After living in the Albuquerque area for a few years, we had thoroughly explored most destinations within 60 miles. One cool fall morning, we decided it was the perfect time to check out Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. We loaded the car up with the kids, snacks, and water, and made a stop at Bristol Donuts before heading out.
Currently, all sites are free and open most days from 9 am – 5 pm. (Best to check in advance, though, to avoid any closures!)
Quarai
Quarai was our first stop, about 70 miles south of Albuquerque. Most of the trail is wide, paved, and accessible, and it’s about .5 miles. It had snowed earlier in the week, so there were still unmelted patches here and there, and the weather had a pleasant chill.
The church is breathtaking. We wandered through it, exploring and snapping pictures. Then we continued through the maze of rooms, in awe that so much of the structure built so long ago was still standing. We did the whole trail, which leads to a shaded picnic area and loops back to the parking lot.
Gran Quivira
About 40 miles away was our second stop. It was a stark contrast to the site we had just come from. The expansive ruins are limestone, and it’s the largest of the three sites on over 600 acres, with an amazing view of the surrounding area. The ruins loop is less than a mile and is also paved for accessibility.
Gran Quivira was a city with pueblos, kivas, and what is known as Mound 7, a 226 room structure that was excavated and preserved. It was remarkable to me how different the sites could be while not too far from each other. Just another reminder of how diverse and wonderfully complex New Mexico is.
Abo
Our final stop was 35 miles northwest. By now, most of the snow was melting, and the day was warming up. Tragically, we were out of donuts, but the kids didn’t seem to mind. Their enthusiasm for our adventure was palpable as we scrambled out of the car.
This site was a major trade center and contains the ruins of the mission, as well as other structures from the resettlement period. The loop is less than a mile and paved. We spent the most time here since the kids seemed to be enjoying it the most out of all our stops.
We spent about an hour at each site and let our kids set the pace so they could take their time to immerse themselves in the culture and history.
All three sites have information boards along the trails and artist renderings of what they believed the sites might have looked like and been used for. It’s hard for us to pick a favorite location, as they are all so different and have so much history, so my only recommendation is to check out all three of them.
If you have extra time, stop by the Visitor’s Center where you can get passport book stamps, watch a 14-minute video on the sites, and peruse the museum. The Salinas Pueblo National Monument makes a great day trip for the cooler months.
For more New Mexico travel ideas, check out a Northern New Mexico Road Trip.
