Activities Abound
See where the Adventure Takes You
Explore Taos
Drawing visitors from all over the world with its dramatic desert landscapes and its historic Pueblo culture, Taos offers dozens of attractions and activities. Whether it's a fine art museum, a round of demanding golf, or hiking in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, your journey to our northern New Mexican town will be one to remember.
In addition to the exciting downhill skiing at nearby Taos Ski Valley, Angel Fire, or Sipapu, Taos abounds with outdoor adventure experiences. Hiking, white water rafting and kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, wildlife viewing, hunting, and bird watching are all to be found in or around Taos. Below are some of our favorite attractions close to our Taos hotel.
Important Tip
Taos has an elevation of 6,967 feet (more than 1,200 feet higher than Denver, the "Mile High City"). While visiting, please remember to drink plenty of water and use sunscreen, as there is less protection from the sun at this elevation.
Taos Pueblo
Taos Pueblo is an ancient pueblo belonging to a Taos-speaking Native American tribe. The pueblos are one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Pueblo is generally open to visitors daily from 8 am to 4:30 pm, except when required close for community events and ceremonies. Late winter to early Spring the Pueblo closes for about ten weeks. Please call ahead if you’ll be visiting during this time.
Taos Plaza
From the Sagebrush Inn • North 3 miles on Paseo del Pueblo Sur
Taos Plaza is undeniably the main focal point of the Town of Taos. It is the center of the Taos Historic District where locals gather for Taos Plaza Live concerts from May through October, and visitors enjoy the shops and galleries that surround the Plaza all year long. Don Fernando de Taos Plaza was settled by the Spanish colonists more than 300 years ago and still retains its original shape. Traditional celebrations, live performances, as well as practice and fund raising efforts are plentiful in this lovely town square.
The Plaza was built for defense; windows and doors faced into the Plaza and the limited entrances could be barricaded. During the Civil War, patriots guarded an American flag on the Plaza. Because of their efforts, Taos Plaza was given the honor of flying the flag day and night. The large cross on the Plaza was designed by local artist Ted Egri and placed on the Plaza in honor of the many people of Taos who died in the Bataan Death March during World War II.
Enjoy a Self-Guided Walking Tour of 22 Historic Taos Landmarks by purchasing a Historic Taos guide at Sagebrush Front Desk for $2.00 plus tax.
Taos Ski Valley
116 Sutton Place • Taos Ski Valley, NM 87525 • 800.776.1111
With an average annual snowfall of 305 inches, Taos Ski Valley offers every level of skier and boarder a great experience. Taos Ski Valley is generally open from Thanksgiving weekend through April (depending on snow conditions). Founded and operated by the Blake family until 2013, Taos Ski Valley offers athletic, rugged skiing and snowboarding with 113 total trails (24% beginner, 25% intermediate, and 51% expert). The new Kachina Peak Lift opened in 2015 and takes visitors to the summit of Kachina Peak at 12,450 feet, making it the third highest chairlift in North America. The lift increases the mountain's advanced and expert lift-serviced terrain by 50%. Other winter activities include snowmobiling and cross country skiing, in addition to the ski school and world class alpine skiing.
Summer activities include horseback riding and serious mountain biking on the new Berminator Trail (a 2.5-mile advanced flow trail), the Pioneers Bike Park (offering beginner and intermediate flow trails), and the uphill/downhill Gateway cross-country trail. Ride the lifts to enjoy scenery, hiking, and birding from June to October.
Taos Country Club Golf
54 Golf Course Drive • Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557 • 575.758.7300
Measuring 7,302 yards and featuring spectacular desert scenery dotted with silver-green sagebrush and challenging arroyos, Taos Country Club offers one of the most dramatic and exciting golf games you can enjoy. This championship golf course was awarded 4 stars by Golf Digest and is located just four miles from Sagebrush Inn & Suites.
Mention that Sagebrush Inn & Suites is hosting your accommodations, and enjoy 20% off tee times with the Taos Stay & Play Package!
