Things to do in Taos
Late spring and early summer bring wildflowers, river runoff, and warm days, while September and October deliver golden aspens and crisp light prized by artists. Winter turns Taos Ski Valley into a powder destination, though high-desert nights stay cold year-round.
Best months: May, June, September, October
What is worth your time in Taos
Millicent Rogers MuseumDo not miss
A superb collection of Native and Hispanic art, jewelry, pottery, and textiles built around a style icon's personal trove.
Museum · 2 hr4.8
Rio Grande del Norte National MonumentDo not miss
A volcanic plateau split by the Rio Grande Gorge, with rim drives, hot springs, hiking, and prime bighorn and raptor watching.
Day Trip · 7.5 hr4.8
Rio Grande Gorge BridgeDo not miss
Stand 650 feet above the Rio Grande on one of the highest bridges in the country, with dizzying canyon views in every direction.
Landmark · 53 min4.8
San Francisco de Asis Mission ChurchDo not miss
The sculpted adobe buttresses of this 1816 church inspired Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams and remain a Ranchos de Taos icon.
Historic Site · 53 min4.7
Wild Rivers Recreation AreaDo not miss
Rim overlooks and switchback trails plunge to the confluence of the Rio Grande and Red River deep in the basalt gorge.
Nature · 3.5 hr4.6
Taos PlazaDo not miss
The walkable adobe heart of town, ringed by galleries, shops, and cafes around a shaded central square.
Neighborhood · 1.4 hr4.5
Earthship Biotecture Visitor CenterDo not miss
Tour off-grid homes built from tires, cans, and earth in a self-sustaining community that is unlike anywhere else on the mesa.
Architecture · 1.5 hr4.1
Enchanted Circle Scenic BywayDo not miss
An 84-mile loop around Wheeler Peak linking Arroyo Hondo, Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest, and Angel Fire through alpine and high-desert scenery.
Scenic Route · 8 hr
Taos PuebloDo not miss
A UNESCO World Heritage multi-story adobe village continuously inhabited for over a thousand years by the Taos people.
Cultural Experience · 2.3 hr
Taos Ski ValleyDo not miss
A legendary steep-terrain ski resort in winter and an alpine hiking and chairlift basecamp beneath Wheeler Peak in summer.
Activity · 5 hr
Couse-Sharp Historic Site
The preserved home and studios of founding Taos Society painters E.I. Couse and J.H. Sharp, frozen as they left them.
Historic Site · 1.5 hr4.9
Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park
A soaring white chapel near Angel Fire, the nation's first major memorial to Vietnam veterans, set against the mountains.
Historic Site · 1.1 hr4.9
Williams Lake Trail
A four-mile round trip from Taos Ski Valley climbs through spruce forest to a glacial cirque lake under Wheeler Peak.
Nature · 3.5 hr4.9
Rio Grande Gorge West Rim Trail
A flat, breezy clifftop path tracing the gorge edge from the bridge, with constant views straight down to the river.
Nature · 1.8 hr4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Taos sits near 7,000 feet and the ski valley tops 9,000, so pace your first day, hydrate well, and ease into hikes to avoid altitude sickness.
- The best sights spread across the region, so rent a car: the Enchanted Circle, Wild Rivers, and Arroyo Seco are all short drives from the plaza.
- Respect Taos Pueblo rules: it closes for tribal rituals at times, photography permits are required, and some areas are off limits to visitors.
- High-desert weather swings fast, so pack layers and sun protection even in summer, when afternoon thunderstorms are common.
- Order your green chile or red chile 'Christmas' to taste both, and ask for it mild if you are new to New Mexican heat.