This 83-Mile Drive Circles the Highest Peak in New Mexico Through Art Towns and Wilderness

The Enchanted Circle, New Mexico

The Enchanted Circle shows off the best of northern New Mexico in one perfect loop. Starting in Taos, this scenic road winds past Wheeler Peak, through cozy ski towns, and along crystal clear lakes. Here’s your guide to the best stops along this scenic 83-mile route.

Mountain Passes Rise Above 9,800 Feet

Bobcat Pass takes you up to 9,820 feet while Wheeler Peak looms at 13,161 feet – the tallest in New Mexico.

Weather shifts fast up here – you might hit snow near the peaks even when the towns below enjoy sunny skies.

Don’t rush this part, because the steep drop-offs between Angel Fire and Taos need your full focus, but they reward you with views that’ll make you want to pull over again and again.

Gold Rush Town Of Elizabethtown

Elizabethtown boomed after gold was found in 1870, becoming New Mexico’s first town to get its own papers.

Where seven bars and three dance halls once jumped with life, now just quiet ruins remain.

The stone walls of the old Mutz Hotel watch over empty fields where a busy town once stood.

It feels a bit odd as you wander on what’s now private land, but that adds to the ghost town vibe.

Visit Taos Pueblo Where People Have Lived For Over 1,000 Years

The many folks who’ve shaped this land have left their marks for you to find. Taos Pueblo gives you a peek at one of North America’s oldest homes where people still live today.

The San Francisco de Asis Mission Church draws you in with its rich past that’s shown up in countless works of art.

In Questa, you can stop to see a church built in the mid-1800s that still holds its charm.

Red River’s old west feel takes you back to days gone by, while local crafts at Artesanos de Questa show off skills passed down for years.

Don’t miss the adobe homes in Arroyo Hondo that date all the way back to an 1815 Spanish land grant – each town adds its own rich layer to your trip.

Drive The Two-Mile Curvy Road Down From Palo Flechado Pass

The two-mile stretch down into Angel Fire from Palo Flechado Pass twists through old mining lands with no guard rails and big drops.

You’ll want to take it slow here as temps can swing 30 degrees in just one part of your drive.

Spot Elk Herds Grazing In The Moreno Valley Plains

Your eyes will light up when you spot your first herd of elk in the wide Moreno Valley near Eagle Nest.

This mix of woods, fields, and water brings out all sorts of wild things for you to see. Keep watch for mule deer, bears, wild turkeys, and birds of all kinds as you drive.

The Wild Rivers Rec Area has fish, birds, and plants you won’t find just any place. If you love fishing, Eagle Nest Lake holds trout and salmon ready to bite.

Early day and late day give you the best odds of seeing critters out and about.

Red Dirt Hills Show Off The Past Of Gold And Silver Mines

As you cruise through Red River valley, you’ll see signs of mining days all around you. The hills glow with red and ash-gray rocks that once gave up gold, silver, copper, and lead in the late 1800s rush.

Old mine bits sit by the road as you pass, telling tales of hopes and hard work.

Drop By The Chapel That Holds D.H. Lawrence’s Ashes In Hondo Valley

Lush Hondo Valley holds a link to big name writer D.H. Lawrence, who spent time from 1922 to 1925 writing at a quiet ranch.

His wife Frieda built him a small chapel that now holds his ashes, set on a hill with views that sweep for miles.

The chapel sits like a small white gem on the hill, a place of calm that draws folks who love books and those who just want a quiet spot to think.

Hike Down To Where Rio Grande And Red River Join Forces

Just 11 miles north of Questa, you can find your way to the Wild Rivers Rec Area where the Rio Grande and Red Rivers come together in a rush.

Strong legs will take you down trails to the base of the big gap where both waters flow fast and clear.

From high points, you can see both rivers at once – a view that’s worth the climb. You’ve got spots to fish, camp, and swim if you want to stay a while.

Rafting trips run on both rivers, from calm floats to wild rides that’ll get your heart going.

Walk The Bridge That Hangs 565 Feet Above Rio Grande Gorge

The Rio Grande Gorge bridge lets you walk 565 feet above the river that cut this deep scar in the earth.

The bridge runs 1,280 feet from edge to edge, with paths that let you peer down into the deep cut below.

Hawks and eagles soar under your feet as you cross, riding winds that blow up from the gorge.

The views stretch for miles down the rocky split, with bands of black and red rock that show where lava once flowed.

Touch Rocks That Formed Two Billion Years Ago On This Route

Your hands can touch bits of time as you stop along this drive. The rocks here count among the oldest in the whole Southwest – hard quartz and feldspar that have been here for two billion years.

The road runs through lands shaped by old fire hills that once poured hot rock. You’ll see bands of black, red, and rust that mark where lava cooled ages ago.

Relax In Questa Where Lakes And Trails Draw Few Crowds

When the crowds at other spots on the Circle get to be too much, head for Questa.

This small town gives you a break from the buzz, with lakes where you can fish at your own pace and trails where you might not see a soul all day.

The lakes near here draw way less folks than the big name spots on the route. Wild Rivers Rec Area stays neat and clean but sees just a small stream of guests.

Try your luck at Cabresto Lake where the fish bite and the shore stays calm.

Hike Mallette Canyon for views that most folks miss out on.