Road Trip Planning| Miles Kms | Item | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0 0.0 |
Taos, New Mexico |
Attractions in Taos: Governor Bent Home & Museum, Plaza (some buildings predate the American Revolution), Hacienda Martinez (Spanish Colonial), St. Francisco de As�s Mission Church, Kit Carson Home & Museum, Taos Pueblo, La Fonda Hotel, Millicent Rogers Museum. |
| 0.0 0.0 |
Intersection of US 64, NM 150, and NM 522 |
Gas, Mountain View Grocery. For highway travel, west via U.S. # 64. North travel via, N.M. #150 & N.M. # 522 See Milebymile.com Road Map Highway Travel Guides, for driving directions.
|
| 0.2 0.3 |
Millicent Rogers Road |
The Millicent Rogers Museum is dedicated to the art and crafts of both the Native American and Spanish cultures of the area. Rogers was an heiress to the Standard Oil fortune and collected vast amounts of pottery, weavings, jewelry, and wood carvings during her relatively brief stay (6 years) in Taos. Upon her death her heirs started this museum. |
| 0.9 1.4 |
First State Bank & El Prado Post Office |
ATM and post office |
| 1.2 1.9 |
View of Pueblo Peak and the Taos Pueblo Pastures |
The huge size of these well watered pastures allowed thousands of Native American horses to be pastured here during the annual 'Taos Pueblo Trade Fairs' that have been held here for hundreds of years. |
| 2.3 3.7 |
Orlando's |
Wonderful family-run, New Mexican restuarant, recently featured on Bobby Flay's 'Food Nation'. Cash only. Lunch & Dinner most days. |
| 2.9 4.7 |
Hale Creek Road |
North entrance to Taos Pueblo. |
| 3.0 4.8 |
The Laughing Horse Inn |
Historic home of literary figure Spuds Johnson. Next door is a former guest house of Mabel Dodge Lujan's where D.H. Lawrence spent some time |
| 3.3 5.3 |
Cid's Organic Grocer |
Two-story brick grocery store on the mountainside of the road. A great place to rub shoulders with locals and the place to pull together a roadside picnic. Closed Sundays. |
| 3.4 5.5 |
Taos Post Office |
Main branch |
| 3.5 5.6 |
South entrance to Taos Pueblo, New Mexico |
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico is a UN World Heritage Site as well as the home of one of the most traditional and religious Native American Nations in the US. Most of the tribal income is obtained through tourism; so please do not begrudge them the admission, camera, or personal photo fees. Their religion and language are secret, but the people of Taos Pueblo are some of the friendliest and most patriotic that you will ever smile upon. The people who live in the traditional village would live here whether or not visitors came to pay admission. They are merely allowing you to witness a portion of their daily life, so smile and say Hi. |
| 3.6 5.8 |
Fechin Institute and Taos Art Museum, New Mexico |
Early 20th century home of Russian artist Nicolai Fechin. Anything made of wood in this eclectic home was carved by Fechin. The Taos Art Museum has the most complete collection of original Taos Society of Artists available
|
| 3.9 6.3 |
Kit Carson Park and Cemetary |
Final resting place of Kit Carson and his wife Josefa Jaramillo Carson. Carson, a fur trapper, colleague of John C. Fremont, Indian Agent, and US Army General was one of the most famous men in the US in the mid 1800's. Others buried in this cemetary are Mountain men killed during the Taos Revolt of 1847, Dragoons killed during the Battle of Cieneguilla on March 30, 1854, Mable Dodge Lujan, Trader Ralph Meyers, and a headstone commemorating Padre Martinez. Padre Martinez is perhaps Taos' most illustrious son and printed the first newspaper west of the Mississippi, started the first school west of the Mississippi, and was active in both the Mexican and New Mexican Territorial legislatures. |
| 4.0 6.4 |
The Historic Taos Inn |
The Adobe Bar in this historic structure is frequently called 'The Living Room of Taos'. The hotel restuarant, Doc Martin's, named after Doctor Thomas Martin, known for both cuisine and atmosphere, serves 3 meals a day. |
| 4.0 6.4 |
Intersection of US 64 and NM 68 |
US 64 turns left here. Historic Taos Plaza on right with art galleries, souvenir and gift shops and an ice cream shop. A memorial to Taos soldiers who were in the Bataan Death March of WWII is in the middle of the quadrangle. The flag on the Plaza flies 24 hours a day. This custom dates back to the Civil War when Kit Carson and other Mountain Men nailed the American Flag to the top of the flagpole and guarded it day and night to keep Southern Sympathizers from removing it. |
| 4.1 6.6 |
