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Aztec Ruins National Monument
Address: 84 Rd 2900 PO Box 640
Aztec, NM 87410
Phone: 505-334-6174
Fax: 505-334-6372
Overview. The centuries-old dwellings and kivas found here were mistakenly named "Aztec" ruins by settlers in the late 19th century. The true architects of the sandstone pueblos were the Anasazi Indians, also called Ancestral Pueblo, who occupied the area in the early part of the 12th century. The West Ruin, built in a "D" shape, surrounds a courtyard in which the Great Kiva is located. These underground circular rooms were used for ceremonial and spiritual purposes. After excavating the site, archaeologists found well-preserved baskets, pottery, and other artifacts, and learned that the Ancestral Pueblo grew corn. It is not known why they left the pueblo sometime in the 13th century; perhaps there was a severe drought. Some may have moved on to the Rio Grande River area.
What to see and do. A trail takes you around the larger pueblo and the Great Kiva, and to the circular Hubbard Ruin, which is also accessible. Visitors are welcome to walk the trail through some of the rooms and see the inside of the reconstructed Great Kiva. In summer, rangers may offer daily talks on the history of the site. Nearby, cottonwood trees provide shade for a picnic area. The visitor center and monument are open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; until 6 p.m. in summer. The visitor center offers a museum with interpretive films and exhibits. On display are textiles, baskets, pottery, and jewelry, as well as an exhibit explaining the details of the excavation. A short film features the history of the Ancestral Pueblo people and highlights the importance of the kivas in modern and prehistoric Pueblo life. The monument is located near the Four Corners area in northwest New Mexico. From the town of Aztec, follow Ruins Road north off of Highway 516.
Bandelier National Monument
HCR 1, PO Box 1, Ste 15
Los Alamos, NM 87544
Phone: 505-672-3861 or 505-672-0343
Fax: 505-672-9607
Overview. The rich volcanic soil of the Pajarito Plateau provided a bounty of farmland to the ancestral Pueblo (often called Anasazi) who raised squash, corn, and beans here from the 12th to the 16th century. Between the canyons of the Rio Grande and the Jemez Mountains of north central New Mexico, they lived in dwellings as simple as one-room fieldhouses and as complex as the three-story, 400-room Tyuonyi settlement in Frijoles Canyon. In addition to farming, they wove cotton cloth and fashioned exquisitely decorated clay pottery. The first Anglo to visit Frijoles Canyon was Adolf Bandelier in 1880. Guided by Juan Jose Montoya of the Cochiti Pueblo, he explored the area, recorded 166 sites, and collected artifacts, but never excavated any of the sites.
In addition to protecting the many archaeological sites, 23,000 acres of Bandelier are preserved as wilderness area. Backcountry hikers and campers can follow more than 70 miles of trails into the canyons and across the mesa tops. A short trail from the Visitor Center leads to two waterfalls in the deeply chiseled lower portion of Frijoles Canyon. Wildlife abounds.
What to see and do. Drop by the Visitor Center and Museum where introductory programs and interpretive displays offer an overview of the geologic and historical significance of the Pajarito Plateau. Then, set out to explore. A one-mile trail leads from the visitor center up Frijoles Canyon to Talus House, Long House, and Ceremonial Cave. Ladders are provided so you can enter cliff dwellings along the trail, and the path also leads by the elaborate foundations of multilevel structures. Several kivas, structures for ceremonies, meetings, and teaching, are also located along this trail. Longer trails that lead into the wilderness area reward the hardy hiker with a look at Painted Cave, Yapashi and San Miguel archeological sites, and breathtaking vistas of gorges, waterfalls, canyons, mesas, and mountains. No pets are permitted on any trails; wilderness permits available at the Visitor Center are required for overnight hikes; no campfires are permitted in the backcountry.
