Visiting Taos Pueblo with a Dog
As a dog owner, we were so happy when we found out that Taos Pueblo is a dog friendly destination. I was ready to explore the Pueblo alone while my husband stayed in the car with our dog Snoopy.
We arrived at Taos Pueblo from Eagle Nest on a Saturday morning in June. When I wanted to buy the tickets, I found out that there would be an all-day San Juan Feast in the Pueblo. I thought it would be great to experience the feast while visiting.
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Unfortunately, visitors couldn’t take pictures when they had a feast in the Pueblo. They didn’t even let my husband take Snoopy’s photo by the Welcome to Taos Pueblo sign.
So, we decided to visit the next day and went to Bandelier National Monument and Los Alamos instead.
Before leaving, I made sure with the lady at the counter that dogs are allowed into the Pueblo. She said YES.
Visiting Taos Pueblo with a Dog
Our dog Snoopy has traveled with us to 30 states, Washington, D.C., and all over Texas. It was not his first visit to New Mexico. He’s been to Santa Fe and Albuquerque, visited the Pecos National Historical Park, hiked in the Pecos Wilderness, and many more.
Whenever a place forbade dogs, we would take turns to visit the place. Sometimes, my husband didn’t even go inside. He just stayed outside with Snoopy. So was when we visited Taos Pueblo, the UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark.
1st Stop: Taos Pueblo Welcome Sign
After we paid for the tickets to get in, we crossed the street and took Snoopy’s picture by the Welcome Sign. Yesterday it wasn’t allowed because of the feast. The welcome sign is on the left side.
On the right is where you can line up for a guided tour. The guided tours are offered every day from 9 a.m. It runs every 20 minutes or 30 minutes, depending on the season. It is optional, and we decided to walk by ourselves with a brochure in my hand.
2nd Stop: St. Jerome (St. Geronimo) Catholic Church
I saw the famous Pueblo on the far left of the entrance. You may want to go there straight, but check out the St. Jerome (St. Geronimo) Catholic Church on the right first.
The middle roof of the church is white, as well as the gate and part of the church’s wall. It makes the church stand out in the Pueblo.
Dogs are not allowed inside, so Snoopy and my husband waited for me under the tree.
St. Jerome is small, and photography is not allowed inside. The altar and the wooden beam ceiling reminded me of San Miguel Mission, one of the oldest churches in Santa Fe. It also reminded me of El Santuario De Chimayo, which you can find on a high road to Taos.
The present St. Geronimo, or St. Jerome, was completed in 1850 to replace the original church that the U.S. Army destroyed in 1847 during the War with Mexico.
The ruins of the original church location are on the west side of the village. It was first built in 1619 but then destroyed in the Spanish Revolt of 1680 and soon rebuilt on the same site.
St. Jerome is the patron saint of Taos Pueblo.
3rd Stop: Hlaukwima (South House) of Taos Pueblo
Rio Pueblo de Taos runs through the village, separating the South House and the North House.
Your dog might want to walk to the river for a drink. It’s not allowed, though. So don’t forget to bring your dog water and treats with you, especially when you visit during summertime like us. It was warm during our visit.
There are art galleries and gift shops inside several adobe houses. The local artists made art pieces, and they were beautiful. We couldn’t afford to buy it, so we just bought drinks.
We walked through the aisle of the adobe houses. They look unique, and there were a couple of earthen ovens outside. Almost every adobe house has a wooden stair to take the owner to the roof or the second/third floor.
They painted most doors light blue. I wonder if the color means something to them.
Remember not to enter the house or peep through the windows on your visit. It is a living village and respects the homeowner.
4th Stop: Hlauuma (North House) of Taos Pueblo
At our 4th stop on the Taos Pueblo tour, we visited the Hlauuma (North House) after crossing the bridge from the South House.
I noticed that the North House was more picturesque than the South House. The adobe houses in the North House were built wall to wall, with second to fifth floors in the center.
On the other hand, the South Houses were made up of one-story houses built separated in front or on the sides of the fourth or fifth-story adobe houses. There were many individual adobe houses. We had to walk to the back of the South Houses to see the four-story adobe or view it from the North House.
It was at the North House I bought bread and sugar cookies that were baked in the earthen ovens. The bread tasted okay, but the sugar cookies tasted like they were made without sugar.
5th Stop: Original St. Jerome (St. Geronimo) Catholic Church Ruins
On the way out, we walked to the west side of the village to see the ruins of the original St. Jerome Church. It is now a cemetery area and visitors are not allowed to enter. There’s an adobe wall boundary around the cemetery. Keep yourself out of this area.
What is Taos Pueblo?
Taos Pueblo is a living Native American community at the base of the Sangre de Christo Mountain range. Therefore, there are rules and regulations to abide on your visit:
1. You will see “Restricted Area” signs. Stay away from there because you must respect the privacy of the residents and the sites for the native religious practices.
2. Do not enter doors or homes that are not marked as businesses.
3. If you don’t like strangers taking your pictures, it goes the same with the tribal members. Ask for permission.
4. Photography is strictly prohibited inside Saint Jerome (Saint Geronimo) Chapel.
5. You can’t enter the cemetery area.
6. The river is their sole source of drinking water. Do not enter it.
7. They welcome you to their house, so respect these rules to ensure you a great visit.
The adobe structures in the village are estimated more than a thousand years old. They are mudded every year by the homeowner or the designated group of men.
