Wind through the ancient heart of northern New Mexico on the Puye Cliffs Scenic Byway, a 14-mile journey that connects the living culture of Santa Clara Pueblo with one of the Southwest’s most remarkable ancestral sites. This state-designated scenic byway climbs from the Rio Grande Valley through piñon-juniper woodlands and ponderosa pine forests along the eastern slopes of the Jemez Mountains.

The centerpiece of this drive is Puye Cliff Dwellings, a National Historic Landmark where Ancestral Puebloan people carved homes into volcanic tuff cliffs over 700 years ago. Guided tours lead visitors along cliff faces and atop the mesa, offering sweeping views of the Española Valley, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and the Rio Grande corridor below.

Along the route, watch for mule deer, red-tailed hawks, and wild turkeys moving through the transitional landscape between desert and mountain. The volcanic geology tells its own dramatic story, shaped by the massive Valles Caldera eruption over a million years ago.

Allow two to three hours to drive and explore. Late spring through early fall offers the best conditions, with golden cottonwoods making October particularly stunning. This byway rewards travelers who appreciate where landscape and human history intertwine.

Explore Nearby

• High Point Monument — State Park in New Jersey
• High Point State Park — State Park in New Jersey
• Cliff Ridge Hang Gliding Area — Public Land
• Stony Point Light — Lighthouse in New York
• Tarrytown Light — Lighthouse in New York