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.
AT A GLANCE
Best time
September and early October for gold aspens; winter for skiing.
How long
Three days for town and Pueblo; add a day for the Enchanted Circle or hiking.
Getting there
Drive 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
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.
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.
Art museums and historic churches
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.
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.
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.
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 gorge, the mesa and the mountains
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.
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.
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
This national monument protects the river canyon and surrounding mesas north of Taos.
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.
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.
Planning a trip to Taos?Compare hotels, flights and vacation rentals for Taos on Expedia.Book nowFood 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
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
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.
Find local businesses in Taos on WiserMap
From galleries and chile-focused kitchens to outfitters and ski shops, Taos is full of independent businesses.
