Things to do & places to visit in Taos County, New Mexico, United States

Looking for skiing, hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, turquoise and silver crafts, world-renowned art museums, literary history, and a thousand-year old Native American adobe pueblo? Not just anywhere. But near Georgia O’Keeffe landscapes, the Enchanted Circle, and the rivers, gorges, rolling mesas, and Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico? Choose a Taos area vacation.

Taos County county in New Mexico, United States. Timezone: America/Denver, current date and time: Thursday, May 02, 2024, 16:15.

Top things to do (16)

Top places to visit (27 attractions)

5.0 Wild Rivers Recreation Area (181 reviews)
- Hiked into Rio Grande Gorge from Cebolla Mesa.
Nature & Wildlife Areas

Great hike down to the convergence of the Rio Grande and Red Rivers. Wonderful bridge across the Red River. NOTE: Access to the trail, and camping at the edge of the mesa, requires several miles on a dirt road. If there is any rain, I would not take the road to this trail. If it is and has been dry, as it was for us, the road was passable, with care, though there were very deep ruts to be avoided. We had a small SUV. A woman at the campsite had done it in her Prius (very carefully). Big Arsenic Springs Trail will take you to the bottom of the gorge from a different Mesa. See more..
5.0 Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area (82 reviews)
- Fun, Tranquility, and desserts!
Ski & Snowboard Areas

Enchanted Forest is New Mexico's largest and only full service cross country ski area. We offer a full rental shop, PSIA XC ski lessons, ski patrol, and snack bar, all at our comfy day lodge and lesson area. With 32 km of ski trails, and 18 km of snowshoe trails we offer plenty of terrain for anyone to have fun. We also offer Summer and Winter on trail yurt rentals. Ski or Snowshoe in the Winter, or Hike or Mt. Bike in the Summer. See more..
5.0 Wheeler Peak Wilderness Area (70 reviews)
- 20 years of hikes, and its still a marvel - Pure Wilderness!
Nature & Wildlife Areas

Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range, this wilderness area includes Wheeler Peak, which is the highest point in New Mexico at 13,161 feet in height. See more..
5.0 Wheeler Peak (62 reviews)
- Rocky Mountain High!
Hiking Trails

An extremely challenging, eight to ten mile hike (one way). See more..
5.0 Columbine Trail (46 reviews)
- Easy trail and great for beginner hikers
Hiking Trails

Approximately five miles one-way, this is a scenic and moderate-rated trail that leads hikers along a river and through meadows. See more..
5.0 The Couse-Sharp Historic Site (32 reviews)
- Good historical and cultural background of Taos art
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Docent was very informative about the artists and the Taos society of artists and even the son had an amazing mechanical shop and 1940 mobile repair for airplanes. We easily spent 1.5 hours there at no charge but they do appreciate an donation to keep foundation going for the up and coming artists they are trying to educate and help. The artwork shown was from Sharp, Couse and Gene Kloss as well. I'm generally not an art type person but found it very interesting. See more..
4.5 San Francisco de Assisi Mission Church (804 reviews)
- Interesting architecture
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Religious Sites

Buttressed church photograhed by legendary photographer Ansel Adams, and painted by famed artist Georgia O'Keeffe. See more..
4.5 Millicent Rogers Museum (770 reviews)
- Beautiful Museum
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums • Art Museums

This impressive museum has more than a dozen galleries with some 5000 pieces of Native American and Hispanic art, including furniture, weaving, paintings, pottery and a celebrated collection of Native American jewelry. See more..
4.5 Enchanted Circle Drive (614 reviews)
- A great area to explore
Scenic Drives

Scenic drive that circles through the Carson National Forest, north and east of Taos. See more..
4.5 The Low Road From Taos and Santa Fe (403 reviews)
- IF YOU LIKE ART> GO GO GO GO GO TO CANYON ROAD
Scenic Drives

