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Taos is a small mountain town nestled in the high desert of northern New Mexico, renowned for its vibrant art community, ancient Pueblo heritage, and dramatic mountain landscapes. The town sits at over 7,000 feet elevation, surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. For centuries, Taos has attracted painters, writers, sculptors, and wanderers drawn to its singular beauty and light. The result is a place where Native American, Spanish, and Anglo cultures blend into a creative community unlike anywhere else in America.
The heart of Taos is Taos Pueblo, a living Native American community that has inhabited this same spot for over a thousand years. This adobe complex, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the United States. Visitors are welcomed to explore the grounds and learn about Tiwa language, traditional pottery, and the deep spiritual connection the Pueblo people maintain with this land. The red adobe walls of Taos Pueblo rise against the backdrop of Taos Mountain, creating one of the most photographed scenes in the American Southwest.
Taos has long been a gathering place for artists seeking inspiration. In the early 20th century, a colony of painters known as the Taos Founders took root here, drawn by the intense light and dramatic landscapes. Artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Agnes Martin, and D.H. Lawrence all called Taos home at various points. D.H. Lawrence spent his final years here, and his ashes are scattered at the D.H. Lawrence Ranch south of town, now a meditation retreat open to visitors. The legacy of this artistic legacy lives on in the dozens of galleries that line Taos historic district.
The town also carries a rich Spanish colonial history. Spanish settlers arrived in the 1600s, establishing farms and ranches in the valley. The Taos Historic District features preserved adobe structures that reflect this heritage. The San Francisco de Asis Mission, a classic adobe church built in the early 1800s, stands as a testament to the blending of Catholic and indigenous traditions. Throughout the town, annual festivals celebrating feast days, art markets, and cultural events keep these traditions alive and bring the community together.
The Taos Art Museum and the Millicent Rogers Museum showcase the works of the artists who shaped this region, with collections spanning traditional Pueblo pottery and jewelry to modernist paintings inspired by the landscape. The Fechin Institute, former home of Russian-American artist Nicolai Fechin, offers tours of his studio and gardens, displaying intricate woodwork and art that reflect his unique cross-cultural perspective.
The historic Taos Plaza serves as the social center of town, surrounded by shops, restaurants, and galleries housed in traditional adobe buildings. Street vendors sell Native American jewelry and crafts, while musicians perform in the open air during summer evenings. The surrounding neighborhoods, such as Ledoux Street, feature studios where working artists create and sell their pieces directly to visitors.
For those interested in regional history, the Kit Carson House and Museum provides insight into the life of the legendary frontiersman who made Taos his home. Carson spent his final years in Taos and worked as an agent for the U.S. government during a turbulent period of the region’s history. His home has been preserved as a museum, offering guided tours that recount stories of the American Southwest during the 1800s.
Taos sits on the edge of vast public lands that offer some of the most spectacular outdoor recreation in the Southwest. The Rio Grande Gorge stretches west of town, with the iconic Rio Grande Gorge Bridge crossing a vertigo-inducing 650 feet above the river below. Hiking trails along the rim offer sweeping views of the gorge and the volcanic Black Rock Desert.
Taos Ski Valley, located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains just north of town, provides world-class skiing and snowboarding during the winter months. The terrain suits all skill levels, from gentle beginner runs to challenging expert bowls. Summer transforms the valley into a hiking and mountain biking destination, with Wild Rivers Recreation Area offering trails that traverse pine forests and alpine meadows.
The Carson National Forest surrounds Taos on three sides, encompassing over 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, and high desert. Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico at 13,161 feet, rises within easy reach of Taos and rewards hikers with panoramic summit views. Anglers flock to the area’s rivers and alpine lakes for trout fishing, while rock climbers test their skills on the sheer basalt walls of the Rio Grande Gorge.
The best time to visit Taos depends on the activities you seek. Summer, from June through August, brings warm days and cool evenings, perfect for hiking, art walks, and exploring the plaza. Afternoon monsoons are common in July and August, bringing dramatic cloud formations and occasional thunderstorms that photographers find irresistible. Summer is also peak season for the Taos art festivals, including the Taos Art Fair and the Spanishojo Festival celebrating the region’s Hispanic heritage.
Fall, from September through October, is arguably the most beautiful season. The cottonwoods along the Rio Grande turn golden, the Aspens on the mountain slopes blaze with color, and the light takes on the soft quality that inspired so many painters. Temperatures range from the 40s at night to the 70s during the day, ideal for outdoor exploration. Fall festivals and gallery events fill the calendar, and lodging rates remain moderate before the winter rush.
Winter draws skiers and snowboarders to Taos Ski Valley, with December through March offering excellent powder conditions. The town takes on a quiet, intimate atmosphere, with cozy adobe restaurants and art galleries providing warm refuge after a day on the slopes. Spring, in April and May, brings melting snowmelt, wildflower blooms in the desert valleys, and smaller crowds, making it a pleasant time for those seeking a more relaxed visit.
Here are some of our favorite things to do in Taos. Select what you would enjoy!
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is one of the most dramatic engineering feats in the American Southwest, spanning a 650-foot-deep volcanic canyon carved over millennia by the Rio Grande River. Located just ten miles northwest of Taos , this steel deck a…
Taos Pueblo is a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. This ancient adobe complex, home to the Tiwa people for over a thousand years, offers visitors an extraordinary win…