Enchanting is exactly the word to describe this natural wonder of a drive. It is humbling, inspiring and wonderously gratifying! It is actually something that you take with you long after you leave. Enjoy!
stop off in Chamyo to see the church. it is famous for its cures/ The drive runs you through all kinds of little towns.
make sure to stop by the local wineries & several stops along the way to wash the dirt out of your throat with some local breweries. You can't beat these NM IPA's. A little over an hour from Santa Fe will get you up to Taos. Leaving Taos take the Low Road on your way back down. Lots of History to see...
You will probably love Santa Fe and you almost certainly will adore Taos. However, this is the route to which most travelers will probably fall in love with this part of New Mexico. Nowhere in the USA will you discover villages as unique and colorful as Chimayo, Truchas, etc. A trip on the high road is a journey through a part of America that most travelers will never get a chance to experience though most would find truly enchanting if they ever found the courage to get off the beaten tract.
We drove the High Road early morning from Santa Fe, and is was amazing. Gorgeous views. Landscape varied from high desert to Alpine. Drove through many Pueblos on the way. Snow was on the ground, but the road was clear and safe. Never forget it.
We drove from Santa Fe to Taos on New Years Day. We took the high road up to Taos and the lower road back to Santa Fe. The high road is so much fun and takes you through little town after little town. So pretty, snowy and amazing. The roads were clear and the trip was very safe. We made a brief stop in Chamyo so we could see the church there. It is really beautiful. We were too early to eat lunch at any of the well known spots along the way, unfortunately.I would love to go back again and eat lunch along the way.
My sister and I took this road from SF to Taos in December 2014. I can tell you the drive is beautiful and varied, yes...lots of curves, etc. However...there are no places to stop for a bathroom break. We ended up at a hardware store (bless them!) and asked to use their facility which they generously (bless them again!) let us use. We would have stopped for lunch but didn't see anything welcoming. So...just beware.
Last week we did a day trip from Santa Fe to Taos taking the high road there and the low road back. The trip winds rural and mountainous roads through snow covered hills and canyons. The high points were the lunch stop at the Sugar Nymphs Bistro in Penasco ,15046 New Mexico 75Peñasco, NM 87553, and the Santuario de Chimayo , a small chapel and complex which provided a good stop for photos of the chapel, a source of holy dirt. For our part, it was definitely more scenic than the boring low road, which we took back in the dark.
This is an absolutely beautiful drive if you love to be off the main highways and byways. Awesome views, and many interesting quaint communities along the way. A stop in Truchas is highly recommended! You won't be disapointed you drove "the high road to Taos".
The most beautiful way to travel from Santa Fe to Taos, or vice versa, the "High Road" is a must-see, not to be missed.