The Sangre de Cristo Mountains flank the Taos Valley along the East and mark the beginning of the Rockies southernmost ranges.
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains, a subrange of the Rockies, stretch 250 miles from southern Colorado into northern New Mexico. The name is Spanish for “Blood of Christ,” supposedly given by an early explorer who saw the peaks bathed in a reddish alpenglow at sunrise and sunset. This range is characterized by its high, rugged, and glacially-carved peaks that rise abruptly from the valley floor.
Near Taos
Near Taos, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains form the Taos Mountains, which contain the highest peaks in New Mexico. The most notable peak in this section is Wheeler Peak at 13,167 feet, which is New Mexico’s highest point. The mountains near Taos are a major recreation destination, especially for skiing, hiking, and camping. Taos Ski Valley is nestled in the range along the Rio Hondo, a mountain stream that runs into the Rio Grande. Additionally, the mountains provide a crucial watershed for the region, with many creeks and streams feeding rivers and ditches and sustaining the local ecosystem.