2024 Taos Visitors Guide
Native American, Spanish, and Anglo cultures are preserved throughout Taos in art galleries and restaurants serving traditional northern New Mexico cuisine. To experience the further culture, Taos Pueblo, an ancient Native American community, is a must-see. Taos provides a unique shopping experience, boasting everything from Southwestern art and traditional native crafts to ceramics, leather goods, and jewelry. The Historic Taos Plaza offers a medley of shops and galleries housed in old adobe buildings. Visitors enjoy visiting one of the city’s museums, including La Hacienda de Los Martinez one of the last Spanish Colonial haciendas. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Alpine Mountains provide trails perfect for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. In winter, there are three ski hills within 18 mi (29 km) of Taos, including The Red River Ski & Snowboard Area. The famed Rio Grande River flows near Taos and provides ample opportunities for fly fishing, rafting, and kayaking.
Taos County
Located in north-central New Mexico, Taos County borders Colorado and boasts a wide variety of traveler services and attractions. Taos has become the base for a sizable arts community, a trait that defines much of this city and the surrounding area. Built on a rich history, Taos County is home to a number of museums that recall the pioneer spirit and the days of the Wild West, including the Governor Bent House and Museum in Taos.
In addition to offering local historical attractions, the county is also a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering three ski hills for winter fun as well as the Rio Grande River for fly fishing, rafting and more in the warmer months. Cyclists flock to Arroyo Seco every year for the Taos Alpine Classic Cycling Event, featuring race classes for all ages and skill levels. For film buffs, the annual Taos Mountain Film Festival features adventure, cultural and outdoor-themed films every October.
Taos Pueblo
A noteworthy example of a traditional type of architecture from the prehistoric Anasazi Indian tribes, is multi-storied adobe buildings that have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. It is the best-preserved of the pueblos north of the border and is unique to this region. Still an active community, the Taos is inhabited by the Taos Pueblo Indians. Located in the valley of a small tributary of the Rio Grande. Designated both a World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark. Telephone: 1 505 758-1028
Winter Recreation
Not so very long ago, miners, trappers, cattlemen, and sheepherders circled Wheeler Peak, the highest peak in New Mexico at 13,161 feet, following the faint lines of ancient footpaths to remote villages. The same mountains that used to divide now provide a winter playground called The Enchanted Circle. Snowshoe and cross country ski enthusiasts enjoy the backcountry trails and meadows in Carson National Forest and the groomed trails at the Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area. Anglers explore the frozen surface of Eagle Nest Lake and try their hand at landing Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow, and Cutthroat Trout. For fast and furious fun in the snow, take a guided snowmobile trip through the valleys and mountains. You can see for miles and miles.
Whether you are a beginning or expert skier, the four resorts of Taos, Red River, Sipapu and Angel Fire offer everything from delightful cruising runs to demanding thrills down the hills. Combine an altitude of 8,000-plus feet, an arid climate, and New Mexico sunshine and you have Champagne Powder! With the lightest, driest, fluffiest powder possible and the lowest water content of any snow, this makes for skiing ecstasy.
Taos Ski Valley
This is one of North America’s top ski resorts. Catering more to serious skiers, it features 110 runs, including some extreme vertical slopes, 12 lifts, a terrain park, ski school, and a resort center featuring restaurants, ski storage, rentals, repairs, a retail store, and a medical clinic. Opening to snowboarders in 2008, Taos is no longer a skiing-only resort. Telephone: 1 866 968-7386
Summer Recreation
A rich landscape has been a constant framework for Taos throughout its history. The tallest mountains in New Mexico tower majestically in the northeast. To the southwest are horizontal waves of high mesa desert and the thick shadow of the Rio Grande Gorge.
Mountain bikers will love single tracks such as the world-class, 27-mile South Boundary Trail. The West Rim Trail follows the Rio Grande Gorge for nine scenic miles. You can get an endorphin rush with some high-altitude tennis or rock climbing up the face of a craggy granite cliff. For a wet and wild white water adventure, try the class Irapids of the Taos Box or take a gentle float trip down the Pilar Race Course. See Taos from the air by plane or take a “splash and dash” hot air balloon ride over the Rio Grande Gorge.
