Here Comes The Sun
While sleeping in after a long day of adventures at El Pueblo Lodge, it may sound ideal, a “must-see” for any New Mexico visitor, to take in our breathtaking sunrise and sunset. Colors and shades and hues found nowhere else on Earth can be seen almost every morning and night in the American Southwest. Even our own color palette attempts to emulate these unforgettable natural tints.
While the Southwest is known for its unmatched sunsets at dusk, the sunrises fly a bit under the radar when it comes to recognition. We believe it’s because the landscapes here are so beautiful in autumn, it doesn’t matter where the sun is in the sky.
If you’re stopping through Taos on a Southwest road trip, be sure to plan your route and departure along with the sunrise. You won’t regret it. And with the threat of COVID still limiting our range of activities in Taos and New Mexico, watching the sunrise outside (or inside your vehicle) with your favorite people sounds like an unbeatable activity.
South
If you’re heading south towards Santa Fe or Albuquerque, make sure you take Route 68 down. Hovering along the edge of Picuris Peak, the growing sunlight bounces off the mountainside and splashes throughout the New Mexican landscape. Just west of Santa Fe, you’ll find the Bandelier National Monument and Santa Fe National Forest. Both natural wonders are akin to heaven in the early mornings of an autumn day in the Southwest.
Northeast
The road winding from Taos, up through Taos Canyon, across the mountain to Angel Fire, past Red River and parallel to Questa back to Taos is known as the “circle of enchantment.” Wheeler Peak, the highest in New Mexico, shines like it’s under nature’s spotlight when the sun rises each morning. Each surrounding mountain along the route has its own chance to show its true colors every autumn dawn.
Northwest
Arguably the most majestic drive in all of Northern New Mexico is the road from Taos to Chama along Route 64. Crossing over the renowned Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, through the mesmerizing Carson National Forest, around the Rocky Mountains and down the Chama Valley, you can enjoy every type of terrain as the sun begins to rise at your back, illuminating the newly gold Aspen trees and rusted valleys for hours.