Eleven miles north of the main monument, the detached Tsankawi section of the park offers those with stamina enough to hike the steep, self-guiding trail a glimpse at a large, unexcavated pueblo site and sweeping panoramic views of the Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Rio Grande valley from the mesa's top. Part of this one-and-a-half-mile loop trail follows ancient native trails, where the rock has been worn into channels as it passes by petroglyphs and cave dwellings. Many of the archaeological sites at Bandelier have ancestral ties to the San Ildefonso and Cochiti Pueblos.
Besides the Visitor Center, which is open year-round except for Christmas and New Year's Day, services include a gift shop, snack bar, family and group campgrounds, and a picnic area. Craft demonstrations by Pueblo Indians may be offered on weekends during the summer. The nearby communities of Los Alamos and White Rock offer a variety of motels, hotels, and restaurants. From mid-morning to mid-afternoon on summer days and holiday weekends, there is often a waiting line for parking. Bandelier National Monument is 46 miles northwest of Santa Fe.
Capulin Volcano National Monument
Address: PO Box 40
Capulin, NM 88414
Phone: 505-278-2201
Fax: 505-278-2211
Overview. Did you ever want take a walk on a volcano? At Capulin National Monument, you can. This 1,000-foot-high cinder cone, formed in the most recent stage of a seven-million-year period of volcanic activity, is believed to be approximately 59,000 years old. Named for the Spanish word for chokecherries, which thrive on its slopes, Capulin Volcano provides fertile soil for lush wildflowers and evergreens. It is a prime habitat for many species of songbirds. What to see and do. Stop by the visitor center at the foot of the volcano, where you'll find exhibits about the region's geology, wildlife, and human history. A ten-minute film illustrates how volcanoes are born, and includes vivid footage of actual eruptions. A short nature trail at the visitor center will acquaint you with the many plants that thrive in the rich volcanic soil. There are facilities for picnicking. Drive to the top of Capulin Volcano by following the two-mile Crater Road that winds its way to the Crater Parking Area. From there, a short quarter-mile hike leads down into the crater, where you can get a close look at the vent of the volcano. Panoramic vistas, encompassing vast tracts of volcanic landscape, await those who hike the one-mile-long Crater Rim Trail. The visitor center is open each day from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and 8 AM to 4 PM the remainder of the year. The National Monument is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. No pets are permitted. Some facilities are handicapped-accessible.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Address: 3225 National Parks Hwy
Carlsbad, NM 88220
Phone: 505-785-2232
Fax: 505-785-2133
Overview.0 Carlsbad Caverns, one of the world's largest cave systems, is also its most accessible. Elevators whisk visitors 750 feet down into the heart of the Capitan Reef, where water and time have carved out the awe-inspiring "Big Room." The Big Room, 1,800 feet long and 255 feet high, is filled with huge columns and stalagmites, as well as delicate rimstone and soda straw formations. Every summer night, the cave's bat population (two to three hundred thousand) takes to the skies at sunset.
What to see and do. 0 If you're in good shape and ready for a steep, downhill hike, follow the self-guided Natural Entrance Tour past the iceberg and the boneyard into the Big Room. Those with limited time or stamina can descend into the cave via elevator for the mile-and-a-quarter tour around the Big Room. Rangers are available to answer your questions.
Don't worry about getting hungry or needing a restroom. The Underground Lunch Room will be happy to feed you, and restrooms are located near the elevators. Before you embark on either tour, pick up a listening device from the visitor center. This will enhance the self-guided tour.
If you have time, make reservations for the King's Palace Tour, a ranger-guided tour through the four delicate "scenic rooms" of the cavern. If you visit in the summer, don't miss the spectacular Bat Flight. Admission is free, and a ranger-led program commences a half-hour before dusk.
If you want to explore a "wild" cave, ranger-led tours of Slaughter Canyon Cave are available daily in summer and on weekends in winter, by reservation. Sturdy, comfortable shoes, a flashlight, and water are required.
Backpacking is allowed within the park as long as you obtain a free camping permit from the visitor center. Caving is permitted in 10 of the 109 caves in the park by special permit only. A self-guided driving tour through Walnut Canyon offers visitors a close look at the Chihuahuan desert.
