Rio Grande Del Norte is vast-there are many different areas to explore and various corners of this…read morenational monument that range from moderately trafficked to fairly remote. Taos.org has a great summary page of the different areas. https://taos.org/explore/landmarks/rio-grande-del-norte-national-monument/ I had done some further research after this overview and opted to visit the Wild Rivers area in the morning and the Rio Grande Gorge area later in the day after lunch back in Taos. Wild Rivers is about 50 minutes from Taos but a scenic drive. Once you are in the public lands, the scenery gets more and more amazing. In the Wild Rivers area, there's a visitor center (currently only open on weekends), a scenic byway with overlooks, campgrounds and hiking trails that take you down to the river. I opted to do the trail to Big Arsenic Springs. The byway was very well signed and there's day use parking that does have a self paid fee. Since it's a BLM administered park (federal) you can instead display your America the Beautiful National Parks pass. Amazing scenery of the river and surrounding canyons along the petroglyphs towards the end of the Big Arsenic trail. The hike I opted for was short (2.5 miles but with an 800 ft elevation gain on the way back up from the river.) The park does an amazing job maintaining the trails and the well graded switchbacks made it a pleasant hike. On the drive out, after my hike, I stopped at other scenic view points. Later in the day, I visited another section of the park, closer to Taos where you can walk across and take in vistas of the Rio Grande Gorge bridge. If you're visiting Taos and love the outdoors, a visit to this park is a must. It's quieter than your typical national parks with fewer amenities but still an awe inspiring outdoor adventure (without the crowds!)

We took an hour walk on the West Rim Trail that's part of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument…read morewhile visiting the Rio Grande bridge in late May 2023. The trail starts right at the parking lot and it's beautiful. Gorgeous views of the river too. Many bunnies that day.

I usually pass by visitor's centers, but I stopped at this one, and I'm glad I did. It was like a…read moremini-museum, gift shop, and rest stop all in one. Clean bathrooms, reasonably-priced trinkets, and a helpful staffer who did a marvelous job of answering questions. I purchased jewelry and accessories and enjoyed a history lesson...all at the same location. There is also a trolley or tour bus for people who don't mind paying for the ride. It allows people to park their cars and let someone else do the driving. I didn't ask about the price, but it was probably worth it. There is so much to see.

Super friendly and helpful staff, gave us great recommendations. Be sure to stop here first!read more

Drove in from Albuquerque on a whim on a Wednesday afternoon. So glad I stopped in! I wish I…read morewould've gotten the name of the lady that helped us. She was so helpful! Gave us a map and drew out the walking tour route. It was perfect! She even recommended the state capital museum art display, which was across the street. I had no idea! Thank you Santa Fe. Really enjoyed the historical aspects of the walking tour!

Amazing staff! Very engaging and informative. Nice little gift shop and great referral on places to…read moreeat and things to do. Highly recommended

Stopped in on a Saturday morning with my wife and 12 year old twins to find out about the history…read moreof the area, and what spots to visit. The gentleman on staff was welcoming, engaged my kids on their level, and provided a wealth of knowledge about Los Alamos. As out-of- town visitors, it was great to find someone so friendly and helpful. Make sure to stop by when visiting this town steeped in history and modern science.

I hate that we couldn't access the sidewalk to be on the bridge. The area next to it does have…read moreparking but it is limited. They have a nice trail you can walk on and different areas to take cool photos. The best part is that it is free. They also have vendors selling goods in the parking lot.

Located about 10 miles from Taos, NM stands this majestic bridge!…read more While on vacation, we decided to come see the gorge, the Rio Grande River, and the bridge that spans it. And what a sight it was to behold! We parked in the Rio Grande Gorge Rest Area. The bridge & gorge are viewable from here. There are sheltered picnic tables and restrooms here. In 1963 the bridge was started and was completed in 1965. It is part of the US Highway 64. There are three spans connected to create one bridge 1,280 feet long (two 300-foot-long approach spans with a 600-foot-long main center span). September of 2012, the bridge underwent a $2.4 restoration which included structural steelwork, a new concrete deck surface, new sidewalks, ramps, curbs, and gutters. We were unable to walk out onto the bridge, but we did walk out to the rim. The dirt path was easy to navigate. Once near the rim, it becomes rocky and there is no barrier to keep you safe from falling off the edge, so watch your step! Since I am not very steady of my feet, I didn't go out as far as I would have liked to. A few more steps and I would have had a better view, but I stopped. Sadly, the bridge was closed to pedestrians in Sept. 2025 due to suicides. I feel that by not getting to walk across the bridge, my experience was hindered. I would have loved to get a full head on view of the gorge! For me, having the view from here would have been safer and more ideal! You've probably seen this bridge since it has appeared in a few movies including Natural Born Killers, Twins, White Sands, She's Having a Baby, The Signal, Paul, Vacation, Wild Hogs, and Terminator Salvation. Locals call this bridge the "High Bridge" or the "Gorge Bridge". It is the seventh highest bridge in the U.S. It is located in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. If we make it back here in the future, I hope we will be able to walk to the center of the bridge!

