Pecos National Historic Park

Only 20 minutes from Santa Fe lies one of the more important Puebloan and Spanish archeological sites. At a passage in the southern tip of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Pueblo farmers and hunting tribes coalesced. The estimated 2,000 inhabitants participated in trade and occasional warfare with surrounding tribes.

The Spanish arrived in the mid-1500s. Their presence at the site is immense, with the half-standing remains of the second mission complex towering above the older pueblo ruins.

A well maintained, gently sloping path winds around the ruins. Guided tours are giving by park rangers and self-guided tour packets correspond to numbered signs along the trail. If you have an interest in early New Mexican Puebloan and Spanish history, Pecos National Historic Park is highly recommended. Although not as visually spectacular as Bandelier, this park ranks very high in its historical importance. If you are planning a day trip up into the Pecos wilderness, or on your way to Las Vegas (NM), try to stop for 30 or 40 minutes to view the ruins.