Picnicking is available at several locations, including Rattlesnake Springs, south and west of Whites City.
The caverns are open every day except Christmas. The visitor center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the summer and to 5:30 p.m. in the winter, with the last tour commencing several hours earlier. In addition to the Underground Lunch Room, there is a full-service restaurant in the visitor center, as well as interpretive displays, gift shops, and a bookstore. To make reservations for off-trail trips, call 800-967-2283.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
PO Box 220
Nageezi, NM 87037
Phone: 505-786-7014
Fax: 505-786-7061
Overview. The vast number and size of its ancestral Puebloan sites establish Chaco Canyon as one of the most important trading and cultural center north of Mexico in the years between A.D. 900 and 1200. A lengthy, complex network of roads links Chaco with outlying communities. Shells from the Pacific found on site, as well as the remains of parrots and macaws native to southern Mexico, are evidence of a sophisticated trading system. Thirteen major sites dot the area around Chaco Canyon, with at over 100 outlying sites connected to Chaco. The breathtaking site of Pueblo Bonito, Chaco's largest great house, was once four stories high and contained 600 rooms and 40 kivas. Archaeologists can trace the development of evermore sophisticated building techniques by studying the masonry of the great houses. The Chaco culture reached its peak between A.D. 1000 and 1100. By 1200 Chaco's influence waned, and other centers emerged.What to see and do. Just getting to Chaco Canyon is an adventure, as it lies along an unpaved backroad more than 20 miles from modern amenities. Before you set out, make sure your car is in good repair and gassed up, because there are no services at the park or along the route. Bring plenty of water, and it wouldn't hurt to pack a picnic lunch, either; there is drinking water but no food service at the park. The visitor center offers several informative films and a number of exhibits explaining the Chaco culture. Artifacts found at canyon sites are on display, and you can buy books, maps, and guides to further acquaint you with the Chaco culture and the park. In summer, rangers lead informative walks through the sites, but trails are self-guided, as well. A paved road loops from the visitor center through the canyon, and short trails lead from the drive to the major sites. Allow yourself an hour for exploring each of these trails. Longer trails lead to backcountry sites, but to hike these you must obtain a free permit from the visitor center, and backcountry camping is not permitted. Leashed pets are permitted on backcountry trails only. There is a campground a mile from the visitor center that operates on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no hookups, and the nearest potable water is available at the visitor center, but there are flush toilets at the site. The visitor center is open from 8 AM to 6 PM from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and to 5 PM the rest of the year. Rangers offer interpretive programs and campfire talks during the summer. The sites are open year-round from dawn to dusk. Call the park or obtain information locally on road conditions before starting your journey.
El Malpais National Monument
Address: 123 E Roosevelt PO Box 939
Grants, NM 87020-0939
Phone: 505-783-4774
Fax: 505-285-5661
Overview. The Spanish took one look at this striking volcanic landscape and christened it El Malpais, or "badlands." Lava flows and spatter cones dot the region, which includes one of the most extensive lava tube systems in North America. The natives of the region revere it as a sacred place, and many ruins are preserved within the monument. An ancient trading trail, built by early Pueblo Indians, runs between Zuni and Acoma regions. One of New Mexico's largest free-standing natural arches, named La Ventana ("The Window"), lies within El Malpais National Conservation Area.
What to see and do. Begin by stopping by the visitor center 23 miles south of Grants on NM 53 for information about the monument and maps of the area. Once you get to El Malpais, you can view the strange and beautiful landscape along one of the scenic drives, or go right into the badlands on foot. Keep watch for bobcats, black bears, deer, antelope, eagles, and the many other species of wildlife that inhabit these badlands. Primitive camping is allowed. Take advantage of guided hikes. Check with the visitor center for details.
The visitor center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Information is also available from a ranger station located nine miles south of I-40 on NM 117.
