“I think New Mexico was the greatest experience I ever had from the outside world. It certainly changed me forever. It was New Mexico that liberated me from the present era of civilization, the great era of material and mechanical development. The moment I saw the brilliant, proud morning shine high up over the deserts of Santa Fe, something stood still in my soul…” D. H. Lawrence.
When I think of day trips from Santa Fe, Taos and the surrounding areas come to mind. With a myriad of choices, I have no problem on finding “something to do” but yet making the choice of “what to do” is a bit harder. Recently I settled on the D. H. Lawrence ranch just north of Taos for a Saturday adventure. I was spurred on by the looming seasonal closure of the ranch at the end of October. This summer is the first year in a decade that the ranch has been open for visitors and I was hard pressed to make sure I made it there. Since I work on Mondays and Thursdays, the Saturday option was the one best available for me. But, choose any of these days, from 10am-4pm, for yourself.
I chose the “low road” from Santa Fe to Taos because I was time sensitive for my trip (it’s approximately an hour shorter than the alternate route) and personally, I always prefer the “low road” to the “high road” when going to Taos. I enjoy the drive along the Rio Grande River, with the Gorge cutting through the earth just before Taos. It’s quite impressive. On my return trips, I usually take the “high road” if I have an additional hour to spare. Coming down from Taos on the “High Road” allows for amazing vistas, small studio villages and when enough time….. the Santuario de Chimayo. But, that’s for another blog.
The ranch is 20 miles Northwest of Taos. Here’s a google link for you to put in your location and find directions. You will take highway 522 north of Taos and turn right just after mile marker 10. The rest of the way is dirt road and well-marked. Just follow the signs.
The story of how the Lawrences came to owning the ranch, formerly known as Kiowa Ranch, from Mabel Dodge Lujan is linked here for your reading pleasure. I found the desire “to create a utopian society called Rananim” particularly interesting and even more so when I found that this such group still exists in many countries and in a variety of organizations. Here’s a video to the Taos Rananim Online Writing Community. It’s worth the listen.
I hope you enjoy your visit. My husband and I left around 9am and enjoyed a lunch on the grounds near the caretaker’s cabin. It was such a peaceful day. I found it mesmerizing to peer out the window from the writing desk where D.H. gazed at the view; next to the “Lawrence Tree” immortalized by Georgia O’Keeffe.
Safe travels, Deb Swanson
