Taos

Taos is known for Taos Pueblo — North America's oldest continuously inhabited community, over 1,000 years old — the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, and a concentrated arts scene that began with the Taos Society of Artists in the early 20th century. It is also the home of Taos Ski Valley (serious mountain skiing), the Millicent Rogers Museum, and the Earthship Biotecture community.

Yes, particularly for those interested in Native American culture, Southwest arts and architecture, or high-desert landscapes. The Taos Pueblo is one of the most significant sites in North America. The Millicent Rogers collection is extraordinary. The Rio Grande Gorge is dramatic. The town is small enough to be unhurried and has an authentic character that larger Southwest resort cities don't.

Taos Pueblo is a Tiwa-speaking Native American community with multi-story adobe buildings that have been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the National Historic Landmark. You can visit with a day use permit ($25 per adult), and photography permits are sold separately ($6 still, $45 video). The Pueblo occasionally closes to visitors for religious ceremonies — check the schedule before planning.

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge on US Route 64 crosses the Rio Grande 650 feet above the river — the fifth highest bridge in the United States at the time of its completion in 1965. The bridge is 1,280 feet long and spans one of the deepest gorges in North America. There are pedestrian walkways on both sides. The approach across the featureless mesa means the gorge appears suddenly as you drive — it is a genuinely striking moment.

May–June for the most comfortable hiking weather (cool days, no monsoon) and full cultural facilities open. September–October for the aspen colour change above Taos Ski Valley — one of the best autumn colour drives in the Southwest. July and August are warm but afternoon monsoons (2–6 PM) reliably occur. Winter is beautiful with snow and is the ski season, but some trails and outdoor sites have limited access.

Yes, particularly for serious intermediate and advanced skiers. The terrain is genuinely challenging — Kachina Peak at 12,481 feet has sustained steep couloirs and a traditional ski culture without the grooming-over-everything approach of larger resorts. Expert runs account for about 50% of the terrain. Snowfall is consistent due to altitude and northwest exposure. Off-season, the drive up Wheeler Peak Road to the base area is scenic.

The Millicent Rogers Museum houses the personal collection of Standard Oil heiress Millicent Rogers, who moved to Taos in 1947 and accumulated one of the finest private collections of Southwest indigenous art — Maria Martinez San Ildefonso black pottery, historic Navajo textiles, Pueblo jewelry, and Hopi kachinas. The collection quality is museum-quality and the building is a converted series of adobe structures. One of the best smaller museums in the American Southwest.

Two main options: the Low Road (NM-68, 1h 30m) runs through the Rio Grande canyon along the river — a beautiful drive past Embudo and Dixon wineries. The High Road (NM-76, 2h) winds through mountain villages — Chimayó (El Santuario de Chimayó pilgrimage church), Truchas, Las Trampas — passing 400-year-old adobe churches and mountain meadows. Drive one way each direction for both.

Taos sits at 6,969 feet — high enough to cause mild altitude sickness in some visitors arriving from sea level. Symptoms include headache, fatigue, and light-headedness, typically resolving within 24 hours. Drink more water than usual, limit alcohol the first day, and take the first afternoon slowly. Taos Ski Valley reaches 11,819 feet at the summit; allow extra time to acclimatise before strenuous skiing.

The Taos Art Museum at Fechin House (Nicolai Fechin's hand-carved wooden interior and a strong Taos Society collection), the Harwood Museum (Agnes Martin minimal paintings, early Taos Society works), and R.C. Gorman Gallery (Navajo artist's bold figurative works). The Taos Inn's lobby and the surrounding Kit Carson Road have 40+ commercial galleries. Summer gallery walks on Friday evenings visit multiple spaces with artist receptions.

Earthships are autonomous, off-grid homes built from recycled tyres packed with earth, glass bottles, and reclaimed materials, designed to produce their own electricity, collect rainwater, and grow food. The Earthship Biotecture community 15 miles west of Taos has the world's largest concentration of these structures. Visitor center tours run daily; some earthships are available as Airbnb rentals for overnight stays.

Yes. The Rio Grande del Norte National Monument has hiking, petroglyphs, and river access. Wheeler Peak (13,161 ft, the highest point in New Mexico) has a challenging 16-mile round-trip trail from the Taos Ski Valley base. The Rio Grande Gorge has Class III–IV kayaking in spring. Mountain biking is available on forest roads above town. In winter, Taos Ski Valley provides 110 runs.

New Mexico red and green chili — the state question 'red or green?' applies to every sauce served with enchiladas, huevos rancheros, and burritos. Christmas (both red and green on the same plate) is the correct answer. Sopapillas (fried bread with honey). Rancho de Chimayó, 30 minutes south, is one of the best traditional New Mexican restaurants in the state — worth the short drive for dinner.

Yes. Taos Pueblo, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, and the Earthship tour are all engaging for children. Taos Ski Valley has a ski school. The high desert landscape is dramatic and teachable. The Millicent Rogers Museum is appropriate for older children interested in Native American art. The Taos Gorge wild turkey hot springs hike is accessible for older children with adequate water.

The San Francisco de Asis Mission Church in Ranchos de Taos (4 miles south of the Plaza) is an 18th-century Spanish colonial adobe church painted by Georgia O'Keeffe, photographed by Ansel Adams, and sketched by Paul Strand. The massive buttressed rear apse is the most photographed element. The interior is austere and moving. Free to visit; donations appreciated.

The High Road (NM-76 to NM-68) is a scenic mountain drive through a string of Spanish colonial villages that predate US statehood by two centuries. Chimayó's El Santuario (a pilgrimage church with a healing dirt pit) is the most visited stop. Truchas has panoramic mountain views. Las Trampas has an 18th-century church still used by its community. The entire route takes 2 hours without stops; allow 4 hours for the full experience.

The Taos art scene continues to be active and diverse. The historic Taos Society of Artists tradition is well-represented in permanent collections, while contemporary galleries along Kit Carson Road and around the Plaza cover Native American-influenced abstraction, landscape photography, and contemporary sculpture. The town is small enough that the art community and the restaurant/café community overlap — you'll likely run into working artists without looking.