Taos is about 1.5 hours north of Santa Fe. This trip goes past the DAV's Vietnam Veteran's National Memorial near Angel Fire. Not technically Northern NM, but a super drive, anyway. Stop at the Mineshaft Tavern in Madrid for some old western bar atmosphere and, it's claimed, the best Margarita in the state. From the state pen to Golden, the road can be tricky, narrow, curvy, and wavy.
Some folks just like to drive slowly, so be patient.
They really are the remains on one monstrously large extinct volcano, the top of which seems to have blown as far away as Kansas. This is one great drive, folks. Some nice twisty parts on good highway through spectacular scenery and unusual geology. Some of the best anywhere, all in one drive through four climate zones. The road twists and rises out of the Bandelier Monument through Ponderosa pines.