INTRODUCTION
Both of our families have been coming to the Enchanted Circle since we were kids. As a couple, we’ve been coming here for the last twenty-five years and have a second home in Taos; we love this part of the world that much. We have traveled together all over the world but keep coming back to the Southwest, keep coming back to the Enchanted Circle.
We are both teachers (Mark for high school, and Amy for elementary) and we will each be retiring soon. We chose Taos as our retirement home. The climate is great, the food sublime, the fishing and outdoor recreation top notch, the skiing world class, and the people friendly and interesting. The Enchanted Circle has great craft brews and award-winning wineries, unique shopping, an interesting mixture of so many cultures that produced this weird, cool, awesome culture of clothing, cuisine, rugs, sculpture, paintings, literature, and so much more. From Taos, we are close to the Colorado border; close to Santa Fe and Las Vegas, New Mexico; close to Texas. We are also close to several ski resorts, dozens of trout streams, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and, of course, we are close to some of the finest restaurants in the Southwest.
The Enchanted Circle is a unique result of history and geography. The region enjoys a rich tapestry of peoples and culture. Tourism is the driving economic force for the Enchanted Circle’s communities today and they see up to a million visitors annually. We enjoy and love the region so much, have explored so many of its secrets and joys, that we felt obliged and honored to share it with you.
GETTING TO TAOS & THE ENCHANTED CIRCLE
Generally there are two primary routes to get to the Enchanted Circle: 1) from the southwest (Albuquerque or Santa Fe) or 2) from the east, hitting Cimarron into Eagle Nest. If you are coming from Santa Fe for a day trip or longer, you can take the High Road or the Low Road to reach the Enchanted Circle. Which is better? We like going up the High, coming back the Low. The other main entry into the Enchanted Circle is through Cimarron and Eagle Nest on the eastern side of the byway. You cut off on NM 58 west to US 64 west at Cimarron then on to Eagle Nest.
Cities near Taos and the Mileage to the Enchanted Circle Starting at Taos Plaza
From Albuquerque: 135 miles, 2.5 hours. I-25 north to Santa Fe; exit on NM 599 north to bypass Santa Fe; US 285 north to NM 68 north to Taos.
From Breckenridge: 263 miles, 4 hours. CO 9 south to Fairplay; US 285 south and CO 17 south to Alamosa; US 285 south to Tres Piedras; US 64 east to Taos.
From Crested Butte: 271 miles, 4.5 hours. CO 135 south to Gunnison; US 50 east to US 285 south to CO 17 south to Alamosa; US 285 south to Tres Piedras; US 64 east to Taos.
From Denver: 300 miles, 4.5 hours. I-25 south to Colorado Springs to Walsenburg; US 160 west to Fort Garland; CO 159 south and NM 522 south to Taos.
From Durango: 208 miles, 3.25 hours. US 160 east to Pagosa Springs; US 84 east to Chama; CO 17 south to Antonito; US 285 south to Tres Piedras; US 64 east to Taos.
From Vail: 276 miles, 4.5 hours. I-70 east to Copper Mountain; CO 91 south to Leadville; US 24 east and CO 17 south to Alamosa; US 285 south to Tres Piedras; US 64 east to Taos.
From Amarillo: 302 miles, 4.5 hours. I-40 west to Clines Corners; US 285 north to I-25 south to Santa Fe; US 84/285 to NM 68 north to Taos.
—from taos.org/plan-your-trip/getting-around/
THE ENCHANTED CIRCLE MILE BY MILE
This mile-by-mile chart is to be used as you plan your driving trip around the Enchanted Circle starting with Taos Plaza intersection as your genesis. Set your mileage counter at zero and you’ll be able follow the chart along your route.
| Ground Zero TAOS PLAZA intersection | |
| 0.1 | Kit Carson Park |
| 0.5 | Split to Taos Pueblo on the right, but stay left (north) on NM 522 |
| 1.2 | Taos Pueblo entrance right (east) on Hail Creek Road. This is a second entrance to the Taos Pueblo. You’ll see the smoke shop just off the road to your left when you turn. |
| 2.1 | Historical marker (Taos history) on right with pullout |
| 2.4 | Overland Ranch complex |
| 3.9 | Cutoff to Arroyo Seco and Taos Ski Valley right (east) on NM 150 |
| 4.0 | Four-way light (the Old Blinking Light). Turn left (west) on US 64 to Rio Grande Gorge and Earthships, north on NM 522 to Questa. |
| 5.3 | Historical marker (Taos/Gorge) on left |
| 10.5 | Cross the bridge over Rio Hondo and turn left (west) on B006 and, after a bit, B007 to go to John Dunn Bridge over Rio Grande; here you start your climb to Questa (the road keeps climbing for a good ways). |
| Scrub oak, juniper, sage, mountains to your right. | |
| 13.8 | Historical marker (D.H. Lawrence Ranch) and entrance on the right to D.H. Lawrence Ranch |
| 14.5 | San Cristobal |
| Still climbing (piñon and juniper). | |
| 17.3 | Garrapata Canyon |
| 17.9 | Cebolla Mesa (left) includes parking area |
| 20.0 | Red River Hatchery turnoff (turn left or west on NM 515 for 2 miles) |
| 21.3 | The valley opens up in front of you and you can see the edge of Questa. |
| 21.9 | “Questa Welcomes You” sign |
| 22.5 | Crossing bridge over Red River |
| 23.7 | Traffic light. To get to Red River, turn right (east) on NM 38 and follow for winding 12 miles ahead. |
| 24.0 | Historical marker (Cienega) on the right |
| Note you are leaving scrub oak and seeing more pine trees. | |
| 25.2 | Eagle Rock Lake Day Use Area (right) |
| 25.5 | Red River to the right |
| 27.1 | Goat Hill Campground (Molycorp Mine begins to your left) |
| Watch for bighorn sheep and retaining walls and slides here and there. | |
| 28.7 | Columbine Creek Canyon Hike (right) |
| Curvy road past aspens and pines. | |
| 30.3 | Molycorp Mine in full view to your left |
| 31.8 | Ascent and curves; La Bobita Campground (left) |
| 32.8 | Elephant Rock Campground (left); recent slide near |
| 33.2 | Fawn Lakes Campground |
| 33.9 | June Bug Campground |
| 34.2 | Historical marker (Red River Valley) on right |
| You are on edge of the town of Red River. | |
| 35.0 | Welcome to Red River. Slow down. |
| 35.8 | Red River Community House |
| 37.0 | Road splits. Go left (east) on NM 38 to Bobcat Pass and Eagle Nest (to continue on Enchanted Circle); curvy high mountain road; right (southeast) on NM 578 goes to upper Red River for alpine sightseeing, headwaters fishing. |
| 38.7 | Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area (MM16) |
| 39.2 | Bobcat Pass (9,820 feet) |
| You are going downhill now. Don’t ride your brakes. Shift to lower gears. | |
| 47.1 | Elizabethtown on the right. You will see a weathered “Gold Rush Days” sign to your left. The ghost town is across the road to your right. |
| Now you’ll drop down even more and pass fewer aspens. | |
| You’ll start to see the edge of the Eagle Nest community. | |
| 50.9 | Welcome to Eagle Nest.
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