Road Trip Planning| Miles Kms | Item | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0 0.0 |
Intersection of NM 522, US 64, and NM 150 |
Gas, telephone, grocery-mart. |
| 0.3 0.5 |
Taos Veterinary Clinic |
|
| 1.5 2.4 |
Historic Marker |
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, New Mexico, the second highest US highway bridge, is about 8 miles west of here. |
| 1.7 2.7 |
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico |
The vacant land on either side of the highway belongs to the people of Taos Pueblo. Today it is known as 'Tract B' |
| 6.8 10.9 |
Intersection with County Rd. B-143 |
To the east, this charming country lane will take you through the historic village of Arroyo Hondo to The Little Tree Bed and Breakfast and then continues on to the historic village of Arroyo Seco. To the west, this historic byway will lead you past the New Buffalo Bed and Breakfast (an original hippie commune featured in the movie 'Easy Rider') and down to 'The John Dunn Bridge' which crosses the Rio Grande at the bottom of 'The Rio Grande Gorge'.
Gas, grocery-mart, post office, telephone. |
| 6.9 11.1 |
Rio Hondo, New Mexico |
This river starts in Taos Ski Valley and flows into the Rio Grande. It provides for some excellent trout fishing along the way. About 3 miles to the east the ruins of 'Turley's Mill' are still visible. Simeon Turley was a moonshiner during the 1840's whose whiskey was frequently traded with the Indians in return for furs. Partly because of this, he and his companions were killed after a 2 day seige during 'The Taos Revolt of 1847'. |
| 9.2 14.8 |
Carson National Forest Boundary |
|
| 10.2 16.4 |
Historic Marker for 'The D.H. Lawrence Ranch' |
Now owned by the University of New Mexico, D.H. Lawrence lived on this 160 acre ranch about 3 miles east of here while he wrote portions of 'Sons and Lovers'. Lawrence's ashes are also enshrined here. |
| 10.8 17.4 |
San Cristobal Creek, New Mexico |
|
| 13.6 21.9 |
Garrapata Canyon, Cebolla Mesa |
On July 7th, 1694, five members of Taos Pueblo died a few miles east of here while ambushing a portion of 'The De Vargas Expedition'. De Vargas had just finished pillaging Taos Pueblo for their stores of corn. Cut off from his return route to Santa Fe by the united Pueblos, De Vargas was forced to flee into the unknown north to find a way across The Rio Grande. |
| 13.9 22.4 |
View of the remnants of 'The Hondo Fire' |
On May 8th, 1996, The Hondo Fire swept through the mountains to the east and burned almost 8,000 acres in 10 hours. 27 homes were destroyed. |
| 14.7 23.7 |
Carson National Forest Boundary |
|
| 15.3 24.6 |
Intersection with Forest Road #9 |
Turn to the east to visit 'The Lama Foundation', a spiritual community and educational center. To the west lies Cebolla Mesa trail head. It is a great place to access the Red river and the Rio Grande Wild Rivers Recreation area. Cebolla Mesa Campground - Facilities:
5 campsites for tents and trailers (RV's under 32')
Tables, fireplace, toilets.
No water available |
| 16.5 26.6 |
Junction NM 515 |
This short little road leads to the Red River Fish Hatchery. Each year over 370,000 trout are raised here to stock New Mexico's streams and lakes. There are numerous camping areas along the way. |
| 19.0 30.6 |
Red River, Cebolla Mesa |
Take some time and try your hand at trout fishing in this wonderful little river. |
| 19.8 31.9 |
View of Mine Tailings. |
If you look to the north-east, you can see mine tailings at the top of the mountain. These tailings now comprise a 'Super Fund' cleanup site and are the result of the molybdenum mine deep inside the mountain. |
| 20.1 32.3 |
Town of Questa, New Mexico - Junction NM 38 |
This little town was originally founded in 1840 and was then known as 'Rio Colorado'. Turn to the east at this intersection to stay on 'The Enchanted Circle'. The Questa Ranger Station of Carson National Forest and the Town of Red River, New Mexico are further along.
Gas, telephone, atm, bank, food, grocery-mart, post office. |
| 20.3 32.7 |
Turn for St. Anthony's Church |
Turn here to visit the historic St. Anthony's Church which sits in the center of the old town plaza. A Jicarilla Apache Rancheria was also located in this immediate vicinity prior to the settlement of the Spanish. |
| 20.8 33.5 |
Questa Police Station |
|
| 22.7 36.5 |
Junction NM 378, Turn for Wild Rivers Recreation Area. |
Wild Rivers, New Mexico is a stunningly beautiful area with facilities for picnicking, hiking, camping, and fishing. |
| 26.8 43.1 |
El Rito |
This area is an outdoor adventurers paradise. Hike in the Latir Peak Wilderness Area, 'Take a Llama to Lunch', or rock climb on the Questa Dome. |
| 27.1 43.6 |
Views of Ute Mountain in NM and Mount Blanca in CO |
Ute Mountain is to the north-west and is a solitary Tertiary rhyodacite stratovolcano. Mount Blanca is due north more than 60 miles and is over 14,000 feet tall. It is the 'Navajo Sacred Mountain of the East'. |
| 27.1 43.6 |
View of Mount Blanca in CO |
Mount Blanca in CO |
| 32.0 51.5 |
Urraca Wildlife Area and the Taos Trappers and Kiowa Trails |
Administered by the NM Dept. of Fish and Game this 14,000 acre area is primarily used by wintering elk and deer. The Kiowa, and later The Taos Trappers Trails parallel NM 522 from here down to Taos Pueblo. These narrow trails were the only north/south arteries of travel until the 1870's. |
| 39.7 63.9 |
Costilla and Junction of NM 196 |
This is a great jumping-off spot for outdoor recreation. Take NM 196 east past the Latitude 37 Restaurant to the Rio Costilla Livestock Coop Area. Here you can hunt, fish, and camp for a fee. Continue on to the Valle Vidal portion of Carson National Forest with its great herds of elk, a ghost town, and fly fishing opportunities. |
| 39.8 64.0 |
Rio Costilla |
|
| 41.0 66.0 |
New Mexico-Colorado Border |
Colorado 159 begins here. -e |