State of
New Mexico
The name, New Mexico, was derived from words for the heartland of the Aztec Empire.
New Mexico is a very diverse State. From the Ancient Ruins of Aztec, Salinas Missions, El Morro, El Malpais, to name a few, are awesome places to visit. New Mexico is home to Bosque del Apache, Valley of Fires, White Sands National Monument and many other places of interest.
Lava and Desert plants, Valley of Fires, New Mexico
Aztec Ruins
National Monument
Exploring the Past
The Aztec Ruins are located in the Northwest corner of New Mexico near Farmington. An excellent example of Anasazi Architecture, this is a large historical site which has multiple Kivas within the grounds.
Bandelier National Monument
Territory of the Ancestral Puebloans
Come visit Ancient dwellings carved into soft sandstone cliffs in Frijoles Canyon. See Petroglyphs and pictographs along the many trails.
Bosque del Apache
National Wildlife Refuge
A 57,331 acre home to an extraordinary diversity of animals and plants
Mostly known for the wintering grounds for tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes, Geese and Ducks, it also has thousands of acres of wilderness that is home to Jackrabbits, Lizards, and Quail as well as Creosote bush, Sunflowers and Mesquite.
El Morro National Monument
A reliable waterhole in a dusty desert
A hidden waterhole at the base of a sandstone bluff made El Morro a major stopover on an ancient East-West trail. Ancestral Puebloans, Spanish explorers and American travelers carved over 2,000 signatures, dates, messages, and petroglyphs here.
New Mexico
Landscapes, Wildlife and Wildflowers
In this State, the diversity of the landscape is awesome. Wildlife and Wildflowers are everywhere, just hard to find at times.
Salinas Pueblo Missions
Salt, Societies and Spirituality:
A tale of two cultures
In the middle of New Mexico is the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. Three sites here show a glimpse of a unique time in history. A time entrenched with cultural change, conflict and struggles. The now abandoned sites stand as reminders of the Spanish and Pueblo People’s early encounters. The first Spanish explorers were thought be come to this area in the late 1500’s and the three Missions were built in the 1620’s. In the eastern United States, the early 1800’s are ‘old’, but these ruins were built 200 years before that.
Salmon Ruins
11th Century Pueblo Ruins
The Salmon Ruins were first developed by Pueblo Peoples related to the Chaco Culture group, which originated in Chaco Canyon. Later this Pueblo was occupied by the San Juan Culture. Think about it, this Ruins is about 1000 years old!
Sevilleta
National Wildlife Refuge
A 230,000 acre Oasis for Wildlife
The Refuge includes four different biomes that intersect and support a wide array of biological diversity. Scientist from across the US and internationally come here to conduct research in these amazing ecosystems. Visitors can enjoy an awesome Nature Center and Trails.
Three Rivers Petroglyph Site
Awesome Petroglyph site
If you have an interest in Native American petroglyphs, this is a place not to miss. With Valley of Fires to the West and Sierra Blanca Peak to the East and being in an arid desert, the scenery is awesome.
Valles Grand Caldera
National Preserve
The Caldera of an ancient volcano
This Preserve is the Caldera of an ancient supervolcano. There are hiking trails to observe wildflowers and wildlife, historic cabins and prehistoric sites.
Valley of Fires
Recreation Area
A different look a lava
Valley of Fires is an area where there was a rift in the earth and lava poured forth, no volcano anywhere around. Lava ran down this Valley for 40 miles and in places was as much as 5 miles wide.
White Sands
National Monument
Dramatic landscapes of rare white gypsum
Hiking trails through the dunes offer spectacular views of the white gypsum sand dunes. The tracks of insects, small reptiles, small animals and birds are everywhere. Although the area looks lifeless, it is full of life.
