The byway encircles
Wheeler Peak (13,161 feet (4,011 m)) of the
Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It is the tallest mountain in New Mexico. The scenic byway passes through historic towns, alongside lakes and streams, and near ski resorts and recreational parks.[2]
Taos
In Taos is its
historic district of old adobe buildings. Within the town are the
Taos Plaza, homes of historic figures, galleries, shops and the ancient
Taos Pueblo. Recreational opportunities include rafting on the
Rio Grande.[2]
North of Taos
North of Taos, NM 522 meets NM 38 at
Questa, where Red River recreational opportunities include picnic facilities, fishing, and self-guided tours. The town of Questa is known for its artisans whose works are found at the Artesanos de Questa and historic
santos and
retablos are at the St. Anthony's Church.[2][4][nb 1]
Northeast of Questa, the Rio Grande and Red Rivers intersect in the
Wild Rivers Recreation Area. East of Qesta is the Red River Valley—where there had been copper, lead, silver and gold mining. The town of
Red River offers staged gunfights, shopping, a ski resort, and a mining museum. Traveling east on
New Mexico State Road 38 (NM 38) is
Bobcat Pass (9,820 feet (2,990 m)) which leads into the Moreno Valley and a view of the north side of Mount Wheeler.[2][nb 2]
Eastern end
At the eastern edge of the scenic byway is Moreno Valley, which lies between
Eagle Nest and
Angel Fire. At the southernmost point of the valley is the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park. A ski resort and golf course are located south of the park on NM 434 in the village of Angel Fire. The ski resort's chairlift is used during the summer by hikers, sightseers and mountain bikers. From Angel Fire, west on US 64 is the
Palo Flechado Pass (9,101 feet (2,774 m)) with a distant view of
San Juan. Campsites, canyon trails, picnic areas, and artist's studios are located in the Canyon of the Rio Fernando de Taos.[2][4]
History
Early trails
The earliest trails used by
Plains Indians and
Puebloan peoples were those created by buffalo and were followed for hunting. The buffalo were considered "the best civil engineers in the world" for their ability to find the easiest, lowest paths through the mountains. The Old Kiowa Trail, still used today by Native Americans on horseback, is at the base of the
Rocky Mountains. An old Navajo Trail criss-crossed the Rio Grande[6] before heading west at Warmsley Crossing (
John Dunn Bridge at
Arroyo Hondo)[7] There were additional trails that radiated out of Taos[6] from
Taos Plaza.[7]
It came into Taos at either Taos Pueblo road or half a mile west on Couse Hill. Another route into Taos was along the Cimarron Route. It was this route that most wagon trains entered into the Rio de Fernando canyon valley.[8] The two routes are the "mountain route" and the "Cimarron Route" of the
Santa Fe Trail. One of the Cimarron Mountain Routes paralleled the present
U.S. Route 64 from I-25 to
Cimarron. Trails branched off of the Cimarron Route into several communities.[10][11] A branch of the route from Bent's Fort went into Taos in or after the founding of the Santa Fe Trail in 1821.[12] The first wagon train was led by
Charles Bent in 1831. Bent, the brother of
William Bent of
Bent's Fort, became the most successful merchant in Taos before being made
governor of New Mexico.[13]
Highways from the 20th century
History of individual highways:
U.S. Route 64. In 1927 the road into Taos from the northeast was highway 485, a branch of 85 from
Raton, New Mexico. It ran south east from Cimarron to Taos and continued south to Santa Fe. In 1931, U.S. 485 was replaced by U.S. Route 64. In 1974 the route of 64 changed from Taos, and rather than taking a southerly route, it traveled north and west over the mountains of Tres Piedras, replacing the former NM 111 and NM 553 highways.[14][15][16][17]
New Mexico State Road 38. The highway was named NM 38 in or before 1912 for the road between Questa and Eagle Nest.[18]
New Mexico State Road 434. The road runs south from U.S. Route 64 south to
Mora. It was a part of NM-38 when the highway was extended south of Eagle Nest by 1917 and at least into the 1950s.[19] It was renumbered to NM 434 in 1988 to eliminate a concurrent section with U.W. 64 and NM 38.[20]
New Mexico State Road 522. It was New Mexico State Road 3 from 1930.[21] It was renumbered NM 522 in 1988. North of Costilla at the Colorado state line it becomes CO Highway 159.[22]