El Morro National Monument
RR 2, Box 43
Ramah, NM 87321-9603
Phone: 505-783-4226 or 505-783-4366
Fax: 505-783-4689
Overview. Don Juan de Onate passed by El Morro, or "the headland," several times before he decided to add his inscription to the Anasazi petroglyphs carved at the base of the sandstone mesa in 1605. His proud proclamation of himself as a discoverer of the "Sea of the South" (the Gulf of California) began a tradition among Spaniards along the trail, a tradition that was carried on by settlers bound for California 250 years later. A pool of clear water at the foot of El Morro provided an oasis for travelers along the dusty trail. Until the railroad bypassed the track in 1881, it was a popular resting place along the westward journey. One group of 26 emigrants carved their names on what is now called "Inscription Rock." Today we can read the record of a thousand years in the carvings at El Morro.
The Anasazi didn't come to El Morro just to get water and etch symbols into its sandstone face. High atop the mesa they built a large pueblo that housed as many as 1,500 people. Excavated in the 1950s and called A'ts'ina, or "place of writings on the rock," these ruins, as well as a smaller, unexcavated site, can be reached via trail from the visitor center. The view from the top of El Morro is a panoramic vista of distant tablelands and, in season, a desert blanketed with vivid wildflowers.
What to see and do. Start your tour by taking in the 15-minute orientation video at the visitor center, then wander through the museum where exhibits spanning 700 years of southwestern culture, including artifacts discovered at A'ts'ina, are on display. From the visitor center, a half-mile loop takes you to the pool at El Morro's base and the inscription-laden rock wall. If you have the stamina for a 200-foot climb over uneven trail, your hike to the top of El Morro (two miles, round-trip) will be well worth the effort. The fascinating ruins and breathtaking views are their own rewards. Be sure to carry plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes.
A small campground (nine sites, first-come, first-served) is located amid a grove of pinon. The park is open year-round except for Christmas and New Year's Day. The visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer and to 5 p.m. the remainder of the year. Park trails close one hour prior to the closing of the visitor center.
Fort Union National Monument
Address: PO Box 127
Watrous, NM 87753
Phone: 505-425-8025
Fax: 505-454-1155
Overview. In 1851, the first of three forts was built on this site as a Santa Fe Trail supply depot and headquarters for the Ninth Military Department. The second, an eight-pointed earthwork, was built during the Civil War against the threat of Confederate attack. The third fort, a collection of more than 50 adobe structures, was built between 1863 and 1869, and was in its day the largest fort on the frontier west of the Mississippi. Kit Carson and the New Mexico Volunteers used the fort as a base, and it employed more than a thousand workers. It was abandoned in 1891 and fell to ruins. Here, visitors can still see wagon ruts of the old Santa Fe Trail. What to see and do. Before exploring the fort's sprawling ruins via the 1.5-mile interpretive trail, stop by the visitor center to see photos and artifacts from the fort in its better days, and learn about its past from the "talking displays" and living history demonstrations. There is also a picnic area at the visitor center. The monument is open daily, from 8 AM to 5 PM, with longer hours in summer. It is closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Leashed pets are permitted on trails only. Some handicapped-accessible facilities are available.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
HC 68, Box 100
Silver City, NM 88061
Phone: 505-536-9344 or 505-536-9461
Fax: 505-536-9461
Overview. As early as 4000 B.C., the Mogollon people, possible ancestors of some modern Pueblo Indians, settled near the Gila River. The communities thrived for centuries, eventually expanding from pit houses into pueblos and, by the 1270s, one such pueblo village was built in lofty caves. By 1300, though, this site was abandoned. What happened? Archaeologists still don't know.
What to see and do. Your first stop should be the visitor center in Silver City, with its museum of pottery, baskets, tools and other artifacts found in the area. Pick up one of their detailed pamphlets, and begin your winding, 44-mile journey on State Highway 15, along mountainsides and through canyons to the cliff dwellings themselves. Allow a couple of hours for the drive. Once there, park at the trailhead and take the one-mile, self-guided trail up and into the cliff dwellings. You will be awed by the variety of habitations at the Cliff Dwellings, and also by the pictographs and small cave dwelling at the nearby Trail to the Past.