Most of the houses are still owned and maintained by the family. One generation passed it down to the next, and usually, it’s the oldest son who is the sole owner of the house.
These adobe houses are their connection to their ancestors and way of life. They still use it for religious and cultural activities.
Be aware that the villagers’ dogs are roaming freely in the village. They were mostly sleeping under the trees during our visit, though.
Visiting Info of Taos Pueblo
Hours of Operations:
– Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m.-4.30 p.m.
– Sunday, 8.30 a.m.-4.30 p.m.
Admission Fees:
– Adult $16
– Senior $14
– Students $14 per person (11 and up, includes college students with ID)
– Group Rate $14 per person (8 or more adults)
– Children 10 and under FREE
Closures:
Closures may occur unexpectedly due to religious activities or death in the community.
Photography and Camera Policy:
Professional and commercial photographers, as well as artists interested in sketching or painting adobe houses, are required to apply for pre-approval. The fees vary.
Accessibility:
The village complex is wheelchair accessible. However, due to the environment, they are not responsible for any injury or damage.
From what I saw, it’s hard ground, but the surface is not smooth. It was summertime and dry when we visited, so I don’t know the conditions after the rain.
Guided Tours:
Offer daily from 9 a.m. every 20-30 minutes. It is optional with the highlights of the culture, history, and people of the Pueblo. Tour guides are college student volunteers. They appreciate your gratuity.
Events:
Check out the Taos Pueblo events for a great visit with your dog.
What to wear when visiting Taos Pueblo
As you will walk often during your visit, you should wear comfortable shoes such as sneakers, hiking boots, sandals, or flats.
Taos Pueblo is in a high desert climate, so it is essential to dress comfortably based on the season you will be there. If you plan to visit during the summer, wear T-shirts, quick-dry shirts, and shorts because they are perfect for the warm weather.
Most importantly, check the weather forecast on the day of your visit. You might need to bring a light jacket.
Because it’s at a high elevation, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to protect your skin. Wear a hat and sunglasses, too.
Taos Pueblo Address:
120 Veterans Highway
Taos, New Mexico 87571
A site where Native American still reside is a definite interesting place to visit. The entry prices to Taos Pueblo sounds reasonable to me for a glimpse of how the indigenous people build their community. Very useful are the tips you provided for first checking the weather and wearing appropriate clothing. It is also cool to see Snoopy going everywhere with you – needless to say some extra research for dog friendly places are necessary but worth it.
I just have to say that Snoopy seems like a natural when it comes to posing. I love that you’ve taken him to so many different places (and he seems to love it, too!). Taos Pueblo seems like a great place with all of the outdoor spaces and right angled structures. So glad to know that it’s a pup-safe (and welcoming) place to visit.
That guided tour through Taos Pueblo – UNESCO site looks interesting. There is so much history to catch up. It is always nice to hear about the ancient way of life in mud houses and using the earthernware type of ovens. I would love to taste those cookies baked in those ovens. We have also visited some remote churches and castles where we were not allowed to go in or take photos due to seasonal closure ( we always travel in non-peak seasons) or other restrictions. It’s so annoying!
This is good news! I am also a furmom and I am grateful for all the dog friendly destinations since we really prefer to travel with our furbaby. Snoopy definitely looks happy on the photos.
I admire you and your husband for the extra effort that it takes to visit places with a dog.
Looking forward to visit Taos Pueblo in the future.
One thing to plan about when finding a place to stay during a family vacation is whether they allow dogs in the room. We often end up choosing a different place because of this. It’s always more fun to bring our dogs when we travel. I’m sure you had a great time visiting Taos Pueblo. i was surprised to see the adobe houses in Rio Pueblo de Taos. They look totally different from the houses now. With a guided tour, I am sure I could learn a lot about the Native American community in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range.
Taos Pueblo looks like such a unique place to visit! How odd that on the first day they didn’t let you take photos because of the fiesta. Thankfully you were in the area for longer and you could visit the next day. I would have probably got cookies and bread baked in the rustic earthen oven as well, just for the novelty of it. Shame they weren’t that great. It’s great that Taos Pueblo is a place that allows four legged visitors as well, and not just humans.
I would love to do a guided tour through the UNESCO site of the Taos Pueblo and learn about the history. I am always surprised how much research is necessary when traveling with a dog. But I guess you get used to it. My partner and I are vegetarians, what requires also some special destination research, but we are so used to it.
We have to do research for a different reason. 🙂 I think it gives in-depth insights for readers.
I am always interested to see all the different places you visit with your dog. My son takes his dog everywhere too and he is always looking for recommendations for spots that are dog friendly (or not)! Good you checked in advance to know that no pictures were allowed on the day of the feast when visiting Taos Pueblo. And to know that neither dogs nor photos were allowed in the St Geronimo Catholic Church. Interesting to read that dogs were not allowed to drink from the river! Taos Pueblo looks like it has some interesting stops but it would be good to understand the restrictions before visiting this spot.
This looks very much like the indigenous villages in India. The mud houses and earthen ovens are pretty common practice. But I do hope that one day, I get to experience this native American culture as well. Living in sync with the planet is now a lost art, I like the church as well. Snoopy is lucky! He gets to travel so much with you.