Things near Taos: - Taos Pueblo Things near Albuquerque: - Santa Fe - Tesuque - Abiquiu - Los Alamos Cheapest hotel in Espanola on Kayak: Rodeway Inn, $45 a night Cheapest hotel in Taos on Kayak: Don Fernando, $69 a night Look - I hate New Mexico. I avoid it at all costs. But I really fucking hate Taos. I know two people who were murdered in Espanola, but you're better off staying there. Proximity to Colorado is a null issue; anything outside the Triangle of Awesomeness (cornered by Aspen, Leadville, Denver) is moot anyway because it's New Mexico with white instead of brown assholes.
Ended up taking highway 285 from Antonito to, I think, Tres Piedras. The best stretch was actually a little mountain road west of 285 into Colorado out of Chama. Did a loop there. Didn't get as far south as Espanola/Santa Fe -- wanted to go into Colorado backroads etc. Stayed outside of Taos, above it at about 9300 feet, near the ski area. No skiing right now so it was reasonably cheap. Went into Taos once out of misguided curiosity, hated it, reminded me of every little tourist shitheap (ever been to Sanibel?) I've seen. But didn't stay in-town so not a loss.
I didn't take enough pictures. I'm not a picture-taker really, and fall color doesn't stand out on iphones. And my phone died on my best hike, to a place near Wheeler, which meant I lost track of time, which meant I had to run three miles over rocky ground with a pack on in order to make the first pitch of the Cardinals game. Chama was beautiful, if I go back (and I will because I want to do the train daytrip that leaves from there) I'll be staying in Chama.