The High Road to Taos

After getting a slow start, we left the house at 8:30 am. Our goal today was a letterbox at Santa Barbara Campground near Penasco, NM. It looked like it was going to be a very nice day. The drive north from Santa Fe was good - not much traffic early on a Saturday morning. We headed out on Hwy 285 passing through Pojoaque and Espanola. Turning right onto Hwy 76 we drove through the Villages of Chimayo, Truchas and Las Trampas. Places we have visited before - but never grow tired of.

Arriving at the campground, we seemed to have the place to ourselves. As we got towards the back of the campground we noticed one group camping in the back corner - but that was it. Very peaceful, very excited about the hike.

What a great place, this was an easy 2 1/2 - 3 miles roundtrip trail. Heading out on the trail we immediately noticed that the trail was pretty muddy. Thanks to all the rain we have been having - what good fortune for an area that was pretty much in drought at the beginning of the summer. Passing through meadows filled with Shasta Daisies and Aspens, we literally strolled (yes folks, strolled - I told you this was an easy hike) along a pretty easy trail. We paralled the Rio Santa Barbara all the way and enjoyed listening to the babbling of the running water.

Oh, the letterbox, I almost forgot. Found the box without any problems. A nice place to sit and stamp. Got to listen to the river and enjoy the daisies and aspens. The box we found was the Santa Barbara Campground letterbox. Taking into account the drive, hike, views and box - the effort to get this box is worth it.

Returning to the car we decided we were hungry - it was a little pass noon. We headed out on Hwy 75 (this time taking the High Road to Taos) to return home. We stopped at Alicia's Restaurant. After a bowl of Green Chile Stew we continued on Hwy 75 to its intersection with Hwy68. This brought us back to Espanola and Hwy 285. We returned home to a thunderstorm - a wonderful way to end our drive on the High Road to Taos.