A simple pleasure of visiting New Mexico is driving around its diverse landscape. No better place showcases the state’s beauty than the Enchanted Circle. It’s about a three-hour loop, ideally starting in Taos.
Consider planning an afternoon self-guided tour of the Enchanted Circle when you visit New Mexico and stay with M Vacation Properties & Resorts. We have vacation rentals and apartments available for adventurers, skiers, foodies, and more. New Mexico is such a diverse place that it can cater to anyone, any mood, and any pace.
Overview of the Enchanted Circle In New Mexico
Before you start driving the Enchanted Circle, you might want to learn more about the area’s facts and history. Here are some of the more interesting things to know about the Enchanted Circle.
- It’s 84 miles long.
- Taos is the largest community and the starting point for the Enchanted Circle.
- The earliest use of the Enchanted Circle area was for hunting Plains Indians and Puebloan peoples.
- Taos Pueblo Natives were the first to reside in the area.
- It was a popular place to hunt buffalo, as they knew how to navigate the mountainous terrain best.
- The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway was designated a New Mexico Scenic Byway on July 31, 1998, and, a year later, was designated a National Forest Scenic Byway by the U.S. Forest Service on Dec. 14, 1989.
- Easy Rider and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were filmed along the Enchanted Circle.
- Some of the oldest rocks in the southwest are found here, such as quartz and feldspar, which are two billion years old.
- The Hondo Fire of 1996 destroyed more than 8,000 acres of national forest near the mountains to the south.
- Author D.H. Lawrence spent a lot of his time writing here from 1922 to 1925
- Elizabethtown was previously a gold mining town. After gold was discovered in the area, the city was established in 1870 and became the first incorporated town in New Mexico.
- The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is the seventh-highest in the United States.
Now Travel The Enchanted Circle For Yourself
Impress your friends or family with your newfound knowledge about the Enchanted Circle when staying with M Vacation Properties & Resorts.
We offer spacious valley condos, ski-view rentals, and historic rooms at the St. James Hotel. Remember to keep an eye on the weather and snow report. Our Taos, New Mexico vacation rentals inventory includes ski-in/ski-out and hot tub properties. Call 800-453-3498 to learn more or check our availability online.