Penasco, New Mexico

What I'm calling Peñasco is a "Census Designated Place," a loosely defined group of settlements, most of them part of the Picuris Pueblo Reservation. It's a beautiful valley. There's a central school area. Most business seems to be along the state highways. The folks are pretty spread out up the valley, almost like an urban sprawl. There's views in every direction. You go through here on your way to the Santa Barbara Campground in Carson National Forest and the National Forest Service trailheads that lead from there into the north end of the Pecos Wilderness. This is also probably the easiest way to get in and get up on the ridge if you want to climb the Truchas Peaks.