High Road to Taos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids High Road to Taos |
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Truchas, with Truchas Peaks in background
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| Location | New Mexico |
| Designated | February 28, 1975 |
| Reference no. | 363 |
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The High Road to Taos is a super cool, winding road in New Mexico. It stretches for about 56 miles (90 km) through the amazing Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This road connects two famous towns: Santa Fe and Taos.
As you drive, you'll see many different landscapes. There are high deserts, tall mountains, green forests, and small farms. You'll also pass through tiny villages. Some were settled by Spanish families long ago, and others are Pueblo Indian villages. Along the way, you might find art galleries and studios. Artists love this area because of its natural beauty. New Mexico has even named it an official scenic byway.
Exploring the High Road to Taos
Starting in Nambé
The High Road to Taos adventure begins north of Santa Fe. You'll find the start in Pojoaque, New Mexico, where U.S. 285/84 meets State Road 503. The road then follows State Road 503 to Nambé Pueblo.
This pueblo was founded way back in the 1300s! In their language, Tewa, "Nambé" means "People of the Round Earth." The main plaza in the pueblo is a special historic place. The church you see today isn't the original one. The old church sadly collapsed during a restoration attempt. Nambé Pueblo covers a huge area of 19,000 acres (77 km²). It has beautiful waterfalls, lakes, and mountains. Long ago, Nambé was famous for its pottery. Today, pottery is becoming popular again, especially black-on-black and red-on-white styles. Weaving is also making a comeback here.
Discovering Chimayó
The road continues through rolling hills. You'll see cool, wind-carved rock formations called hoodoos. After about 7.5 miles (12 km), the High Road turns left onto State Road 98. This road crosses open desert until it dips down into the green, farming valley of Chimayó.
Many visitors stop at the historic Santuario de Chimayó. This small church was built between 1811 and 1816. People from all over the United States and Mexico visit it. Thousands come, especially on Good Friday during Easter week. A bit further on, you can find the Rancho de Chimayó Restaurant. It's in an old adobe building. Chimayó is also known for its traditional weaving studios. These are run by families whose ancestors were the first Spanish settlers here.
Visiting Córdova
When State Road 98 ends, turn right onto State Road 76. Here, the road starts climbing into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. You'll soon reach the small villages of the High Road. The first is Córdova. It has narrow streets above a river valley. You can reach it by taking a road on the right.
Córdova is famous for its traditional woodcarvers. They create santos, which are carvings of saints. They use a special "Córdova Style." These carvings are not painted. Instead, they show off the beautiful grain and shape of the wood. You can take a short drive into the village and then return to State Road 76.
The Village of Truchas
The road keeps climbing to the top of a high mesa. Here you'll find the village of Truchas. Its name means 'trout'. It's a collection of adobe houses with the snow-capped Truchas Peaks in the background. The High Road and State Road 76 turn left here. However, much of the village is straight ahead on State Road 75.
This Hispanic farming community was once used as a movie set. It was for the film The Milagro Beanfield War. Truchas was founded in 1754. It was part of a royal land grant. This grant helped create a safe area against Apache and Comanche groups. These groups often raided both Spanish villages and Native American pueblos. So, Truchas was built like a walled fort around a plaza. Its settlers dug miles of acequias (irrigation ditches). These brought water from the trout-filled river that gave the town its name.
Today, many residents still farm. But some also work in Santa Fe or Los Alamos. A few still make traditional crafts. Many European-American artists and galleries have also moved to Truchas. They are drawn by the amazing mountain views.
Passing Through Ojo Sarco
The High Road continues along State Road 76. It goes through the former Las Trampas Land Grant. This area is now part of the Carson National Forest. You'll pass several very small villages. The first is Ojo Sarco. People believe it's named after a spring in a nearby cañada (glen). The name was sometimes spelled Ojo Zarco. Ojo means "eye" in Spanish, but it also means "spring." Zarco means "light blue." So, the name means "blue spring."
Historic Las Trampas
Next, you'll reach Las Trampas. It was founded in 1751. This was also thanks to a royal land grant. Its full name was "Santo Tomás Apostol del Río de las Trampas" ("Saint Thomas, Apostle of the River of Traps").