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
From the Sagebrush Inn •
North 7.1 miles on Paseo del Pueblo Sur • West 7.8 miles on US 64 W
Travel west on US Hwy 64 to reach the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, the second highest bridge on the U.S. Highway System. Park your car, walk across the expanse, and trill at the breathtaking view of the Rio Grande River. The bridge is a three-span steel continuous-deck-truss structure with a concrete-filled steel-grid deck. It was called the “bridge to nowhere” while it was being built because the funding did not exist to continue the road on the other side. At 650 feet above the Rio Grande River, it is the fifth highest bridge in the United States. Watch for soaring Golden and Bald Eagles overhead, and grazing Big Horn Sheep along the east rim. The bridge was dedicated on September 10, 1965 and spans 1,280 feet. In 1966 the American Institute of Steel Construction awarded the bridge “Most Beautiful Steel Bridge” in the “Long Span” category. The bridge has appeared in several films, including Natural Born Killers, Twins, She’s Having a Baby, Wild Hogs, and Terminator Salvation. You can purchase a variety of crafts from local vendors who display their goods along the west side of the bridge.
Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center • Embudo, NM • 575.751.4899
Wild Rivers Visitors Center • Cerro, NM • 575.758.8851
Created in 2013, the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument encompasses more than 242,000 acres along the Rio Grande, with landscapes ranging from plains dotted with volcanic cones and cut by steep canyons and rivers. The Rio Grande Gorge is a rift valley up to 800 feet deep, with evidence of human habitation stretching back for thousands of years. See petroglyphs carved by ancient inhabitants on hiking trails throughout the monument. Raft or kayak through the gorge on rapids from Class II to Class V. Enjoy mountain biking, llama trekking, birding, and hiking, and study the basalt and lava flows from ancient eruptions. Get your fishing license and enjoy fishing for brown and rainbow trout or northern pike. See Ute Mountain at 10,093 feet elevation. Enjoy spectacular views and spot wildlife from your car on the Wild Rivers Backcountry Byway, NM Highway 570, and US Routes 64 and 285.
Enjoy a Guide to Over 300,000 Acres of Natural Wonders in Taos, New Mexico by purchasing a Río Grande del Norte National Monument guide at Sagebrush Front Desk for $2.00 plus tax.
Los Rios River Runners
4003 New Mexico 68 • Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557 • 575.776.8854
Rafting the Congressionally-designated "Wild & Scenic River" of the Rio Grande is a bucket list experience. The river flows through the bottom of the gorge, up to 800 feet below the rim, where you can enjoy a mellow float through Orilla Verde, or the exhilarating rapids of the Racecourse. Wildlife you may see on a trip down the river includes elk, big horn sheep, deer, river otters, beaver, bald and golden eagles, peregrine falcon, and mountain lions.
Historic Taos Trolley Tours
102A S Plaza • Taos, NM 87571 • 505.550.5612
Join Historic Taos Trolley Tours and wind your way carefree through the scenic streets of Taos, NM starting with a tour of the historic Taos Plaza. Check out the picturesque shops, museums and other places of interest along the way. Hear fascinating stories about the history, people, and places as you go. Continue on to the 1000 year old Taos Pueblo for an hour long stop, journeying back in time. End the day with a photo stop at the famous San Francisco de Asis church in Ranchos de Taos, home of some of the most picturesque shops in the area.
Turquoise Tours
Plaza • Taos, NM 87571 • 575.776.8687
Experience Taos with the #1 rated local tour company. Turquoise Tours shows their guests the hidden beauty that lies under the surface of the place we call home. Through driving and walking tours of Taos, Taos Pueblo experiences, and mountain bike shuttles in Northern New Mexico, come explore the land of enchantment.
Wild Earth Llama Adventures
Take a llama to lunch on a trek with Wild Earth Llamas in the pristine wilderness of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The llama carries your gear, and you hike with a wooly hiking buddy — a truly unique experience!
Bird Watching
Enjoy bird watching in the Taos Plaza, the Rio Grande Gorge, Taos Ski Valley, or anywhere in and around Taos! The wetland areas in the semi-rural Fred Baca Park just southwest of town provides excellent viewings of the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher along with many more common species. To get there, take a left of Chamisa Rd just north of Sagebrush Inn & Suites off of Paseo del Pueblo Sur. Follow Chamisa Rd for 1.2 miles until the road ends. Take a right on Cam del Medio, and follow that road for another 1.5 miles and Fred Baca Park will be on your right at at 301 Camino de la Merced.