Tres Piedras, New Mexico

Tres Piedras is an old settlement at a crossroads (US 64 crosses US 285) in northwestern Taos County. There wasn't much mining in the area but there was lots of logging and cattle ranching, especially in the Tusas Mountains west of town. But these days, well, you can see it used to be more prosperous here.

West of Tres Piedras is the Carson National Forest, east is US 64 through the Earthship Landing Zone and over the Taos Gorge Bridge and then into Taos. The eastern horizon is defined by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. There is more National Forest south of Tres Piedras on US 285 before you come to Ojo Caliente. Going north on US 285 takes you mostly through BLM land until you hit the Colorado line north of San Antonio Mountain.