Even though a smallpox sickness and raids by Plains Indians caused many problems, the village of Las Trampas survived. The settlers managed to build the grand San José de Gracia Church. It was finished in 1776. This church is a National Historic Landmark. The village itself is also a National Historic District. The building across from the church with the small bell tower used to be the school.
El Valle and Ojito
State Road 76 continues through the Carson National Forest. Smaller roads lead off to El Valle, which means 'the valley', and Ojito, meaning 'little spring'. Both were settled by people from Las Trampas. You can take scenic drives through the forest to reach them.
Chamisal Village
The next village on SR 76 is Chamisal. It was also settled by Spanish villagers who moved from Las Trampas. All these villages are within the Las Trampas land grant. Chamisal is probably named after the "chamisa" shrub. This plant turns golden in late summer. Chamisal Creek flows northwest to join the Peñasco River. There is a small, old church in the village. Just follow the sign to the old plaza.
Picurís Pueblo
When SR 76 ends at a stop sign, the High Road turns right onto State Road 75. However, if you turn left, you can visit Picurís Pueblo. The Spanish explorer Don Juan de Oñate called these people "pikuria," meaning "those who paint."
Before the Spanish arrived, Picurís was one of the largest and strongest pueblos. It was located where two rivers met. It was also on a major mountain pass leading to the Great Plains in the east. This important location made it a key place for trading with the Apaches. But when the Comanches arrived and the Spanish brought horses, the pueblo became easier to attack.
The brave Picurís people kept fighting the Spanish even after the Spanish took back control of the area. Because of this, many tribe members were lost. Like Taos Pueblo, Picurís is a Tiwa pueblo. Today, Picurís is small but has a thriving buffalo herd. They also run a hotel in Santa Fe. The pueblo is known for its gold-colored pottery. This pottery has shiny flecks of mica. The 200-year-old San Lorenzo de Picurís church fell down in 1989 due to water damage. But the pueblo members rebuilt it by hand! San Lorenzo Feast Day is August 10. (Please remember, tribal members ask visitors to get permission before taking photos anywhere on the pueblo.)
Peñasco Area
The High Road continues on State Road 75 into Peñasco. The villages of Llano San Juan, Llano Largo, and Santa Barbara, all in the Peñasco area, were first settled by Spanish colonists in 1796. That's the same year Taos was settled. Today, the town of Peñasco serves the many villages and rural areas around it. It also serves the people of Picurís Pueblo.
Llano San Juan and Llano de la Yegua
Leaving Peñasco, the High Road and State Road 75 make a wide curve to the left. If you go straight onto State Road 73, you can take a side trip into Llano San Juan and Llano de la Yegua. A es|llano is a "broad, treeless plain," while es|yegua means mare. These are lush, green valleys with steep mesas on the sides. The small village of Llano San Juan has the San Juan Nepomuceno Catholic Church.
Vadito Village
The High Road continues along State Road 75 through the tiny village of Vadito. Its name means "little ford." After Vadito, the road goes through the valley of Placita.
Sipapu Ski Resort
At the "stone wall" intersection, the High Road turns left onto State Road 518 to Ranchos de Taos. However, just a few miles east on SR 518 is Sipapu Ski Resort and Recreation Area. The drive to Sipapu through the Carson National Forest is very scenic. There are also many trails and fishing spots on the Rio Pueblo.
Talpa Village
The High Road turns northwest along SR 518. It passes through more valleys and beautiful views of the Carson National Forest. Eventually, it reaches Talpa, the last village on the High Road. Talpa is a very old place. Pit houses and pueblos were built here from 1100 to 1300. Spanish colonists settled it in the early 1700s, around the same time as Taos. Talpa means "knob." This might refer to a rock formation in one of Talpa's small canyons.
Ending in Ranchos de Taos
The High Road officially ends where SR 518 meets SR 68 in Ranchos de Taos. But for many, the real end is the famous San Francisco de Asis Mission Church. It's just a few blocks south. This church is one of the most painted and photographed churches in the country. Its unique back buttresses were famously painted by Georgia O'Keeffe. They were also photographed by Paul Strand and Ansel Adams. The church took a long time to build, from 1772 to 1815.
Location Details
- Starting Point: 35°53′49″N 106°01′12″W / 35.897°N 106.020°W
- Ending Point: 36°21′29″N 105°36′29″W / 36.358°N 105.608°W