The golf course at Taos Country Club meanders through the sagebrush, and the course at Angel Fire is nestled in a high mountain valley. Both are 18-hole, PGA-rated championship courses.
Horseback riding and llama trekking will be popular with your family. When the snow melts into our pristine mountain streams, flyfishing for Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout is a great way to spend the day. Taos County has five ecosystem ranges, and more than half of our 1,444,480 acres are managed by Carson National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management. This means your outdoor options are vast, with terrain so varied you can hike 650 feet down the inverted ecosystem of the Rio Grande Gorge one day, then horseback ride above our timberline of 11,000 feet the next day. Whatever is on your outdoor adventure menu, relax at a spa or hot springs afterward… perhaps a massage is in order!
Historic Taos Plaza
The Historic Taos Plaza features a number of specialty shops that carry authentic New Mexico products. Jewelry, artwork and food are among the items sold at this mall.
Taos Events
All year long our calendar reflects the eclectic interests and multicultural nature of Taos. From brewpubs and draught houses to western bars with big-screen televisions, Taos and neighboring towns are lively when the sun goes down. We have live dance music almost every night at local clubs.
Have a mountain of fun at the Taos Mountain Casino, a Taos Pueblo enterprise. The only smoke-free casino in New Mexico, the casino is built in the traditional adobe style. Enjoy the dramatic views of Taos Mountain through the casino’s many windows as you challenge the slot machines and play blackjack, roulette and video poker. Visit the gift shop, take a break at the cafe and enjoy live entertainment on the weekends.
Ski areas bustle all winter long, and every summer Taos School of Music and Music From Angel Fire make our mountains come alive with the sounds of classical music. Taos and Picuris Pueblos host visitors during their religious ceremonies. Enjoy performances by the Taos Chamber Music Group and the Taos Community Orchestra and Chorus. The Taos Art Association presents numerous national and local performing art events. Stargazing, barn dances, bike races, independent film screenings, poetry contests, art shows, and crafts fairs are just a few of the reasons Taos is a little town with big things to do.
Taos Art
The desire to interpret important moments, to celebrate life and to honor our gods are creative elements that have existed throughout the history of the Taos valley. For 900 years, the Taos Pueblo Indians have worked with clay, fiber, leather, wood, and stone. Since the first permanent settlement 400 years ago, Spanish settlers have decorated their churches and homes, creating an art form unique to our area. The first European-trained artists arrived 100 years ago and fell in love with the people, the landscapes and the light of Taos.
Our art legacy lives today. You’ll find new generations of enthusiastic artists outside, capturing the famous Taos light. They’re sculpting, painting, composing music, singing, writing, dancing, working in all styles and mediums. If you notice a certain warmhearted atmosphere, it’s the synergy of cultures, generations, and personalities creating and interacting. More than 1,000 artists live in Taos County and exhibit at our 80-plus art galleries.
Wilder Nightingale Fine Art
A schedule of art exhibitions is offered at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art, located in Taos, New Mexico.
Address: 119 A Kit Carson Road | Taos, NM | 87571. Telephone: 1 505 758-3255
Sage Fine Art
Sage Fine Art offers a schedule of temporary exhibitions by contemporary artists.
Address: 115 East Taos Plaza | Taos, NM | 87571. Telephone: 1 505 758-9396
Walden Fine Art
The work of several New Mexico artists is on display at this Taos gallery, representing an eclectic mix of paintings, sculptures, prints and abstract pieces. The gallery hosts a number of shows and exhibits throughout the year.
Address: 106 A Paseo Del Pueblo Norte | Taos, NM. Telephone: 1 505 758-4575
The Variant Gallery
Established in 1979, this gallery offers a selection of original watercolors, photography, oil paintings, jewelry, pottery and sculpture. A number of local artists are featured in temporary exhibitions.
