The Low Road to Taos

The lush farmland around the Rio Grande is the highlight of this drive north—this valley filled with apple orchards is as green as New Mexico gets.

The road is at first a bit unpromising, as it passes through the modern town of Española [1], but it soon winds into an ever-narrower canyon and finally emerges at the dramatic point where the high plains meet the mountains.

This route is more direct than the high road [2] and has fewer scenic stopping points, so if you’re pressed for time, this is the way to go.