The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway is a New Mexico Scenic Byway and National Forest Scenic Byway located in Northern New Mexico . It begins and ends in Taos, New Mexico .
26-539: The 84-mile (135 km) Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway makes a loop through Taos following four main highways: The byway encircles Wheeler Peak (13,161 feet (4,011 m)) of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains . It is the tallest mountain in New Mexico. The scenic byway passes through historic towns, alongside lakes and streams, and near ski resorts and recreational parks. Taos is the county seat of Taos County , and
52-605: Is Bobcat Pass (9,820 feet (2,990 m)) which leads into the Moreno Valley and a view of the north side of Mount Wheeler. At the eastern edge of the scenic byway is Moreno Valley, which lies between Eagle Nest and Angel Fire . At the southernmost point of the valley is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park . A ski resort and golf course are located south of the park on NM 434 in the village of Angel Fire. The ski resort's chairlift
78-403: Is Mount Walter . At 13,141 feet (4,005 m) it is the second highest named summit in New Mexico, but it is not usually considered an independent peak as it has only about 53 feet (16 m) of topographic prominence . It is sometimes mistaken for Wheeler Peak, since it is along the standard route to Wheeler. Lake Fork Peak at 12,881 feet (3,926 m) lies just across Williams Lake and to
104-783: Is known for its artisans whose works are found at the Artesanos de Questa and historic santos and retablos are at the St. Anthony's Church. Northeast of Questa, the Rio Grande and Red Rivers intersect in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area . East of Questa is the Red River Valley—where there had been copper, lead, silver and gold mining. The town of Red River offers, shopping, a ski resort, and ATV rentals. Traveling east on New Mexico State Road 38 (NM 38)
130-681: Is used during the summer by hikers, sightseers and mountain bikers. From Angel Fire, west on US 64 is the Palo Flechado Pass (9,101 feet (2,774 m)) with a distant view of San Juan . Campsites, canyon trails, picnic areas, and artist's studios are located in the Canyon of the Rio Fernando de Taos. The earliest trails used by Plains Indians and Puebloan peoples were those created by buffalo and were followed for hunting. The buffalo were considered "the best civil engineers in
156-566: The Rocky Mountains . The peak's elevation is 13,167 feet (4,013 m). Formerly named Taos Peak, after the nearby town of Taos, New Mexico , it was renamed Wheeler Peak in 1950. A plaque at the summit states that the mountain was: Named in honor of Major George Montague Wheeler (1832–1909) who for ten years led a party of surveyors and naturalists collecting geologic, biologic, planimetric and topographic data in New Mexico and six other southwestern states. Just north of Wheeler Peak
182-741: The Rio de Fernando canyon valley. The two routes are the "mountain route" and the "Cimarron Route" of the Santa Fe Trail . One of the Cimarron Mountain Routes paralleled the present U.S. Route 64 from I-25 to Cimarron . Trails branched off of the Cimarron Route into several communities. A branch of the route from Bent's Fort went into Taos in or after the founding of the Santa Fe Trail in 1821. The first wagon train
208-470: The Sundance Kid were filmed in the area. Wheeler Peak (New Mexico) Wheeler Peak is the highest natural point in the U.S. state of New Mexico . It is located northeast of Taos and south of Red River in the northern part of the state, and just 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of the ski slopes of Taos Ski Valley. It lies in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains , the southernmost subrange of
234-523: The army, in 1828, Charles and his younger brother, William , took a wagon train of goods from St. Louis to Santa Fe . There they established mercantile contacts and began a series of trading trips back and forth over the Santa Fe Trail . In 1832, he formed a partnership with Ceran St. Vrain , another trader from St. Louis, called Bent & St. Vrain Company . In addition to its store in Taos, New Mexico ,
260-518: The couple after Dick fought with the posse that avenged Charles's assassination. Bent Street, which runs in front of what had been his home in Taos, and Martyr's Lane, which runs behind it, are named for him. The Governor Charles Bent House is now a museum . An elementary school in northeast Albuquerque is named in Bent's honor. Bent documented the indigenous peoples of New Mexico in an essay which
286-517: The following months, Colonel Price was able to quell the uprising, which ended in July 1847. Most of the rebels were caught and some of them were executed. In 1835, Charles "Carlos" Bent married Maria Ignacia Jaramillo, who was born in Taos, New Mexico . Maria's younger sister, Josefa Jaramillo, would later marry Kit Carson . Charles and Maria had five children: Alfred, Estifina, Teresina, George (died as infant), and Virginia (died as infant). Alfred
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#1732793688022312-405: The influential families in the state started to plan a revolt against their new rulers. Governor Bent and Colonel Sterling Price found out about the conspiracy and some of the leaders of the movement were arrested, but two important ones were able to escape. In January 1847, while serving as territorial governor, Bent traveled to his hometown of Taos without military protection. After arriving, he
338-584: The largest town in the Enchanted Circle. It is notable for its historic plaza , arts and music scene, and the nearby Taos Pueblo UNESCO World Heritage Site . Recreational opportunities include rafting on the Rio Grande River and skiing and snowboarding at Taos Ski Valley. North of Taos, NM 522 meets NM 38 at Questa , where Red River recreational opportunities include picnic facilities, fishing, and self-guided tours. The town of Questa
