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Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Taos, NM

Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingFreeOutdoor AdventureIconic

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

US-64, about 12 miles northwest of Taos Plaza · Taos, NM

Why you should go…

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge carries US 64 across the gorge about 12 miles from Taos Plaza, with the river nearly 565 feet below the deck. Sidewalks run along the steel span, which was dedicated in 1965 and stretches about 1,280 feet, so you can walk out and look straight down. A rest area on the west side has parking, picnic tables, restrooms and the trailhead for the nine-mile West Rim Trail.

  • #bridge
  • #scenic overlook
  • #rio grande gorge
  • #hiking trail
  • #road trip stop

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Millicent Rogers Museum

    Under $25

    A Taos museum of Southwest art, Native pottery and the founder's silver and turquoise jewelry collection.

    8.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Wild Earth Llama Adventures

    $50+

    Guided llama-trekking day hikes and multi-day wilderness trips in the mountains near Taos.

    10 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Solitary Angler

    $50+

    Fly fishing guide service and fly shop in Taos offering trips on the Rio Grande Gorge and northern New Mexico's rivers and lakes.

    10 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Taos Pueblo

    $25–$50

    Walk among multi-story adobe homes on a guided tour of a pueblo that has been lived in for more than 1,000 years.

    11 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Taos Ski Valley

    $50+

    Ski steep terrain in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in winter, then hike, bike or climb a via ferrata in summer.

    18 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    El Santuario de Chimayo

    Free

    Visit an 1816 adobe pilgrimage church, see its folk-art decorations, and stop at the small room of holy dirt.

    35 mi awayMore like this