thunderstorms, and acclimatize for a day or two first.

Wheeler Peak is the highest point in New Mexico, reached from Taos Ski Valley. Photo: Davishan99, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Eagle Nest Lake in a broad mountain valley on the Enchanted Circle, Taos, New Mexico

The Enchanted Circle

The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway is a loop of roughly eighty-four miles around Wheeler Peak, passing through Questa, the mountain town of Red River, the broad valley of Eagle Nest Lake and Angel Fire. Allow a half day to a full day with stops.

Eagle Nest Lake lies along the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway east of Taos. Photo: Davishan99, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Food and local flavors

Northern New Mexican cooking revolves around chile. At almost any restaurant, you will be asked red or green; answer Christmas to try both.

At Taos Pueblo, look for bread baked in hornos, the beehive-shaped outdoor adobe ovens, along with fry bread and pies.

The Taos Farmers Market runs on Saturdays through the growing season, with chile, honey, baked goods and crafts.

Popular dishes to try in Taos

Green chile in Taos, New Mexico
Green chile Look for blue corn enchiladas, carne adovada, a slow-braised pork in red chile, green chile stew, posole made with hominy, and stuffed sopaipillas, puffy fried bread that also…Photo: MTur Destinos, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Posole in Taos, New Mexico
Posole Look for blue corn enchiladas, carne adovada, a slow-braised pork in red chile, green chile stew, posole made with hominy, and stuffed sopaipillas, puffy fried bread that also…Photo: jeffreyw, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Blue corn in Taos, New Mexico
Blue corn Look for blue corn enchiladas, carne adovada, a slow-braised pork in red chile, green chile stew, posole made with hominy, and stuffed sopaipillas, puffy fried bread that also…Photo: Fratticidio, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Where to stay

Around the plaza is ideal for first-time visitors who want to walk to galleries, museums and restaurants, with historic inns in adobe buildings.

Paseo del Pueblo Sur, the main road south of the plaza, has the widest range of chain hotels and motels, good for budgets and easy parking.

Taos Ski Valley is the obvious choice for skiers in winter and hikers in summer, with lodges and condos at the base of the lifts.

Ranchos de Taos, near the mission church, is relaxed and rural, with guesthouses and casitas.

Where to stay in Taos

Taos Plaza, Taos, New Mexico
Taos Plaza One of the best areas to base yourself in Taos.Photo: CaroleHenson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Arroyo Seco, Taos, New Mexico
Arroyo Seco Arroyo Seco has a small village center with cafes and shops.Photo: Paul Sableman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Taos Pueblo, Taos, New Mexico
Taos Pueblo One of the best areas to base yourself in Taos.Photo: Ansel Adams, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Taos Ski Valley, Taos, New Mexico
Taos Ski Valley Taos Ski Valley is the obvious choice for skiers in winter and hikers in summer, with lodges and condos at the base of the lifts.Photo: Fredlyfish4, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Best time to visit

Taos is a year-round destination.

Summer brings warm days, cool nights and afternoon thunderstorms during the monsoon season, as well as the Taos Pueblo Pow Wow in July.

Winter means snow and skiing at Taos Ski Valley, along with candlelit holiday traditions and bonfires at Christmas Eve celebrations.

Getting there and getting around

Most visitors fly into Albuquerque International Sunport, under three hours away by car, or Santa Fe Regional Airport, about an hour and a half away.

A car is the easiest way to get around, since attractions are spread across the valley.

In winter, carry chains or use a vehicle with all-wheel drive for the road up to Taos Ski Valley.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Visit Taos Pueblo in the morning on a guided walk, then drive to the Millicent Rogers Museum.

Second day

Drive out to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in the morning and continue to the Earthship visitor center.

Third day

Head north into the mountains. In winter, ski Taos Ski Valley; in summer or autumn, hike to Williams Lake or drive the Enchanted Circle through Red River and Eagle Nest, stopping in Arroyo Seco on the way back.

Practical tips

  • Check Taos Pueblo's website before visiting, as it closes for ceremonies and for several weeks in late winter.
  • Always ask before photographing Pueblo residents, and follow any rules on cameras and restricted areas.
  • Drink extra water and use sunscreen; the high-altitude sun is intense even in winter.
  • Pack layers, since temperatures can swing widely between morning and afternoon.
  • Reserve lodging early for ski holidays, summer weekends and September festivals.
  • Fill your tank before long drives into the mountains or across the mesa.

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From galleries and chile-focused kitchens to outfitters and ski shops, Taos is full of independent businesses.

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