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ore than two billion years of complex geology has formed unique and dramatic scenery. The Río Grande Rift, a separation of the earth’s crust that began about 29 million years ago, created the Río Grande Gorge, through which the Río Grande flows. Volcanic eruptions, lava flows and the uplifting of mountains have left a dramatic terrain. Visitors can feel this raw beauty simply by driving through. For a more personal experience, there are many trails into the gorge, and nearby mountains offer hiking, fishing,
COSTILLA
AMALIA
VALLE VIDAL
RIO GRANDE DEL NORTE NATIONAL MONUMENT
SHUREE PONDS
RED RIVER
QUESTA
ELIZABETHTOWN
D.H. LAWRENCE RANCH
EAGLE NEST ARROYO HONDO CIMARRON
VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL
TAOS ANGEL FIRE
hunting and camping opportunities. Wildlife abounds in this vast ecosystem of grasslands and forests of piñon, juniper, ponderosa, Douglas fir, spruce and other pines. Elk, mule deer, bears, bighorn sheep, eagles, hawks, coyotes, trout and numerous other species claim this area as their natural home. Much of the high country is within the Carson National Forest, spanning 1.2 million acres.
The Rio Grande threads its way through its deep canyon in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area, a portion of the larger Rio Grande del Norte National Monument just north of Taos.
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ew Mexico’s rich multicultural tradition also thrives in this northern realm. A Native American heritage reaches back a thousand years or more, with Pueblo, Apache, Comanche and other groups having visited, traded in and lived in the area. Taos Pueblo provides our modern connection to this ancient past. Spanish explorers and settlers also left their indelible mark on our lifeways, cuisine and structures. Artists, writers and other creative persons continue to develop and share their rich expressions of life in a myriad of styles. Activists for ecology, politics and numerous other causes find a home for their passionate expression here. A hallmark of New Mexican tradition is our respectful manner. The ethic is captured in the phrase “It is how you are that matters most” — how you are with your family, friends, community, nature and animals.
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L AN D WAT E R P EOP LE T IME
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Renowned fishing guide Taylor Streit of Taos brings a small trout to hand in 2008 in the Red River.