364-551: The north, going over the summit of Mount Walter along the way. This is a practical route, even in winter, due to low (but nonzero) avalanche exposure. An alternate route is to hike south from Taos Ski Valley to Williams Lake, then take a newly constructed switchback trail to the top. This trail was completed in 2011 by a Forest Service trail crew from the Gallatin National Forest , 8 people working 12 hours per day, building 4 miles of new trail with hand tools to
390-588: The occupation of New Mexico as part of the Mexican-American War , many of the inhabitants of New Mexico were not happy about the new American rule. Some mourned the loss of the old connection with Mexico, others feared the loss of their private goods, and others hated Bent, the New Mexican Territorial Governor who served under the U.S. war-time occupation, because of his negative attitude towards Mexicans. In December 1846,
416-507: The top in 14 days. Another alternate route is to begin from the nearby ski resort of Red River . From the town of Red River drive 6.4 miles south on NM 578, then 1.3 miles on FR 58 to the trailhead parking area. From the parking area Wheeler peak is about 7 miles on Forest Trail 91. This route passes two alpine lakes, Lost Lake and Horseshoe Lake. Wheeler Peak has a summit register as do many major western peaks. Charles Bent Charles Bent (November 11, 1799 – January 19, 1847)
442-711: The trading company established a series of "forts", fortified trading posts, to facilitate trade with the Plains Indians , including Fort Saint Vrain on the South Platte River and Bent's Fort on the Arkansas River , both in Colorado , and Fort Adobe on the Canadian River . Bent's Fort, outside La Junta, Colorado , has been restored and is now a National Historic Site . Following
468-497: The west of Wheeler Mountain. Taos Ski Valley lies to the northwest of Wheeler Peak, while both the town of Taos and Taos Pueblo are about 15 miles (24 km) to the southwest. Wheeler Peak is the focus of the 19,661-acre (79.57 km ) Wheeler Peak Wilderness area in the Carson National Forest . Much of the mountain area just south of the peak is on Taos Pueblo land. Some 48,000 acres (190 km )
494-425: The world" for their ability to find the easiest, lowest paths through the mountains. The Old Kiowa Trail, still used today by Native Americans on horseback, is at the base of the Rocky Mountains . An old Navajo Trail criss-crossed the Rio Grande before heading west at Warmsley Crossing ( John Dunn Bridge at Arroyo Hondo ) There were additional trails that radiated out of Taos from Taos Plaza . A key trail into Taos
520-585: Was scalped alive and murdered in his home by a group of pueblo Native American attackers, under the orders of Mexican conspirators who started the Taos Revolt . Bent is buried in the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. The women and children in the Bent home were not harmed by the insurgents, and the remaining members of the family fled to safety next door through a hole in the parlor wall. In
546-612: Was " The Old Taos Trail ", which began at the Bent's Fort on the Arkansas River in Colorado, west of the Spanish Peaks , through Sangre de Cristo Pass (west of Walsenburg, Colorado ), Old La Veta Pass and into Questa area (NM 522/NM38 area). It came into Taos at either Taos Pueblo road or half a mile west on Couse Hill. Another route into Taos was along the Cimarron Route. It was this route that most wagon trains entered into
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#1732793688022572-725: Was an American businessman and politician who served as the first civilian United States governor of the New Mexico Territory , newly invaded and occupied by the United States during the Mexican-American War by the Military Governor, Stephen Watts Kearny , in September 1846 until his assassination. Bent had been working as a fur trader in the region since 1828, with his younger brother, William , and later partner Ceran St. Vrain . Though his office
598-611: Was in Santa Fe , Bent maintained his residence and a trading post in Taos , New Mexico Territory , in present-day New Mexico . On January 19, 1847, Bent was scalped and killed by Pueblo warriors, during the Taos Revolt . Charles Louis Bent was born in Charleston, Virginia , the oldest of the ten children of Judge Silas Bent , and his wife Martha Kerr. The other children were: Juliannah, Joh, Lucy, Dorcas, William , Mary, George, Robert, Edward, and Silas . After leaving
624-462: Was led by Charles Bent in 1831. Bent, the brother of William Bent of Bent's Fort , became the most successful merchant in Taos before being made governor of New Mexico . History of individual highways: The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway was named a New Mexico Scenic Byways on July 31, 1998. It was designated as a National Forest Scenic Byway by the U.S. Forest Service on December 14, 1989. The movies Easy Rider and Butch Cassidy and
650-611: Was murdered at Taos on December 9, 1865. Yiorgos Caralambo (a.k.a. Greek George) was allegedly hired as the assassin by people with interests in the Maxwell Land Grant , 1/4 of which Alfred and his two sisters inherited from their father Charles. Lucien B. Maxwell , Charles Beaubien , and Guadalupe Miranda held large other portions of the grant. Charles's brothers Robert and George died at Bent's Fort (1846 and 1841, respectively). Charles Bent owned Charlotte and Dick Green , who worked at Bent's Fort. William Bent freed
676-486: Was returned to the pueblo from the Carson National Forest in 1970 and another 764 acres (3.09 km ) in 1996. The standard route on Wheeler Peak is along the north ridge. The route starts at the parking lot for Taos Ski Valley, and proceeds east along an old road to a broad saddle at Bull-of-the-Woods Meadow. It then turns south and winds its way among minor peaks and small valleys to gain Wheeler Peak from
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