Our Home

Our Home

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Taos Scenic Loop Trail

High Road to Taos

We set off on an all-day road tour. The "High Road" runs north between Santa Fe and Taos. We returned via the "Low Road".
There were very interesting windblown formations as we moved up into the mountains.

San Jose de la Garcia Catholic Church

This church was built in 1760 and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of Spanish Colonial Architecture. Parishioners periodically re-mud the adobe walls which are six feet thick.

Lunch Time

We found an unusual lunch stop called the Farmhouse Restaurant in Taos. 

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Just west of Taos, we crossed the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. On the west side of the bridge is a rest area and ample parking to allow sightseers to walk around and across the bridge.
The bridge has a total length of 1,272 feet with a 28-foot roadway.
The bridge, built in 1965 cost only $2,153,000.
The bridge is 565 feet above the Rio Grande River.
The Rio Grande River Gorge is deep and narrow at this point.
We took our Ranger down a very steep dirt road to the bottom of the Gorge.
This area of the Gorge is within Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
We followed the river road as it emerges from the Gorge at the south entrance of the Monument.
This is the south entrance of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, established in 2013.

2 comments:

Mark & Teri said...

Wow. That is a crazy tall bridge!! It looks like a pretty area there at the bottom. Are you enjoying your Ranger pickup?

Virginia said...

Yes, it tows great and is extremely comfortable for touring. Having the high clearance 4 wheel drive makes it great for off roading too.