Kit Carson's Home and La Dona Luz Bed and Breakfast |
Home of Kit Carson after he married Josefa Jaramillo. Across the street, in La Dona Luz Bed and Breakfast, is a museum holding many items collected by famed trader Ralph Meyers. Ralph was the figure portrayed in Frank Waters' book, 'The Man Who Killed the Deer' |
| 4.2 6.8 |
Morada Lane |
This street will take you to Lumina Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden as well as the home built by Mabel Dodge Lujan. This home was also owned at one time by Dennis Hopper. He bought it while he was here filming 'Easy Rider'. |
| 4.3 6.9 |
Municipal Parking Lot |
Free parking for cars and RV's. |
| 6.6 10.6 |
Jct. with MN 585 |
turn here on NM 585 to go to the Taos Visitors Center. |
| 6.8 10.9 |
Entering Carson National Forest |
|
| 6.9 11.1 |
El Nogal Campground |
Also the Trail Head for the South Boundary Trail and The Divisadero Trail |
| 7.4 11.9 |
Las Petacas Campground |
|
| 11.0 17.7 |
Capulin Campground |
|
| 11.5 18.5 |
La Sombra Campground |
|
| 17.6 28.3 |
Taos Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail |
Through this valley to the south came the Taos cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail in the early 1830's. It connected into US 64 at this point and then continued down into Taos. |
| 22.2 35.7 |
Paola Flechado Pass, New Mexico |
The Colfax and Taos, New Mexico. |
| 23.9 38.5 |
Elliott Barker Trailhead #1 |
|
| 24.1 38.8 |
Carson National Forest, New Mexico Boundary |
|
| 25.4 40.9 |
Junction with NM 434 |
Turn south to go to the village and ski area of Angel Fire, New Mexico. |
| 26.3 42.3 |
Historic Marker for the Viet Nam Veterans National Memorial and Chapel |
|
| 28.8 46.3 |
Pet Pals, overnight kennel and day care for cats and dogs |
|
| 31.3 50.4 |
Historic Marker, Wheeler Peak |
13,161 feet tall. The tallest peak in New Mexico |
| 34.9 56.2 |
Eagle Nest Lake, New Mexico and Junction with NM 38 |
Once one of the rip roarin'est towns in New Mexico's history - now a great fishing location. The ghost town of Elizabethtown,New Mexico is just a few miles north of this junction (on NM 38). US 64 veers to the east here. |
| 35.2 56.6 |
Eagle Nest NM Chamber of Commerce |
Welcome Center, ATM, Gas, Food, Laundromat, Post Office. |
| 37.2 59.9 |
Historic Marker, Eagle Nest Lake |
Altitude 8218 feet |
| 38.1 61.3 |
Cimarron Canyon State Park, New Mexico |
Lots of Wildlife! Keep your eyes open for wild turkeys and deer. Cimarron Canyon State Park Campground. Camping; Developed Sites (88)
Restrooms
|
| 38.1 61.3 |
Colin Nesbitt Wildlife Area |
8 miles of scenic viewing |
| 38.3 61.6 |
Tolby Campground |
Named for the Reverend Tolby who was assasinated during the 'Colfax County War' in the 1880's. |
| 41.3 66.5 |
Perryville Day Use Area |
The Cimarron River, which flows for 8 miles alongside this section of US 64, is one of the finest wild brown trout waters in the state with over 4,000 catchable wild brown trout per mile. Relax and set a spell. Picnic area with restrooms. |
| 43.5 70.0 |
Historic Marker and Picnic Area 'Palisades Sill' |
Spectacular cliffs that are 40 million years old. |
| 44.8 72.1 |
Maverick Campground |
|
| 44.9 72.3 |
Ponderosa Campground |
|
| 45.5 73.2 |
Historic Marker, 'Cimarron Canyon State Park' |
|
| 46.3 74.5 |
Town of Ute Park, New Mexico |
Post office, general store, gas, and RV Park |
| 54.7 88.0 |
Historic Marker, 'Cimarron Canyon' |
Cimarron Canyon, the Great Plains - Rocky Mountain boundary, 6,800 feet. |
| 55.4 89.2 |
Old rail road bed and Black Jack Ketchum's hideout. |
Old railroad bed parallels the road in this area. The hideout of Black Jack Ketchum was just north of this location.Black Jack was a member of Butch Cassidy's outfit and was active until 1900. |
| 58.8 94.6 |
Junction NM 21 |
Turn south on NM 21 to get to the historic Saint James Hotel (bullet holes in the ceiling and ghosts), Philmont Scount Ranch (with 215 square miles and 30,000 atendees per year it is the largest youth camp in the world), and to continue on the Santa Fe Trail. |
| 59.0 94.9 |
Historic Markers and Cimarron Visitors Center |
Historic Markers for Black Jack Ketchum's hideout and the Santa Fe Trail |
| 60.4 97.2 |
Junction with NM 204 |
|
| 64.5 103.8 |
Buffalo Herds |
Keep your eyes open for buffalo herds on Ted Turner's 578,000 acre Vermejo Park Ranch. |
| 71.0 114.3 |
Vermejo River and old rail road tracks to Dawson. |
Dawson, New Mexico is now a ghost town on private property.Over 385 men were killed in two different mine explosions here. |
