Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument preserves the ruins of three Spanish mission communities in central New Mexico. The site includes the Visitor’s Center, so you can start at one of the mission sites en route to the Visitor’s Center. Each set of ruins centers on the mission church and includes a variety of connected and outbuilding to support the mission community.

Address and Location

You’ll find the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument headquarters and Visitor’s Center at 105 S Ripley Avenue in Mountainair, New Mexico. The building sits one block away from the intersection of US 60 and New Mexico 55 at the only stop light in town. The Visitor’s Center is not connected to any of the actual ruins; it sits in a more central location. Below you will find locations for each of the three mission sites.

Cost

Exploring each site is free!

What to Do

Abo Ruins

Since we drove down from Albuquerque on I-25, we made the Abo Ruins our first stop. You’ll find the Abo Ruins on Abo Ruins Road (NM 513), about 6 miles west of the Visitor’s Center along the north side of US 60. If you are driving east towards the Visitor’s Center, Abo Ruins Road will be a sharp turn on your left.

This church was built in the style found after the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. It reminded me a lot of the church ruins at Pecos National Historic Park. The Abo Ruins Visitor’s Center and parking lot are on the right at the end of the road, while the ruins are on the left side. You’ll find a paved path directing you through the site and to some of the out buildings.

Gran Quivira Ruins

After we left the main Visitor’s Center, we continued south on NM 55. NM 55 takes a few hard (90 degree) turns, and you’ll find the Gran Quivira Ruins at one of these. Keep an eye out for the brown NPS signs, and continue straight on the access road instead of following NM 55. This site is about 55 miles north of Carrizozo.

You’ll park at the lot located at the bottom of the hill. Check out this Visitor’s Center (it’s the largest of the three sites) then walk uphill to the main ruins. Gran Quivira has a metal boardwalk and ramp leading up to the main paved path.

Gran Quivira is indeed grand and is the largest of the three ruin sites. Several thousand people called the original pueblo home, and the Spanish designed a church to serve the larger community. The church was never finished because the residents abandoned the town. You can explore the church construction ruins, the homes and communal areas, and the kivas of the Pueblo people.

Quarai Ruins

You can find the Quarai Ruins 8 miles north of Mountainair on NM 55. Then head one mile west of the highway. We opted not to visit the Quarai Ruins since we were heading south to El Paso.

New Mexico National Park Service sites: Your guide to the New Mexico National Parks  |  Aztec Ruins National Monument  |  White Sands National Park  |  Fort Union National Monument  |  Pecos National Historic Park  |  Valles Caldera National Preserve  |  Los Alamos Manhattan Project National Historic Park  |  Bandelier National Monument  |  Carlsbad Caverns National Park  |  Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument  |  Petroglyph National Monument  |  El Morro National Monument  |  El Malpais National Monument  |  Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument