Scenic Drives | High Road to Taos
2–3 hours between Santa Fe and Taos
The official byway begins in Española and sends people off along State Route 76. In this way you get to stop and visit the historic community of Santa Cruz and the church of the same name. However, since you'll be seeing that during the wedding anyway there is a much more beautiful beginning to this drive if you start by turning off NM 503 from US 84/285. Drive through the Nambé Pueblo and into incredible open terrain that reminds most tourists of the Dakota badlands.
You'll stay on NM 503 for 7.5 miles before coming to a T-intersection with County Road 98. Turn left onto CR 98 and follow it into the Village of Chimayó. Make sure you make a stop and tour the famous Santuario. You may also want to have a bite to eat at Rancho de Chimayó Restaurante just to the north of the main plaza along CR 98. From there continue along CR 98 for another mile until you come to the T-intersection with State Route 76. Turn right on SR 76 and you are now back on the main High Road Drive route. More importantly, your next stop is only 3 miles up the road in the tiny village of Córdova, home to some amazing artists and Sonya and David. Our place is adjacent to the Castillo Gallery. Both are worth a vist.
Rather than describe the rest of the drive in detail let us point out some other must-see places along the route.
Truchas
This historic village is worth a stop in its own right due to the many art galleries and fantastic views there. However it also served as the setting for the film The Milagro Beanfield War. This film is a must-see for anyone wanting to get a sense for what life is like up here in these villages and towns in the mountains. Watch it (or read the book) before you arrive and you'll appreciate better the next hour of your drive. Look carefully for the sharp left turn SR 76 makes in the middle of Truchas or else you'll spend the next 30 minutes wondering where you went wrong as you drive into the ranch land at the east end of the village.
Las Trampas
Contains one of the better preserved and representations of the Spanish adobe style churches in the southwest. San José de Garcia Church was built in the late 18th century. Las Trampas also marks the half-way point along this drive between Santa Fe and Taos.
Peñasco, Vadito, Placita, Rio Pueblo
After driving through these historic farming villages you will come to the final turn off leading into Taos. Catch the switch-back turn onto NM 518 and head up into the Carson National Forest for some fantastic alpine scenery. Or if you have extra time play a round of disc golf at a $3 private course, Two Gray Hares. The course is just after the silver-colored metal bridge spanning the Rio Pueblo near the NM 518 turn off. If you don't want to play an entire round of disc golf try out the well marked 550′ driving range insted. I doubt you'll ever have the chance to play in a more beautiful spot than this.
Rancho de Taos
This tiny town south of Taos is famous for the Church of St. Francis de Asis and for the well-known photographs of it made by Ansel Adams. From here, Taos is just a few miles up the road along State Route 68.
Taos
Taos is the end of this drive. If you made this trip early in the day, spend some time in Taos. I suggest taking a different route back to Santa Fe, however. Follow SR 68 south out of Taos and into the Rio Grande valley. The views of the river and valley are amazing and you'll have a chance to visit a few wineries and wine tasting rooms found in this part of the state (see Wineries section on the Visitor's Things To Do page).