| 71.6 115.2 |
Road to Dawson NM. |
Ruts of the Santa Fe Trail are a little over 1/2 mile to the east of here. |
| 72.0 115.9 |
Junction NM 505 and Cold Beer, NM |
The town of Cold Beer. |
| 84.8 136.5 |
Junction NM 445 and Hoxie Junction |
Somewhere near here the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail split. One variant led down to Maxwell, and the main trail continued down to Cimarron, New Mexico. Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge is just south of here. |
| 87.1 140.2 |
Raton Municipal Airport |
|
| 88.0 141.6 |
Elk |
Large herds of over 100 elk are frequently seen in this area. |
| 89.8 144.5 |
NRA Whittington Center, New Mexico |
One of the largest and best equipped marksmanship ranges in the US. |
| 91.9 147.9 |
Canadian River crossing |
This river figured prominently in the history of this area. |
| 94.0 151.3 |
Historic Marker, 'The Clifton House' New Mexico |
3/4 mile to the west, on the banks of the Canadian River, The Clifton House was a popular stop on the Santa Fe Trail and during cattle roundups. |
| 94.4 151.9 |
Exit 446 off of I-25 |
US 64 heads toward Raton, New Mexico on I-25 at this point. |
| 98.9 159.2 |
Raton |
Exit 451. Food, gas, and Visitor's Center. |
| 99.5 160.1 |
Historic Marker, Raton , NM |
Established in 1879. Elevation 6,379 feet. Attractions in Raton; Colfax County Courthouse, Historic District, La Mesa Park (horse track), The Palace Hotel (1896), Rat�n Museum, Shuler Theatre (European Rococo), Santa Fe Railroad Depot (Spanish Mission Revival style).
|
| 110.9 178.5 |
Junction NM 193 |
Huge herds of antelope are seen in this area. |
| 114.1 183.6 |
Historic Marker, 'The Rocky Mountains' |
A great view of the Rocky Mountains to the west. |
| 125.8 202.4 |
Union County Line |
|
| 126.2 203.1 |
Historic Marker, Capulin Volcano National Monument, NM |
Excellent example of an extinct volcanic cinder cone. |
| 126.5 203.6 |
Junction NM 325 |
Turn north to go to the Folsom Museum, dedicated to the discovery of the 10,000 year old 'Folsom Point', spear head. |
| 135.2 217.6 |
Des Moines, NM |
Gas, ATM, Post Office. Black Jack Ketchum and his gang would frequently rob trains in this area. |
| 141.7 228.0 |
Rest Area |
Picnic shelters and rest rooms |
| 142.0 228.5 |
The Great Plains |
Imagine crossing this area on foot or in a covered wagon on the Santa Fe Trail- at 2 miles per hour without heat or air conditioning - never knowing when you might be attacked, stricken with illness or beset by a natural disaster. You only had yourself and your companions to count on to stay alive. |
| 153.6 247.2 |
Grenville, NM |
|
| 157.1 252.8 |
Picnic table and roadside marker. |
This marker was erected by the Colorado Southern Railway in 1930. 'First wagons used on the Santa Fe Trail crossed here in 1822.' |
| 162.6 261.7 |
Mount Dora, NM |
|
| 170.7 274.7 |
Working wind mill |
|
| 177.7 286.0 |
Historic Marker, Rabbit Ear Mountain, NM |
An important landmark on the Santa Fe Trail |
| 179.2 288.4 |
Historic Marker, 'Clayton, NM' |
Elevation 4,969 feet, founded in 1887. |
| 180.0 289.7 |
Junction NM 370, Clayton Lake State Park |
Clayton Lake State Park has the best collections of dinosaur footprints in the world. Over 500 footprints that are more than 100 million years old. Clayton Lake State Park Campground. Camping Facilities; Developed Sites (37)
Electric Sites (7)
Restrooms
Showers.
|
| 180.3 290.2 |
Junction of NM 412, US 64 and US 56 |
The historic Eklund House still serves great steaks. It was once known by cowboys driving cattle on the 'Goodnight Trail' as having the best food between Trinidad, CO and Ft. Worth, TX. A great collection of photos of the hanging of Black Jack Ketchum adorns the walls.
US 64 turns to the east here. |
| 181.2 291.6 |
Ranger Station |
Ranger station for the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. National Grasslands were established during the Dust Bowl years as a way of reclaiming grazing land that had been farmed. |
| 181.6 292.2 |
Junction NM 538 Historic Marker, 'Santa Fe Trail' |
The Cimarron, NM, Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail passed through this area. |
| 181.9 292.7 |
Trail Ruts |
Deep trail ruts cross US 64 at an angle here. They are probably from the old Kenyon freight route, but early Santa Fe Trail Caravans may have also used this route. |
| 183.2 294.8 |
Junction NM 406 |
Santa Fe Trail ruts are visible at mile marker 18 on NM 406 north. |
| 192.6 309.9 |
Oklahoma - New Mexico State Line |
Dividing line for Central and Mountain Time Zones. -e |