Canyon Road is overwhelming. You cannot see all the galleries in one day. If you like art in general, all the time you spend at Canyon Road will be delightful. If you can only visit a few galleries, for sure go to AhmyoRiver Gallery, has a great zen garden in the back. Marin Feather Fine Art, the only gallery of its kind in Santa Fe. Patrica Marin has a great story. Go see her incredible feather paintings. Canyon Road Contemporary has a great selection of art, all price points. Mickie will take great care of you at Contemporary Art. For sure go see Dominique Boisjoli gallery. Again another wonderful selection of art and Dominique is a delight. And for sure go see William and Mickey Rotsaert at Art is Gallery at 419 Canyon. Wonderful artists and gallery host. And the Tea House at the top of Canyon Road is great. ENJOY See more..
4.5 Taos Visitor Center (393 reviews)
- Unique Town With Interesting Culture and History
Visitor Centers

Taos is a must if you are traveling around this part of the country. They have great attractions, scenic drives, awesome cafes/bars/restaurants, tons of art, and an overall unique vibe. If you are doing a round trip from Santa Fe, consider driving the Low Road To Taos one way, and the High Road To Taos the other way. If you can only do one, choose the high road! See more..
4.5 Taos Art Museum (295 reviews)
- Beautiful home and art
Thursday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Art Museums

The Taos Art Museum is housed in the home and studio that renowned Russian artist Nicolai Fechin built for his family between 1927 and 1933. The house and studio are masterpieces, blending Fechin’s artistic sensibilities and architectural skills with Russian design elements and Southwestern adobe construction and style. There is nothing else like it in the world. The woodworking in the home, all done by Fechin, is alone worth the visit. The museum’s permanent collection features Fechin’s works as well as paintings by members of the Taos Society of Artists and Taos Moderns See more..
4.5 La Hacienda del los Martinez (221 reviews)
- Historic
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums

Living Museum of Late Spanish Colonial Period in Northern New Mexico built in 1804 by Severino Martinez and his family. On National Register of Historic Places. Winter Hours are a shortened version of our regular season hours. See more..
4.5 Harwood Museum of Art (204 reviews)
- More Taos Art Society paintings, please
Thursday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Art Museums

Formed in 1923 by Lucy Harwood and several members of the Taos Society of Artists, the Harwood Museum of Art is the second oldest museum in New Mexico. The museum has been affiliated with the University of New Mexico since 1935, and it now boasts the internationally acclaimed Agnes Martin Gallery, galleries exhibiting highlights from the museum's collection of work by the Taos Society of Artists, Taos Moderns, Hispanic Traditions, and contemporary artists working in Taos, and changing exhibitions fulfilling the Harwood's vision to "Bring Taos Arts to the World and World Arts to Taos." See more..
4.5 Williams Lake (189 reviews)
- Moderate trail
Bodies of Water

This is a moderate trail and if u aren’t a fan of hiking don’t do it. It’s pretty hard trail in my opinion. Make sure u have a ton of water. The water level on the lake is pretty low but the view is worth the whole 4.2 miles journey See more..
4.5 Goose Lake Trail (145 reviews)
- What a wonderful excursion
Hiking Trails

Moderate to difficult hike, six miles one way. See more..
4.5 Rio Grande del Norte National Monument (128 reviews)
- The Third time is the charm
Monuments & Statues

We have visited this area three times and the first time was before it became a National monument. I think this time was the best because we entered through the Visitors center area and toured the area where the two great rivers converge. We visited in November of 2020 during the Covid 19 pandemic and apparently most people had decided to stay home because we were almost alone in the park. As we entered the park from Questa we spotted a large Big Horn Sheep ram with almost a full curl. See more..
4.5 Blumenschein Home & Museum (104 reviews)
- History and Art near Old Town
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Art Museums

