Enchanted Circle Scenic Drive

This Drive Comes From...

An image of the book: Scenic Highways and Byways

National Geographic's Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways

For more National Geographic travel guides—from Europe to Antarctica and everywhere in between—visit National Geographic Books >>

In moments, this northern New Mexico route leaves the bustle of Taos and climbs into a remote, high-altitude world of cool forests, crystal lakes, windswept valleys, and tiny towns filled with Wild West history. It encircles 13,161-foot [4,011.5-meter] Wheeler Peak, the state’s highest mountain, and passes some of the nation’s most popular ski areas. CONTINUED

(Continued From Top)

Head east out of Taos on U.S. 64. The route climbs through Taos Canyon’s thick evergreen forests, passing severalcampgrounds and picnic spots. After 18 winding miles [29 kilometers] through the Carson National Forest (+1 505 758 6200 or 6390 for VisitorCenter), the road curves over a 9,101-foot [2,774-meter] pass, then descends to grasslands and the ski town of Angel Fire (Chamberof Commerce +1 505 377 6661 or 800 446 8117), 3 miles [4.8 kilometers] down Rte. 434. A mile [1.6 kilometers] beyond the Angel Fire turnoff, you’ll see the sail-likechapel of the DAV Vietnam Veterans National Memorial (+1 505 377 6900. Visitor Center May-Sept. Tues.-Sun., Oct.-AprilWed.-Sun.) occupying a windblown hill on the left. In another 5 miles [8 kilometers], Eagle Nest Lake emerges on the right. To the west,across the Moreno Valley, rises Wheeler Peak, contained within the Wheeler Peak Wilderness(Questa Ranger District +1 505 586 0520), an area laced with hiking trails. At the town of Eagle Nest, U.S. 64, now a side road, heads aroundthe north end of the lake to quiet Cimarron Canyon State Park (+1 505 377 6271, $7 per night camping), with campsites and good fly-fishingon the Cimarron River.

From Eagle Nest take Rte. 38 for several miles to the ruins of Elizabethtown, a gold boom site in the mid-1860s. The routecontinues across the valley, climbing up to 9,820-foot [2,993.1-meter] Bobcat Pass and back into Carson National Forest before descending intothe resort town of Red River (Chamber of Commerce +1 505 754 2366), once a mining camp and now a center for outdooractivities. Several miles after Red River the road passes a molybdenite mine, then slips through towering rock cliffs. At the village of Questa,detour north about 3 miles [4.8 kilometers] on Rte. 522, then turn left on Rte. 378 for a worthwhile 13-mile [20.9-kilometer] side trip to the Wild Rivers RecreationArea (+1 505 758 8851), which skirts the edge of the Rio Grande Gorge.

The drive continues south from Questa on Rte. 522, passing the turnoff for the D.H. Lawrence Memorial (+1 505 776 2245) atSan Cristobal, where the writer lived in the early 1920s. Soon you’ll run into the intersection of U.S. 64 and Rte. 150 with Rte. 522. Fromhere, detour west on U.S. 64 for 8 miles [12.9 kilometers] to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, with stunning vistas of the gorge. To reach theworld-famous Taos Ski Valley (+1 505 776 2291), head northeast on Rte. 150. Just past the intersection, look for tinyMuseum Road on the right to reach the Millicent Rogers Museum (+1 505 758 2462. $6 adults, $1 children), an excellent gallerydevoted to Native American and Hispanic art. Two miles [3.2 kilometers] down Rte. 522, you pass signs for Taos Pueblo (+1 505 758 9593.Call ahead for schedule; $6 vehicle, or $4 per person), one of the country’s largest multistoried pueblos. The drive ends back in Taos.