The visitor center and ranger station, one and a half miles from the Cliff Dwellings, is open from 8 AM to 5 PM in summer, and from 8 AM to 4:30 PM in winter. They have a bookstore, and you can go in there to see a 15 minute interpretive video. The trail to the Cliff Dwellings is open from 8 AM to 6 PM in summer and 9 AM to 4 PM in winter. In bad weather call ahead to make sure the road is open to the monument. The fees for the Cliff Dwellings are $3 per person 12 years and up, $10 per family; the first day of the month is free. The monument is closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Facilities for picnicking, camping, hiking, and fishing are available nearby in the Gila National Forest. Pets are not permitted in the monument, but free kennels are supplied for your pets while you're visiting. Call for more information about the kennels and the monument's handicapped accessibility.
Note: NM 15 between Silver City and the junction with NM 35 is steep, narrow, and winding. Trailers longer than 20 feet should be brought by an alternate route, such as Hwy 35 through Mimbres.
Pecos National Historical Park
PO Box 418
Pecos, NM 87552-0418
Phone: 505-757-6414
Fax: 505-757-8460
Overview. For at least 10,000 years, humans have inhabited this area 25 miles southeast of Santa Fe. By the 16th century, the Pecos Indians had long established a thriving culture. In 1540, the Spanish explorer Coronado made first contact with this Native American group. Over the next three centuries the Pecos experienced Franciscan attempts to Christianize them, the devastating effects of European diseases, and warfare with plains Indians. In 1838, the last remaining Pecos moved to Jemez Pueblo. Today this newly expanded park, on the edge of the Santa Fe National Forest, includes the ruins of the ancient Pecos pueblo, two Spanish missions, Santa Fe Trail stops, and the Civil War battle site of Glorieta Pass.
What to see and do. Your one-to-two-hour trip to this park should begin at the visitor center, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (until 6 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day). After watching a ten-minute captioned film to refresh your historical sense of the area, have a look at the artifact exhibits. Pick up your interpretive trail pamphlet and continue outside. Because you're at 7,000 feet, be prepared for snow in winter and windy springs. One and a quarter miles of trail take you through two mission ruins and the 15th-century remains of the Pecos' five-story, 660-room pueblo. Some of the remains have been reconstructed, so you can get an idea of how the buildings originally looked. Almost 80 percent of the trail is wheelchair accessible.
During summertime, inquire about special weekend cultural demonstrations. If you visit the first Sunday in August, you may participate in the Feast Day Mass said in honor of Our Lady of the Angels, the Pecos' patron saint. This mass is a good example of two cultures, Spanish and Native American, existing side by side.
In 1990 the park was expanded to 6,600 acres; not all of the areas are yet open. Check at the visitor center for new attractions. Guided tours are available for groups with advance reservations.
Petroglyph National Monument
Address: 6001Unser Blvd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87120
Phone: 505-899-0205
Fax: 505-899-0207
Overview. Albuquerque's West Mesa is the site of a spectacular 17-mile-long escarpment that is a virtual museum of over 15,000 prehistoric and historic rock carvings, or petroglyphs. Although most of these date from between A.D. 1300 and 1650, some of the symbols are ancient, and were scratched or abraded on canyon walls 2,000 years ago. What to see and do. After a short visit to the Las Imagines Visitor Center to acquaint yourself with the geology and history of West Mesa, proceed on to Boca Negra Canyon to see the petroglyphs themselves. There you will find self-guiding trails. Hikers can follow primitive trails to more remote areas of the monument, such as Rinconada Canyon. In summer, rangers lead regularly scheduled walks. Both the Las Imagines Visitor Center and the Boca Negra unit are open from 8 AM to 5 PM daily. The Southwest Parks and Monuments Association manages a bookstore at Las Imagines. The monument is close to many other National Park Service sites, as well as Albuquerque's historic Old Town. The visitor center is located at 4735 Unser Blvd NW, three miles north of I-40. Note: Native Americans consider the entire West Mesa escarpment a sacred place and many hold religious ceremonies there. Please respect it as you would any other place of worship.
