This is a very nice, scenic route going from Santa Fe to Taos.
Begin at Wicked West Harley-Davidson in Santa Fe. Proceed west on Rodeo Road and just past Cerillos Road, turn right onto Lopez Lane. This will bring you out at the Bypass. Turn left on Alameda Frontage Road and then immediately turn right onto NM-599 going northbound. At the end of this road, stay in the left lane and go around the circle ramp merging onto US-84/285 northbound.
Just past Pojoaque Pueblo, stay right. Turn right onto NM-503 passing through Nambe Pueblo. The beginning of this route is slow but speeds up later. Be aware of the turn toward the Santuario de Chimayo. Turn left onto county road 98 toward Chimayo. *(Note: if you miss this and continue on 503, you can still get where you are going, but the road is TERRIBLE and goes down to one lane full of gravel, tight turns, oncoming farm vehicles, etc… so use caution.)
In Chimayo, you can stop to visit the church, which has some sacred relics and is a pilgrimage site for local Catholics. Proceed through the village to NM-76. Turn right going north on 76. This is a very fun section! Lots of curves, scenic vistas, etc. Note that in the village of Truchas, you need to turn left to stay on NM-76. Continue on this route to the intersection with NM-75. Turn right on 75 into Penasco. Stay on NM-75 until you reach the “rock wall” at the intersection of NM-518. Turn left. This section has some fun climbs and sharp curves. Watch speed in this area as the curves are often tight, have occasional wildlife, and inattentive opposing traffic! Use caution!
When descending out of the mountains on 518, you can speed up a bit and enjoy the views as you enter Taos. There are numerous food options in Taos, including: Orlandos, Doc Martin’s, The Gorge Bar & Grill, etc. You can also visit the Taos Gorge Bridge on US-64.
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