This is the best visitor center we have ever been to in our life. I use to work as an inspector for…read moreAmerican Express Travel which took me literally to every continent around the globe. Never have I met a visitor center staff as attentive and knowledgeable as Eric who was at the train center. Living in Santa Fe now we had no idea this jewel of a center was available until we picked up friends there yesterday. Without a doubt the man behind the counter knows his business and whoever hired him was very fortunate to secure his talents. There's a bike shop also next-door which I thought was a good idea for alternate transportation in the area. Santa Fe is such a fascinating city discovering new treasures at every turn. If you like trains which I do and you want any information on Santa Fe stop by the visitor center and check out the extraordinary selection of information options that Eric has available. One thing I would recommend however is that they install complementary Internet. While we were waiting for our friends my wife wanted to book dining reservations online, AT&T had a terrible connection. That is one thing that is needed throughout the historic district of Santa Fe, complementary Internet.

Inside the Santa Fe Depot, there is a small Tourist Information Center and it it packed with…read morebrochures and information for the visitor or traveler. There are tables with chairs inside to sit down and figure out what it is you might want to do in Santa Fe. Since it was very hot outside, I was also happy to see a cold drink vending machine and happily bought a Powerade to cool me off. There was one lady manning the desk there and fielding questions from the tourists. Unfortunately, a big sign noted that there were no public restrooms available, although I did see the employee give a key to one man who got to use the bathroom facilities there. Because this info center seems kind of smallish and caters to mainly train travelers coming or going, I had to knock off 1 YELP STAR. I wish it had some public restrooms that people sitting around and waiting for the Rail Runner could utilize.

Really solid place to eat, which is unusual for a National Park eatery. I had the Bison Burger…read more(lean, yet juicy) and my wife had the Doug Burger - massive and unique as it was topped with a batter-dipped green chile pepper. We ended the meal with a hot & fresh Indian Fry bread (similar to an Elephant Ear). Fantastic meal after a morning hike surrounded by the beauty of Bandelier!

Food was surprisingly delicious! Especially the frybread! - Being from Montana I can say I've had…read moregood frybread and this stuff at this restaurant is the real deal! Make sure you stop in and take a look at the menu even if you think you're not hungry!

Convenient and accessible!…read more En route to Bandelier National Monument, we stopped at White Rock Visitor Center, to take advantage of the shuttle service that you can get from here to Bandelier, especially because there's limited road access to the monument. The shuttle service runs about every 20 minutes, and gets you directly to the main visitor's entrance of Bandelier. Inside the visitors center is where you'll find tons of information of nearby attractions and sites, with brochures, maps, etc... The space was also very large, clean and dog-friendly. There's also a help desk at the center where staff are happy to speak with you for recommendations and assistance. You can also pay for your park fees here. I advise anyone who's on their way to Bandelier National Monument to stop by the White Rock Visitor Center for its shuttle service and getting tips and information on other nearby sites while in the area.

A pit stop to grab the Bandelier Shuttle, we were happy to miss the first ride and spent some time…read morein the center. Delightful staff, with so much knowledge, ask them questions! You will learn a lot :) They also have very easy parking, nice bathrooms, and lots of fliers to promote ideas in the area. The gorgeous large windows make it a delightful pit stop to sit and relax, while you take in a bit of the mini museum.

Super friendly and helpful staff! This is where you stop to get passes for the Red Rocks Trail and…read moreWalatowa Slot Canyon across the street (highly recommend!!). Tons of local art and such. I asked where I could get seeds to grow the peppers they have in NM and she pointed to the wall where there were hanging dried peppers that her uncle brings in from his personal garden nearby - it doesn't get more local than that!

I highly recommend stopping here first before your Jemez (pronounced HEY-mess) Mountain Trail…read moreadventure if you're coming from the south. The facility is just past the Jemez Pueblo (called Walatowa by the locals), next to a gas station, and across from awesome red rocks - you can't miss it. The friendly person working here gave me the inside scoop on places to go that don't have signage and told me about the events happening throughout the year. They have an informative display about the area, a museum with history of the culture, and also a gift shop with local flavors and artisans' works. If you're coming from the north, you'll learn more about what you just saw and can pick up some postcards.

I'll never get tired of the view towards the Rio Grande River from Overlook Park in White Rock. On…read moreevery trip to Northern New Mexico (however far apart), you'll find me here (hot or not) admiring the scenery. Last week was but one experience that I hope to repeat.

We came back in May and it's just not as nice. No waterfall. It's hotter. The sunlight is so bright…read moreand air is drier so there's less color saturation/contrast in the area. Sept and October are the months to visit.