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Address: PO Box 517 Corner of Broadway and Ripley
Mountainair, NM 87036
Phone: 505-847-2585 or 505-847-2586
Fax: 505-847-2441
Overview. When the Spanish came to the Salinas Valley in the early 17th century, they found Native Americans living in pueblos, growing crops, and living in harmony with nature. At Abo Pueblo, populated by the Tompiro Indians as early as 1150, and at Quarai Pueblo, settled by Tiwa-speaking Indians around 1300, they built their mission churches adjacent to the ancient native sites. At Gran Quivira Pueblo, they built two mission churches. Eventually, drought, famine, disease, and marauding tribes drove out Spanish and Puebloan alike, and all three pueblos were abandoned in the late 1670s. The mission churches remain the best examples of their type in the U.S., and the ancient pueblo at Gran Quivira is remarkably well-preserved.
What to see and do. Park headquarters in Mountainair, with its interpretive displays and video about the pueblo sites, is an excellent place to begin your visit. From there, continue on to one or all of the pueblos. There are half-hour, self-guided walking tours of each site, and rangers are available at the individual visitor centers. There are also picnic areas at each site. If you visit Gran Quivira Pueblo, take in the interpretive exhibits and archaeological displays, and be sure to browse through the bookstore. The visitor center at Quarai Pueblo has a model of the original mission and a collection of Native American and Spanish artifacts. The visitor center at Abo also has a model of the original mission, a handcarved statue of San Gregorio, and an art collection depicting the Salinas story.
The visitor center in Mountainair is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each pueblo site is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter, and to 6 p.m. in summer. The entire monument is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Leashed pets are permitted.
Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Address: National Park Service Long Distance Trails Group Office - Santa Fe PO Box 728
Santa Fe, NM 87504-0728
Phone: 505-988-6888
Fax: 505-986-5214
Overview. Made up of several older Indian trails, and partially used by the Spanish in their exploration of the southwest, the Santa Fe Trail came into national prominence as a trading route with Mexico in the early 1820s. The Spanish forbade open trade with the U.S. when they held Mexico as a territory, but once Mexico won its independence in 1821, legal trade was quickly established along this trail between Franklin, MO and Santa Fe, NM. The first organized trading party from the U.S. consisted of six men with pack animals led by William Becknell. They set out from Franklin in 1821 and were escorted into Santa Fe by Mexican soldiers. The floodgates of commerce and cultural exchange had been opened, and nothing, it seemed, not even war, could close them.
Though primarily a freight wagon route providing two-way commercial access between the U.S. and the northern provinces of Mexico, the Santa Fe Trail was employed as a conduit for U.S. troops and supplies during the Mexican War, 1846-48. When the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the conflict with the U.S. annexation of New Mexico and other lands in the west and southwest, the trail remained instrumental in carrying goods cross-country.
Although the Santa Fe Trail was always more a trade route than a path of westward migration, by increasing commerce to the west, it brought settlement and development too. By 1850, stagecoach and mail service had been established. These trends understandably upset the Indians who depended on resources found along the trail corridors. They began to strike back against freight and stage travel along the trail, but that only brought increased Army involvement and the establishment of military posts, such as Fort Union and Fort Larned, whose main task was to protect commerce on the Santa Fe Trail.
The trail followed two routes: The original Cimarron Route and the Mountain Route, which traversed the Raton Pass. The Mountain Route offered more access to water and a better way to avoid encounters with Indians. It was longer, steeper, and more rugged than the Cimarron Route. Many traders continued to prefer the Cimarron Route, even after the Army widened the road over the pass. The Mountain Route began to gain favor after the Civil War, when Richens Lacy "Uncle Dick" Wootton established a toll road at Raton Pass.
Little by little, the railroad made its way across the country, encroaching on the freight trade that had been the Santa Fe Trail's lifeblood. The trail's 60-year era ended in 1880, when the first locomotive steamed into Santa Fe on the newly completed railroad. What war and troubled Indian relations, exacerbated by violence on both sides, couldn't impede was conquered by progress. The trail, colorful as it was, faded into the collective memory of the nation. In 1987, Congress designated this 1,203-mile route as a national historic trail.
