New Mexico’s Most Beautiful Drive Passes Through Ancient Pueblo Lands & Spanish Missions from the 1500s

The High Road to Taos Scenic Byway, New Mexico

The High Road to Taos is a mountain route connecting Santa Fe and Taos through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico.

You won’t find many short drives with so much to see. The High Road takes you through an amazing mix of landscapes – dry deserts, pine-covered mountain passes, wide sandstone cliffs, and valleys with small tin-roofed houses.

Along the way, you’ll spot craft shops, art galleries, old churches, and cozy cafés. Here are some of our favorite spots along the High Road to Taos.

El Santuario de Chimayo Sits 8 Miles East of Española

One of your first major stops should be historic Chimayó, a U.S. National Park American Latino Heritage site.

The village church, El Santuario de Chimayó, is famous for miracles and has earned the nickname “The Lourdes of America” because of the holy dirt found in a small room inside.

The 19th-century church draws thousands of pilgrims each year, especially on Good Friday, who come looking for the “miraculous dirt” that many believe can heal.

Located about 8 miles east of Española on NM-76, this sanctuary is easy to find with clear signage directing you off the main highway to the church grounds.

Plaza del Cerro Is Just Off Highway 76 in Chimayo

In Chimayó, you’ll find Plaza del Cerro, the last Spanish fortified plaza still standing in the entire Southwest. When you walk around, you can see walls and rooms early Spanish settlers built to protect their vegetable gardens from attacks. It’s the most complete Spanish plaza left in New Mexico.

Dating back to the early 1700s, this plaza shows how Spanish settlers adapted to frontier life.

Located just a short detour off Highway 76 in Chimayó, the Plaza del Cerro sits near El Santuario, letting you visit both historic sites with a single stop early in your High Road journey.

Cordova Woodcarvers Village Sits Between Chimayo and Truchas

You’ll find Córdova about 5 miles northeast of Chimayó along NM-76 as the High Road begins to climb into the mountains, making it an easy early stop on your journey north.

To reach the village of Córdova, you’ll need to navigate some narrow streets above a river valley. This little place is famous for its woodcarvers who make santos (saints) in what’s called the “Córdova Style.” These unique carvings are left unpainted to show off the natural grain and shape of the wood.

The Road Climbs Between Chimayo and Truchas

The name “High Road” isn’t just for show – this route really does climb much higher than the “Low Road” (Highway 68) that runs through the valleys.

Some parts reach pretty high elevations, so keep an eye on the weather forecast, especially in winter.

After you leave Chimayo, the road starts climbing up from desert landscape, and by the time you pass the village of Truchas, you’re in higher pine forest.

The most dramatic elevation change happens in the 15-mile stretch of NM-76 between Chimayo and Truchas, where you climb about 3,000 feet through winding mountain roads with spectacular valley views.

Watch for Narrow Roads Between Las Trampas and Peñasco

The road has some hills and tight turns that need your attention, but most drivers handle it fine if they drive carefully.

Just avoid coming on snowy days when those hills get slippery. Watch out for narrow spots and local drivers who know the road well and sometimes drive fast around curves.

The most challenging section comes between Las Trampas and Peñasco on NM-76 and NM-75, where the road narrows significantly with some tight switchbacks.

Your GPS might try to send you on the faster Low Road instead of the scenic route, so it helps to have good directions or a paper map.

The Full Route Takes Most of a Day

The whole trip from Santa Fe to Taos on the High Road covers about 105 miles. With no stops, you could drive it in around 2-2.5 hours because of the winding roads and lower speed limits.

But the real magic happens when you take your time to explore villages, historic sites, and lookout points, which can stretch your journey to 4-7 hours.

Most travelers break up the drive with at least 4-5 stops along the way. If you’re starting in Santa Fe, plan to leave by mid-morning to ensure you have plenty of daylight to enjoy the route and still reach Taos before dark.

Las Trampas Historic Village Is Past Chimayo

When you reach Las Trampas, you can explore a historical district that preserves an 18th-century Spanish colonial village almost exactly as it was.

The San Jose de Gracia de las Trampas church here is one of New Mexico’s best examples of Spanish Colonial architecture still standing.

Las Trampas was founded in 1751 under a royal land grant called “Santo Tomás Apostol del Río de las Trampas” (Saint Thomas, Apostle of the River of Traps).

Despite facing a smallpox epidemic and raids from Plains Indians, the villagers managed to build the San José de Gracia Church, finishing it in 1776. You’ll find Las Trampas about 18 miles northeast of Chimayó on NM-76 as you continue climbing into the mountains.

