Ojo Sarco is a quiet unincorporated community of 277 residents in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, situated along the scenic High Road to Taos.
Ojo Sarco is an unincorporated community located in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, Ojo Sarco had a population of 277. It is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, 1 mile from New Mexico State Road 76 and 1.5 miles west-southwest of Las Trampas. Ojo Sarco was founded by settlers on the Las Trampas Land Grant which dates back to 1751.
The area offers abundant outdoor recreation including hiking the Old Spanish Trail National Historic Trail, Borrego Trailhead, Taos Valley Overlook Trails, Nambe Badlands Trail, and Posi-Ouinge. Recreation areas such as Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area and Orilla Verde Recreation Area provide camping and trail access. Fishing is popular at Trampas Lakes, Rio Santa Barbara, Rito del Padre, Rio Valdez, Jack's Creek, and Palociento Creek. The High Road to Taos Scenic Byway winds through the community offering scenic drives amid high-desert landscapes and acequia-irrigated valleys.
Traditional New Mexican cuisine dominates in the region, with dishes featuring red or green chile—often requested as 'Christmas' for both. Expect hearty plates accompanied by sopaipillas and local favorites like bizcochitos in nearby villages along the High Road.
Ojo Sarco lies directly on the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway, New Mexico State Road 76, which connects Santa Fe to Taos through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The community is about 1 mile off the main paved route, making it accessible by car for scenic drives.
Lodging within Ojo Sarco itself is limited due to its small size. Campers have options at Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area, Orilla Verde Recreation Area, and Jacks Creek Horse Camp. Additional stays are available in nearby communities along the High Road.
As of the 2020 census, Ojo Sarco had a population of 277.
Ojo Sarco sits at an elevation of 7,399 feet.
As a small unincorporated community with limited services, Ojo Sarco is best explored by vehicle or as a base for nearby trails.
Hiking on trails including the Old Spanish Trail National Historic Trail and Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area; fishing at Trampas Lakes, Rio Santa Barbara, and other local waters; and scenic drives on the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway.
Reach Ojo Sarco via the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway (New Mexico State Road 76) between Santa Fe and Taos; it is about 1 mile from the main road near Las Trampas.
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The Old Spanish National Historic Trail links Santa Fe and Los Angeles across six states and 2,700 miles, taking its name from the Spanish colonies in northern New Mexico and southern California. Designated by Congress as a National Historic Trail in 2002 and jointly administered by the BLM and NPS.
The Old Spanish National Historic Trail is a congressionally designated National Historic Trail spanning 2,700 miles from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Los Angeles, California, across six states. It commemorates the 1829 trade route pioneered by merchant Antonio Armijo, who transported textiles northward and livestock southbound, building on earlier Spanish colonial exploration paths. The trail is jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies. It traverses diverse southwestern terrain including red rock mesas, mountain peaks, and river valleys.
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Ojo Sarco is part of the historic Las Trampas Land Grant, a Hispano settlement area with deep roots in Spanish colonial farming traditions and acequia water systems. Visitors should respect private property, follow Leave No Trace principles on trails, and be mindful of local customs in these tight-knit mountain communities.
Summer offers mild high-desert weather ideal for hiking, fishing, and scenic drives. Fall brings colorful foliage along the byway, while spring and winter provide quieter visits with potential snow at 7,399 feet elevation.
The mountain route between Santa Fe and Taos through Chimayó, Córdova, Truchas, and Las Trampas — centuries-old villages, weaving and woodcarving studios, and the 1816 San José de Gracia church, with the Sangre de Cristos overhead. Slower than the Low Road and worth every minute.
Borrego Trailhead in north-central New Mexico is the starting point for the Borrego Trail, a hiking route running north–south between Borrego Mesa and the Aspen Ranch trailhead near the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Photography is permitted. Specific trail length, elevation, and difficulty rating are not listed; check the recreation.gov listing for current conditions.
Thirty miles north of Santa Fe, the snow-fed waters of the Rio del Medio and the Rio Frijoles gather at Santa Cruz Lake at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Chimayo, behind the 125-foot Santa Cruz Dam. The lake covers 121 surface acres and offers boating, fishing, hiking and camping.
Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area, managed by the BLM Taos Field Office, sits at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Chimayó in north-central New Mexico. The site supports boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing; it also holds historic and cultural significance, and photography is permitted throughout. Contact the BLM Taos Field Office for current fee and access information.
Trampas Lakes in the Pecos Wilderness of north-central New Mexico are backcountry fishing waters reached by traveling Highway 76 to Forest Road 207, then hiking Trail 36 to the lake. Open for fishing; photography is permitted. Stocking status, species, and license requirements are not specified; check the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for current regulations before visiting.
Rio Santa Barbara in north-central New Mexico holds a Special Trout Water designation (Red chile, non-native suppression) from the West Fork and Middle Fork confluence upstream to the headwaters, including the East Fork. The watershed supports Rio Grande cutthroat trout and brown trout under split regulations: native cutthroat are catch-and-release only, while non-native trout may be kept without limit; only artificial fly or lure with a single barbless hook is permitted. A valid New Mexico fishing license is required. Managed by the USFS Camino Real Ranger District and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Photography is permitted.
The 1816 adobe shrine at the heart of the High Road, famed for the 'holy dirt' of el pocito and the Good Friday pilgrimage, when tens of thousands walk here from Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and beyond.
Taos Valley Overlook Trails is a multi-use trail system of single-track loops and two-track dirt trails totaling approximately 16 miles, located 6 miles south of Ranchos de Taos on NM 68 in Taos County, northern New Mexico. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the system serves hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians on narrow dirt trails ranging from 4–6 feet wide. Open year-round, the area provides minimal shade and no facilities. Trails become impassable when muddy following heavy rain or snow melt. Pets must remain on a 6-foot leash; no overnight camping or firearms are permitted. Wildlife present includes snakes, lizards, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and raptors.
Orilla Verde Recreation Area lies within Rio Grande del Norte National Monument along the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River in north-central New Mexico. Campgrounds provide direct access to the steep-walled Rio Grande Gorge, where gentle waters with occasional small rapids support a wide range of recreational activities. Photography is permitted. Contact the BLM Taos Field Office or check the BLM listing for current fees, site availability, and conditions.
Orilla Verde Recreation Area lies within Rio Grande del Norte National Monument in north-central New Mexico, where campgrounds provide direct river access in the Rio Grande Gorge. Managed by the BLM Taos Field Office, the area supports camping, backpacking, hiking, fishing, boating, kayaking, whitewater rafting, swimming, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and photography; a visitor center is also available. Contact the BLM Taos Field Office for current fees and conditions.