Taos

1. 1

   Taos Pueblo (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

   One of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America, Taos Pueblo has been home to the Tiwa-speaking Red Willow people for over 1,000 years. The multi-storey adobe buildings—some standing five storeys—are constructed from sun-dried mud bricks and wooden beams. The pueblo sits at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains beside the Red Willow Creek. Guided tours are offered by tribal members; photography fees apply. The pueblo closes for certain ceremonies.

2. 2

   Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

   A steel deck arch bridge spanning the Rio Grande Gorge 200 m above the river, 19 km northwest of Taos. The bridge offers vertigo-inducing views down into the basalt-walled gorge and across the sage plateau to the Sangre de Cristo range. A pedestrian walkway lines both sides. The West Rim Trail follows the gorge edge for 14 km, passing ancient lava flows and petroglyphs.

3. 3

   Taos Ski Valley

   A ski resort at the base of Kachina Peak (3,804 m), 30 km northeast of town. The resort receives an average of 8 m of snow annually and offers 110 runs across 300+ hectares, with terrain ranging from gentle groomers to expert-only chutes. In summer, the valley transitions to hiking, mountain biking, and wildflower-studded alpine meadows. The village base area has restaurants and lodging at 2,804 m elevation.

4. 4

   San Francisco de Asis Church, Ranchos de Taos

   An 18th-century adobe mission church whose massive, curving rear buttresses have made it one of the most painted and photographed structures in the American Southwest. Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams, and Paul Strand all captured its sculptural form. The interior houses colonial-era santos (carved wooden saints) and a mysterious painting that glows in the dark during a light show offered after hours.

5. 5

   Millicent Rogers Museum

   A museum 6 km north of the plaza housing the collection of Standard Oil heiress Millicent Rogers, who moved to Taos in 1947 and became an avid collector of Pueblo and Navajo art. Holdings include turquoise and silver jewellery, blackware pottery by Maria Martinez, Navajo textiles, and Hispanic santos. The museum contextualises three distinct cultural traditions—Pueblo, Hispanic, and Anglo—that define the Taos identity.

Editor-curated picks carried over from our original guide. Where a full place guide exists, the card links to it.