Address: 135 North Plaza | Taos, NM | 87571. Telephone: 1 505 758-4949
Taos Museums
Governor Bent House and Museum
Visit the home of the first Governor of New Mexico and view 19th-century artifacts, as well as works of Taos artists. Address: 117 Bent Street | Taos, NM. Telephone: 1 505 728-2376
Millicent Rogers Museum
Open daily, this museum offers a bounty of artifacts and exhibits pertaining to arts and culture in northern New Mexico. The museum’s collection includes pueblo pottery, textiles, basketry, kachina dolls, Hispanic arts and crafts, tinwork, and more. Address: 1504 Millicent Rogers Road | Taos, NM | 87571. Telephone: 1 505 758-2462
E.L. Blumenschein Home and Museum
Located a block and a half from Taos Plaza, this historic 1797 adobe home was purchased in 1919 by Ernest L. Blumenschein, an artist who was instrumental in the creation of the Taos Society of Artists. The home showcases a collection of the Blumenschein family’s art, other artwork by famous Taos artists, and European and Spanish Colonial-style antiques. Address: 222 Ledoux Street | Taos, NM
La Hacienda De Los Martinez
One of the last remaining Spanish Colonial haciendas open to the public, La Hacienda de Los Martinez features period rooms that illustrate the lifestyle of Taso residents in the early 1800s. Address: Lower Ranchitos Road | Taos, NM. Telephone: 1 505 758-0505
Taos Hotels & Lodging
There are over 2,000 guestrooms available in Taos County. There are ski chalets on the slopes at Taos Ski Valley, full-service hotels in town and many unique bed and breakfast inns throughout the county. Go to any of the websites shown at the right to find the perfect accommodation for your visit to Taos.
El Monte Sagrado
This property features 35 suites decorated in various themes to provide a unique experience for all visitors. Three restaurants and bars are located on the premises, offering a menu filled with global and local influences. Spa services and massage therapies are also available to visitors. Address: 317 Kit Carson Rd | Taos, NM | 87571. Telephone: 1 575 758-3502
Sun God Lodge Taos
The Adobe Sun God Lodge is a boutique hotel, built around a large grass courtyard lined with old trees. Accommodations from one-bedroom to luxury suites are furnished with hand made Taoseño style solid wood furniture, and decorated with local art.
Address: 919 Paseo del Pueblo Sur | Taos, NM | 87571. Telephone: 1 505 758-3162
Hotel La Fonda de Taos
Accommodation options here include standard rooms, suites, and the plaza penthouse. This lovely hotel features a vast art collection, massive hand-axed structural beams, and corbels. The world-famous D.H. Lawrence “Forbidden Art” Collection is housed here. Address: 108 South Plaza | Taos, NM | 87571. Telephone: 1 575 758-2211
Kachina Lodge Taos
Situated in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Located nearby are Taos Ski Valley highway, Taos Plaza and over one hundred shops. Situated in the building are a beauty shop, hot tub, guest laundry, safety deposit box, art gallery and more. Free hotel van. Rooms include color television, radio, personal thermostat and more. Parking is available. Address: 413 Paseo del Pueblo Norte | Taos, NM | 87571. Telephone: 1 505 758-2275
El Pueblo Lodge Taos
Guests will find these comfortable accommodations near the Historic Taos Plaza, as well as shops, galleries and a variety of restaurants. Located 1 mile away is the Taos Pueblo and Taos Mountain Casino. Address: 412 Paseo del Pueblo Norte | Taos, NM | 87571. Telephone: 1 575 758-8700
Bavarian Lodge and Restaurant Taos Ski Valley
Located northeast of Taos in Taos Ski Valley, the Bavarian Lodge and Restaurant is adorned with antiques and works of art. Guest rooms feature marble-tiled bathrooms, and guests enjoy a full breakfast included in the room rate. Address: 100 Kachina Road | Taos Ski Valley, NM | 87525. Telephone: 1 505 776-8020
Edelweiss Lodge and Spa
The Edelweiss is located slope-side in the heart of the base area and offers short and long-term rentals of hotel rooms and fully equipped condos in both summer and winter. On-site amenities include a spa, exercise room, bar, and restaurant. Address: 106 Sutton Place | Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico | 87525. Telephone: 1 575 737-6900