Carson National Forest
offers all manner of hiking, backpacking and horseback riding opportunities. Three wilderness areas are within a short distance of Taos.The Sangre de Cristo Mountains contain part of the national forest and much else, and extend south to Santa Fe and north into Colorado. There are major ski areas at Angel Fire (http://www.angelfireresort.com) and Red River (http://www.redriverskiare...) on the eastern side of the range not far from Taos, as well as the smaller and more rustic Sipapu (http://www.sipapunm.com/) to the south. All are in general somewhat easier skiing than the notoriously "challenging" Taos Ski Valley, and see more beginners Sipapu specifically bills itself as "family-oriented". Red River also has a developed commercial site for Nordic cross-country skiing on groomed trails. The drives to these areas are scenic even if you don't ski.
Picuris Pueblo
(http://www.picurispueblo.net/), south of Taos on the west side, is one of the highest of the American Indian pueblos of New Mexico and can be toured during daylight hours. There is a small tribal museum. As at most Native American pueblos open to the public, a small fee is charged for photography, sketching, etc.The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge on US Highway 64 about 10 miles west of town spans the Rio Grande a dizzying 650 feet above the river. There are observation platforms at each end of the bridge. Definitely not for the acrophobic.
If you happen to be a fan of author D. H. Lawrence one of the contributors to the Taos mystique in the early 20th century, his ashes are preserved at a curious "shrine" at the Kiowa Ranch, a property of the University of New Mexico about 20 miles from town via SR 522. It's open for visits during daylight hours.
