National Heritage Areas are places where nature, culture, history, and scenery together form a distinctive landscape that shows the interplay of geography and human activity over time.

Residents of and visitors to National Heritage Areas can experience aspects of U.S. history through the physical features that remain and the traditions that have evolved in them.

Getting into the Heritage Area

The boundary of the heritage area is Santa Fe, Río Arriba, and Taos counties and includes Pueblos and tribes. Major cities include Santa Fe, Taos, and Española.

Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area Points of Entry include: 

Towns and cities: Albuquerque, Dulce, Moriarty, Cuba, Edgewood, Pagosa Springs, CO, Estancia, Antonito, CO, Clines Corners, Durango, CO, Chama

Highways: US 285, US 84, US 68, US 64, NM 537, Interstate 25, Interstate 40  

Local airstrips

Scenic driving loops: Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, Puyé Scenic Byway, El Camino Real National Scenic Byway, Route 66 National Scenic Byway, Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway, Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway, Wild Rivers Backcountry Byway, The High Road to Taos