Truchas Village Sits on a Mesa

The drive into Truchas rewards you with amazing views, as this village sits on a mesa below 13,101-foot Truchas Peak, the second-highest mountain in New Mexico. Since Truchas marks the halfway point between Santa Fe and Taos, it makes a perfect rest stop.

Check out the early 19th century church, Nuestra Señora del Rosario, with its two large altar screens, including one from 1821 made by Pedro Antonio Fresquis.

Art Galleries Line Highway 76

As you drive along NM 76 through Cordova, Truchas, and Ojo Sarco, you’ll spot galleries selling woodcarvings, pottery, rugs, and other local crafts.

The natural beauty of this area has drawn many artists over the years, giving you plenty of art to browse during your journey.

In Truchas alone, you’ll find several galleries along CR-75, including Hand Artes Gallery for folk art, Judith Hert for abstract paintings, and Sally Delap-John for watercolors.

The greatest concentration of galleries is found in the 10-mile stretch of highway through Truchas and Ojo Sarco, where many artists have converted old adobe buildings into studios that welcome visitors.

Carson National Forest Surrounds the Road After Peñasco

After you pass the farming community of Peñasco, the High Road turns left onto NM 518, taking you through Carson National Forest with its alpine scenery and beautiful views.

Look for trails and fishing spots along the Rio Pueblo, and enjoy the mountain vistas as you drive.

With 1.5 million acres, Carson National Forest gives you plenty of space to hike, fish, or enjoy winter activities like snowshoeing and snowmobiling. The forest surrounds the final 16-mile stretch of NM-518 between Peñasco and Ranchos de Taos, providing a cool, pine-scented finale to your journey.

San Francisco de Asis Church Sits Before Taos

The San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos is one of the most photographed churches around. Look for its massive adobe buttresses, high ceilings with wooden roof beams (vigas), and hand-carved corbels.

Inside, you’ll find religious artwork created by Molleno, an early 19th century santero, and the church has New Mexico’s largest altar screen.

Every June, local people and volunteers gather for “The Enjarre” – a community event where they re-mud the entire outside of the church to protect it from weather.

Located where NM-518 meets Highway 68 in Ranchos de Taos, this church marks the traditional end of the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway, just 4 miles south of Taos Plaza.

Picuris Pueblo Is a Small Detour

Take a side trip off Highway 75 to visit Picurís Pueblo and learn about Native American history in the region. Before the Spanish arrived, it was one of the most powerful pueblos, located where two rivers meet and near a major mountain pass to the Great Plains.

This made it perfect for trading with Apache tribes, though it became vulnerable when the Spanish brought horses and Comanches moved into the area.

Look for the distinctive gold-colored pottery with sparkly mica flecks that Picurís is known for. You’ll find Picuris Pueblo just east of the junction where NM-76 meets NM-75, about 35 miles north of Chimayó.

It’s a small detour off the main High Road route that’s well worth the extra few minutes of driving.

Pot Creek Cultural Site Sits Along Highway 518

Pot Creek Pueblo once housed nearly a thousand Anasazi people in a large adobe compound similar to Taos Pueblo. While most of the abandoned pueblo is on private land today, you can visit the Pot Creek Cultural Site from June to September.

Take the one-mile loop trail to see ancient pottery, stone tools, and ruins of three adobe buildings, plus one restored structure with an eight-room home and kiva (ceremonial chamber).

This archaeological site is located along NM-518 between Carson National Forest and Ranchos de Taos, about 10 miles before you reach the end of the High Road.

San Francisco de Asis Church Marks the End of the High Road

About four miles outside of Taos in Ranchos de Taos Plaza stands the San Francisco de Asis Church. The Spanish built it in 1772 using a mix of straw and mud, making it one of the oldest buildings still standing in Taos.

Famous photographer Ansel Adams and artist Georgia O’Keeffe both fell in love with this place, especially the curved lines of its back wall.

Artists still come here today, trying to capture the way light plays on the unique adobe buttresses. This iconic church is located at the northern terminus of the High Road where NM-518 meets Highway 68 in Ranchos de Taos, serving as the symbolic endpoint of your journey.

Driving the High Road to Taos

To start the scenic drive, head north from Santa Fe on US-285 for 25 miles until you reach Española. From there, go east on NM-76 through high desert toward the farming valley town of Chimayó.

If you’re starting right from Santa Fe, look for the intersection of U.S. 285/84 and State Road 503 near Pojoaque.

This marks the official southern beginning of the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway, though some travelers start from Española instead by taking NM-76 directly.

Get good directions before you go since GPS and map apps often send you on the faster route instead of the scenic byway.