Taos Plateau

2013

Taos and Santa Fe are both situated in north central New Mexico along the western edge of the Sangre de Cristo (Spanish for Blood of Christ) Mountain Range, which comprises the most southern subrange of the Rocky Mountains. Lying just east of the Rio Grande, both towns are at about 7,000′ elevation.

Santa Fe (69,000 pop.), New Mexico’s state capitol, is located 50 miles north of Albuquerque, with Taos (5,700 pop.) situated 70 miles further north..

The third and fourth highest mountains in New Mexico, 20 miles north of Santa Fe, are Truchas Peak (13,108′), and Santa Fe Baldy (12,632′), while immediately north of Taos, New Mexico’s two highest mountains are Wheeler Peak (13,167′), and Mount Walter (13,133′).

Immediately west of Taos the 3,000 square mile volcanic field is the largest within the Rio Grande Rift valley. This very flat Taos Plateau volcanic field is especially dramatic, with the 600′ deep Rio Grande Gorge running through it and the nearly 11,000′ San Antonio Mountain at its northwestern corner, all contrasted against the 13,000′ Sangres just to its east, with their 6,000′ vertical ascent.

East Into Sangres<br>Taos Plateau - 2013 East into Sangres II<br>Taos Plateau - 2013 West across Rio Grande Gorge & Taos Plateau<br>Taos Plateau - 2013 East Across Taos Plateau<br>Taos Plateau - 2013 Cottonwood against Taos Foothills<br>Taos Plateau - 2013