What to see and do. Much of the route of the Santa Fe Trail can be roughly traced along existing highways -- what was the best route for 19th-century trade also seems to be a good route for modern travelers. The trail's eastern terminus lies at Old Franklin, MO, and it passes through Kansas, Colorado, and Oklahoma to its western terminus at Santa Fe. Cities along the trail include Kansas City and Independence, MO; Council Grove and Dodge City, KS; Trinidad, CO; and Las Vegas, NM; among other historic frontier towns. A designated auto route runs from Missouri to New Mexico. It is marked with the official Santa Fe National Historic Trail logo in both directions throughout its route. Over 200 miles of original ruts and trace still exist, and about 30 miles are protected on federal lands. You can see evidence of the original trail at many sites along the trail.
National historic sites along the trail include Fort Larned, Larned, KS; Bent's Old Fort, La Junta, CO; Pecos National Historical Park in New Mexico; and Fort Union National Monument, also in New Mexico. The National Park Service has certified over 60 sites as official trail components to date. Interpretive centers are located in Fort Osage, MO; at the National Frontier Trails Center in Independence, MO; at the Santa Fe Trail Center in Larned, KS; at the Morton County Historical Society Museum in Elkhart, KS; and at the Hough-Baca House and Santa Fe Trail Museum in Trinidad, CO. Cimarron National Grassland and Comanche National Grassland contain some excellent features connected with the Santa Fe Trail.
For more information, please contact the National Park Service in Santa Fe, or write to the Santa Fe Trail Association, RR3, Larned, KS 67550.
White Sands National Monument
Address: PO Box 1086
Holloman AFB, NM 88330
Phone: 505-679-2599
Fax: 505-479-4333
Overview. An ancient sea, the uplift of the Rocky Mountains, and the collapse of the land between the San Andres and Sacramento mountain ranges all set the stage for the largest gypsum dunefield in the world. The sparkling white dunes rise as high as 60 feet, and extend over an area of 275 square miles in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico. The constantly shifting dunes are home to a few species of hardy plants and animals that have adapted to the harsh environment.
What to do and see. The Dunes Drive, a 16-mile loop road into the dunes, has plenty of turnouts for viewing the shifting sands, as well as exhibits and explanatory signs along the route. You can park at one of the turn-outs to explore on foot and play in the sand. There are four marked trails accessible from the drive. While there are no developed camping facilities in the park, a backcountry site is available with clearance from the Park Service. If you are fortunate enough to visit during the full moon in summer, the park stays open until 11 PM so you can get an unforgettable look at the white dunes by moonlight. Once a month, the Park Service leads a caravan of cars to Lake Lucero, the source of the selenite crystals that break down into the fine, white gypsum sand. This tour must be reserved no earlier than two weeks in advance by calling the visitor center.
There is a small museum at the visitor center with displays showing how the Tularosa Basin and the sand dunes were formed. In addition to a bookstore and a gift shop, there is a snack bar that sells sandwiches. You can also buy soda and bottled water there. Fill your canteen before you take off into the dunes: there is no water available out there, and you'll find only porta-potties at the few picnic areas along the Dunes Drive. The visitor center is open daily from 8 AM to 7 PM in summer, and to 4:30 PM the remainder of the year. The Dunes Drive is open from 7 AM to 10 PM in the summer, and from 7 AM to one hour after sunset the remainder of the year. White Sands enforces an alcohol ban between February 1 and May 31.
White Sands is only 15 miles SW of Alamogordo and 54 miles NE of Las Cruces. It is an easy 100-mile drive from El Paso, TX.
Seasonal Alert. Temperatures can soar well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Carry water at all times to avoid dehydration. At any time of year, the sun reflected off the white sand can burn and blind. Be certain to wear sunglasses and sunscreen. At the risk of suffocation, do not try to burrow into the dunes.
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