Attractions Nearby Taos, Day Trips and Excursions

(Taos, New Mexico - NM, USA)

New Mexico is a southern state, surrounded by Arizona (west), Texas (east / south), Oklahoma (east) and Colorado (north). Many New Mexico attractions are close to Taos and lend themselves to day trips and longer excursions.

Popular New Mexico attractions near to Taos include Abiquiu, the Carson National Forest, Jemez Springs and Los Alamos, the latter of which is perched amongst a group of densely wooded areas and atop a hill, where it has a rather unexpected place in history, being the official home of the atomic bomb.

Part of the North American Rocky Mountains, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are close to Taos and are actually the southernmost sub-range of the Rockies, with their recreational attractions extending northwards to Colorado, and southwards towards Santa Fe.

Abiquiu

A small farming valley on the US-84 Highway, Abiquiu is slightly more than 60 miles / 97 km southwest of Taos and is approximately 48 miles / 77 km northwest of Santa Fe, being located on US-285 highway. Abiquiu attractions include both the Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation and the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs and Resort.

Carson National Forest

Ranking as a national forest and located in northerly New Mexico, the Carson National Forest is simply vast and is spread over more than 2,300 square miles / 5,950 square kilometers. The Carson National Forest is managed by the United States Forest Service and really is the place to come if you love the great outdoors, with recreational attractions including everything from hiking and backpacking in areas of wilderness, to rock climbing and even horseback riding. In particular, several noteworthy areas of the Carson National Forest are within easy reach of Taos and are worthy of consideration.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Jemez Springs

Jemez Springs is roughly 102 miles / 164 km from Taos and to the southwest, where it enjoys a narrow valley setting, on the lengthy Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway. This small town stands on the US-4 Highway and comes complete with a choice of guesthouses, restaurants, natural hot springs, monasteries, a Zen Buddhist center and camping sites, at the highly scenic Santa Fe National Forest Ranger Station.

Los Alamos

It was here, in Los Alamos, where during the Second World War the atomic bomb was developed, in top secret. Today, an intriguing collection of attractions relating to the townsite are on exhibit at the Los Alamos Historical Museum and at the Bradbury Science Museum. Day trips to Los Alamos are always popular, being approximately 67 miles / 108 km to the southwest of Taos, and the town center has started to become quite commercial. Nearby, the Valles Caldera National Preserve is often also of interest.

Picuris Pueblo

Situated just 25 miles / 40 km to the south of Taos and easily less than an hour's drive away, Picuris Pueblo is actually the highest American Indian pueblo in the whole of New Mexico. This tiny and charming village is home to a population of less than 100 people and was established more than 1,250 years ago. Attractions in Picuris Pueblo including an interesting Tribal Museum, local pottery, scenic views and a general historic character.

Sangre de Cristo Mountains

There are all kinds of seasonal attractions available around the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with winter skiing being popular within the eastern region, at the Red River and Angel Fire mountain resorts. Experienced skiers may like to check out the extreme slopes at the acclaimed Taos Ski Valley.

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is to be found on the US-64 highway and is just a mere 10 miles / 16 km northwest of Taos. This magnificent cantilever truss bridge spans the Rio Grande Gorge, standing 200 metres / 655 feet above the canyon floor and stretching for almost 400 metres / 1,310 feet. The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is currently USA's fifth-highest bridge and has won a number of awards over the years, with its observation platforms being amongst the main attractions. Recently the bridge has featured prominently in the Hollywood blockuster movies Wild Hogs (2007) and Terminator Salvation (2009).