Spanning 105 miles, driving the High Road to Taos takes about 2 hours without any stops. As the name implies, this scenic byway is at a higher elevation when compared to the Low Road, starting at 5,280 feet (1,609 meters) in Nambe and reaching 8,000 feet (2,438 feet) in Truchas. It is also the windy of the two—for those who get car sick, take heed.
This landscape showcases the influence of Old Spain, rich with tiny villages, Spanish Colonial architecture, juniper- and sagebrush-spotted hills, and unique local crafts. Stop in Chimayo, a U.S. National Park American Latino Heritage site, famed for its red chile and village church with healing earth. The halfway point is Truchas, the 18th century-era village where the 1988 Robert Redford film, The Milagro Beanfield War, was set. After driving through the alpine scenery of the Carson National Forest, you'll come to Taos, your destination.