Oklahoma City to Taos to Boulder

I'll be driving from OKC to Taos to Boulder over the next several days and wanted to ask about any must-sees, events, or routes that

might be especially interesting photographically. I'm pretty familiar with the Boulder area but I've never travelled west from OKC before,

and I've never been to Taos or southern Colorado.

 

Any guidance, thoughts or observations would be appreciated...

<p>Hmmm, Durango, Mesa Verde, Black Cyn of Gunnison, Great Sand Dunes Natl Pk....and I can come up at least a dozen of places that you wouldn't have the time for. Well, that will get you started.</p>

<p>Les</p>

<p>A couple of "be carefuls" first. </p>

<p>Taos ( and Santa Fe) are first and foremost shopping and eating centres with IMO little of interest photographically in either. You have he Taos Pueblo and the church at Ranchos de Taos (which Adams photographed) within easy drive distance of Taos but the town itself is a collection of galleries/tourist shops masquerading under an "adobe" town. </p>

<p>It would be easy to lengthen your journey considerably by driving west in search of worthwhile photographic subjects. Places like Mesa Verde and the Black Canyon are a fair way west and would lengthen your jouney quite a lot. </p>

<p>The problem is that there is a fast direct route from around Taos to Denver/Boulder up the 25 but there isn't much of photo interest that way. If you're in a hurry and haven't much time then I'd suggest that the Garden of the Gods at Colorado Springs and the Great Sand Dunes near Alamosa should be candidates for you. A bit more time can get you a bit further west and a drive through the Rockies with historic towns such as Salida and Leadville coming into play together with some serious mountains. This decision has the possible advantage of being able to get to Boulder without passing via the Denver road system- you can get there across country from the 6 via Central City </p>

<p>The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama, NM -- about an hour NW of Taos -- is a great scenic ride.</p>

<p>For future reference: Abiquiu, northwest of Santa Fe</p>