One of the most beautiful and interesting places in Taos. The house, from the late 1800s/early 1900s, sprawls around its plot every which way, making it fun to roam around, and features lovely furnishings and artwork from several decades (we have a framed print of one of the paintings in our family room). The house is about two blocks from the Old Town square on a street of galleries. Part of what you should come to Taos to see. See more..
4.5 Rio Grande Gorge (71 reviews)
- West Rim Trail
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Geologic Formations

This 800-foot-deep gorge in northern New Mexico offers exciting whitewater rafting, hiking trails around the rim and observation platforms with spectacular views of the winding river below. See more..
4.5 Taos Drums (68 reviews)
- Wow, Way More Than Drums
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks

It seems like a forgotten warehouse in the middle of nowhere, & then you enter a charmed space. We were lucky to be able to see some of the drum makers stretching the hide for the drums & were blown away with the vast array of rugs, drums, carvings, etc. It was easy for our group of 5 to each find something authentic to buy & to remember our visit to NM. The staff is friendly & knowledgeable. Taos Drum might appear off the beaten path but it's a definite museum of native & historical merchandise worthy of a visit. See more..
4.5 Red River Nature Trail (59 reviews)
- Enjoyable
Hiking Trails

Located right in Red River, can be taken as a two or four mile hike. See more..
4.5 Rockin’ 3M Amphitheater (41 reviews)
- Western music, beautiful scenery and good food
Theaters

It's not your typical country music. It's the old time ballads/tunes like Marty Robbins. C&W. The barbecue brisket and buffet of fixings was top notch and the cobbler and ice cream was worthy of second helpings. Michael MM was not only true to his songs and vocals, but he was very interesting in telling the stories about the songs he would sing or the artists who sang them. We will definitely go back next time we're in Red River. Don;t trust your GPS address. Once on Bitter Creek Rd, go all the way to the end and drive slowly. It's further than it looks. See more..
4.5 Mallette Park Nature Trail (26 reviews)
- Nice short hike
Hiking Trails

Great walking path, short quarter-mile loop. See more..
4.0 Taos Plaza (1.000 reviews)
- Ultimate orientation
Thursday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

The Taos Plaza is the historic center of the town of Taos. Once a Spanish fortified walled plaza, it is now a beautiful collection of wonderful businesses. See more..
4.0 Earthship Visitor Center (479 reviews)
- Very Informative
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Visitor Centers

An Earthship is a type of passive solar house that is made of both natural and upcycled materials (such as earth-packed tires). Earthships can be completely off-grid or partially off-grid. Earthships can be built in any part of the world, in any climate (with a permit) and still provide electricity, potable water, contained sewage treatment and sustainable food production. Earthships are thermal mass homes first, passive solar homes second. Whatever temperature goes into an Earthship, it will hold… and since it is also a Passive Solar House, it is also very tight and interacts only with the sun and the earth for heating and cooling, providing stable comfort year round in any climate. See more..
4.0 Kit Carson Home & Museum (427 reviews)
- So glad we made the effort to visit this important historical site!
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • History Museums

Christopher “Kit” Carson, is perhaps Taos' most famous resident. He was a fur trapper among the earliest Western explorers, a scout during the first mapping of pioneer trails, a cattle and sheep rancher, a transcontinental courier, U.S. Native American agent, and an officer in the United States Army. Yet he was more than any of those things. Some people say he was a hero who was instrumental in opening up the West. Others say he was a rugged frontiersman who understood the ways of Native Americans better than any other Westerner. Still others maintain that he was an Indian hater whose only interest was to fight and kill Native Americans. He never accepted any of these labels, and neither have modern biographers who have portrayed him as an enigmatic Purchased by Kit Carson for his bride Josefa in 1843, this 3-room adobe home displays artifacts, antique firearms and other pioneer belongings, Kit Carson memorabilia and an exhaustive supply of books about New Mexico. See more..
4.0 Kit Carson Park (127 reviews)
- Shame is not better maiontained
Thursday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Historic Sites • State Parks

Historical tombstones pay tribute to Western pioneers. See more..