the low road from taos and santa fe

Get to Taos the harder route via the High Road and get back to Santa Fe via the Low Road or the easy way out. It is just as scenic with fewer pueblos along the way and locking with the Rio Grande River briefly before reaching the semi suburbia feel of Espanola. The rest of the drive is high desert especially unforgettable with its dramatic sunset colors.

this trip is that this drive is loaded with all sorts of history. Indian Reservations, Old Churches just to get started. You will love this drive and do your research before you hit the pavement. Lots to see or lots to miss depending on how you plan your trip.

Took the High Road from Santa Fe to Taos early one morning, spent the day in Taos, then headed back on the Low Road along the Rio Grande as the sun was setting. The sky was absolutely breathtaking. Wonderful trip!

The part of the drive closest to Taos is beautiful. The other end is also pretty, but goes thru a couple of small towns with places to eat and shop. We stopped many times in the area closer to Taos and took lots of photos. Highly recommend this drive.

We left Taos late in the day on New Year's day. We had taken the longer high road to Taos and now heading home took the faster low road. We really enjoyed this drive, which runs along side of the Rio Grande River for quite aways. The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge was too crowded, snowy and icy to stop at, so we enjoyed stopping along the low road for photos.We stopped just before sunset and took photos of the Rio Grande. Ice was forming along the banks and snow was everywhere. I got some beautiful photos of the moon rising over the mountains.We passed a dozen little villages and saw wonderful cafes and B&Bs to investigate later. What a nice peaceful trip after a long day of fun. A great way to start 2015.

We recently took the "low road" from Taos back to Santa Fe. We had spent the day driving the high road, which was memorable, to see the Taos Pueblo and Taos. The visit to the Pueblo was to take the standard tour by one of the resident guides. The guide was exceptionally verbose, and kept our small crowd for an hour in the bitter cold at three stops on the tour. We all couldn't wait for it to be over. We were freezing, bored, and the talk was extremely repetitious. I wandered off after a while to do some photography. The road back to Santa Fe was sort of boring. Nothing much to see in the way of scenery. Just a drudgery of a trip. Better to skip it.

Worth taking the high road in during the sunrise and the low road back to Santa Fe during the sunset. For us after a recent snowfall the river was sparkling with the red and orange of sunset while the white hills tinted red and orange was very peaceful and nice.It is narrow and twisty, and we did have a glare at times due to the sunset / angle of the sun, but still worth it.

we took the high rd in and the low road out. both were great drives but if you miss the low road your trip won't be as complete as it could have been.

Yep, it takes longer but it's worth it. Everyone should take this road at least once. Like being in a time machine---getting a real slice of New Mexico

I've driven this route three times, finding each drive more pleasurable than the last. The scenery is great, that's for sure. I like the way the viewscape focus shifts from mountain to river to cultural features and back in a very pleasing sequence that never settles into monotony.Truth be told, I think the Low Road is more scenic than the High Road.You do need to drive with due care. The Low Road is a narrow, twisting highway, and if you drive in the early evening you may have to deal with the glare from the slanting rays of the setting sun.

I now have done this road in the summer, winter and spring and I find it a relaxing easy drive from Santa Fe to Taos and back again. As you leave Santa Fe, the views are scenic with mountains to the West and North If you have time and want to stop and gamble, there are a least 5 or 6 casinos to stop at before you get to Taos. Driving through Espinola and on the northern outskirts, you will drive by San Gabriel which was the oldest colony in New Mexico estsblished by the Spanish in 1598. Remember, St Augustine, Florida was oldest colony established in 1535. As you leave this area, you will observe the Rio Grand River on the left as you meander through the gorge where it has cut it's way through the mountains. There are plenty of places to stop and take pictures of the river as it flows and tumbles southward. There are numerous wineries at which you can stop at like Black Mesa to taste and discover a new favorite wine. In the summer, there are many fruit stands to stop at and purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables. When you leave Taos, this again is the easiest way to return to Santa Fe.

We took this road back to SF from Taos, having driven up via the High Road. This way is much faster, and features great views of the mountains as the road winds through, as well as the Rio Grand less than 50 feet off the side of the road. Wineries along the roadside, as well. I'd estimate that the northern half is two lane, while the southern half is four lane. The only bad part is strip mall city as the road passes by Espaniola.

It's a nice drive along the Rio Grande between Santa Fe and Taos. The route is well maintained and scenic.

The low road drive is a welcome change from busy highways in the area. It is lovely rolling hills with historic villages along the way, including Las Trampas, Truchas and the shrine at Chimayo'. Take your time and enjoy the sights.

Besides several drives in Colorado and Route 1 in California, this is one of my favorite drives. But you really have to pay attention since the road is quite narrow. Unless it's winter, stop in Rinconando at the fruit- veg stands.