Pecos National Historical Park: Is It Worth Visiting? (2024)
Want to know if Pecos National Historical Park is worth visiting? We’ve got you covered with everything we’ve learned from our visit!
Pecos National Historical Park is located in northern New Mexico, less than 30 miles Southeast of Santa Fe.
This site has a combination of historical significance from being an ancient Puebloan ruins site, to being a 1700s Spanish mission site, and even being a Civil War battlefield.
It’s a place that you can visit in anywhere from 1-3 hours depending on how much of it you want to see.
The main attraction is the Ancestral Sites Trail that takes you around the Puebloan ruins and ends at the Spanish mission.
This part can be done in about an hour.
But if you also want to explore the Civil War battlefield trail, you’ll want to add another 1-2 hours to your visit.
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Is Pecos National Historical Park Worth Visiting?
Pecos National Historical Park might just be my favorite hidden gem in all of New Mexico.
When we visited, we were the only ones there, so we got to explore the ruins, the mission, and the battlefield completely undisturbed.
It’s so close to Santa Fe and Albuquerque that you can’t not go!
So to answer the question, absolutely yes, Pecos National Historical Park is worth visiting.
If you’ve never visited Pecos before and you have the opportunity to add it to your itinerary, I highly recommend it.
It’s one of the most easily accessible ruins sites, especially compared to places like the Gila Cliff Dwellings that take an hour to get up through a windy road and are in the middle of nowhere.
Plus, it’s free!
Pecos National Historical Park One Day Itinerary
Pecos is a hugely under-rated hidden gem about 30 minutes outside of Santa Fe.
When we visited, we were the only ones there and we were able to explore the entire place on our own.
We were there in the Spring and it was still pretty cold, at times even snowing, so be sure to check the weather before you head out.
Since it’s out in the open, you’re pretty much open to the elements and will need to be prepared for rain, snow, or sunshine.
The first thing you’ll want to do is check-in at the visitor’s center.
There are park rangers here, maps, trail guides, restrooms, and a gift shop.
The rangers will happily answer any questions you have or even share some fun facts about the area if you don’t have any particular questions but would like to know more.
✔️ Ancestral Sites Trail
The main attraction of the park is the Ancestral Sites Trail which is just off the main parking lot.
The Ancestral Sites Trail is a short 1.25 mile walk up around the pueblo and an abandoned mission.
The trail has markers that tell the story of how the pueblo and mission came to be and is dotted with some smaller ruins along the way.
At some other sites like Aztec Ruins and Chaco Culture you can actually go into a lot of the ruins and explore them, but the ones here are just too fragile, inaccessible, or there’s just not much left of them to explore.
You’ll want to stay on the trail at all times, but it goes right up to most of the ruins, so you’re not missing anything by not being able to walk or climb around some of these ruins.
When you’ve made it to the end of the trail, you’ll be at the base of the 1717 Spanish Mission Church.
✔️ 1717 Spanish Mission Church
This area was my favorite part of exploring Pecos National Historical Park.
It was even better that no one else was here so that we could get photos and look around at our own pace.
You’re free to roam around pretty much anywhere around the church as long as you don’t see any ropes preventing access.
On a typical day there should be a ranger here to make sure everyone stays within the limits of where visitors are actually allowed to go, but since we went during the pandemic, they weren’t staffing the park at all.
There was just a notice put up at the visitors center about the rules and they went on the honor system.
This worked during that time since hardly anyone was visiting and I’m sure there’s some sort of surveillance somewhere.
✔️ Glorieta Pass Battle Trail
Once you’re finished exploring the Pueblo ruins and the Spanish mission, there’s an even lesser known spot down the road of a Civil War battle that is part of this park.
It’s a short 2.25 mile walking trail that takes you through the story of the Glorieta Pass battle.
You have to get the gate code from a park ranger before you head out to the trail though, which you can get at the visitor center you would’ve parked at to walk the Ancestral Sites Trail.
When we went it actually started snowing, which probably explains why we were the only ones there.
But it’s very scenic, woodsy, and relaxing.
Since it wasn’t particularly breezy and the trees blocked a lot of the snow, it didn’t really feel like it was cold enough to be snowing, which made the walk more enjoyable.
This trail also has plenty of informative markers all along the route telling the story of the Glorieta Pass Battle.
Essentially this battle is what stopped Confederate expansion further West, which helped the Union ultimately win the Civil War.
✔️ South Pasture Trail
We didn’t do this trail during our visit, but if you have the time during your visit, you can ask a park ranger for information about how to access the trail.
It’s really the only other trail/attraction at this park outside of the Ancestral Sites Trail and the Glorieta Pass Battlefield Trail.
Hotels Near Pecos National Historical Park
Pecos National Historical Park is located about 30 miles Southeast of Santa Fe in a pretty rural location.
Your best options would be to stay anywhere in Santa Fe, unless you want to camp.
Below are my top recommendations for where you can stay in the surrounding area.
✅ Campgrounds
If you like camping, there are campgrounds nearby in the Santa Fe National Forest or Pecos Canyon State Park.
The Santa Fe National Forest ranger station is just a couple miles north of the park, in the town of Pecos.
Pecos Canyon State Park is about 15 miles north.
It snows here in the Winter and even into Spring, so you’ll want to be mindful of the weather when deciding if camping is the best option.
✅ Overall Best Hotel: Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder
If you find yourself in Santa Fe, consider staying at the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Casino Resort during your trip!
It’s on the other side of Santa Fe from where Pecos is, so it’s about 45 minutes away, but it’s a great home base for a ton of other places to visit in the area.
Since it’s a casino and a resort there are a ton of amenities like a restaurant, pool, free parking, and an art gallery.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Casino Resort Stay Today!
✅ Closest Accommodations: Bobcat Inn Bed & Breakfast
Bobcat Inn Bed & Breakfast is the closest accommodations to Pecos National Historical Park.
Since Bed & Breakfasts tend to be on the smaller side they tend to book out during busier seasons, but it’s worth a shot if you want to stay as close as possible to the park.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Bobcat Inn Bed & Breakfast Stay Today!
Some other options include booking home stays through sites like AirBnb, but I personally don’t feel like it’s the most cost effective or convenient option for visiting Pecos National Historical Park.
For you it might be though, so it could be worth looking into as well because there are at least a dozen within less than a 30 minute drive to the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we see about visiting Pecos National Historical Park.
What is Pecos National Historical Park known for?
Pecos National Historical Park is known for its historical significance and cultural heritage.
The park is primarily known for preserving the remnants of Pecos Pueblo, a significant Native American settlement, and the site of the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass.
The history of Pecos Pueblo dates back over 700 years, representing the thriving indigenous community that existed in the region.
The site showcases the remnants of kivas, adobe structures, and ceremonial spaces, offering insight into the daily lives and rituals of the Pueblo people.
Additionally, there is a Spanish Mission on this site that was built in the 1700s.
During the Civil War, this area was also the site of the Battle of Glorieta Pass.
This battle, often termed the “Gettysburg of the West,” played a crucial role in halting the Confederate Army’s westward expansion, impacting the outcome of the war.
Is Pecos National Historical Park free?
Yes!
Whether you have a National Park annual pass or not, it’s free for everybody to visit.
How old is the village of Pecos, New Mexico?
The Pecos Pueblo is estimated to be over 700 years old.
It was built and inhabited in the 14th century by ancient Puebloans.
Where is Pecos National Historical Park located?
You can see in the Google Maps image below that in the context of the whole state of New Mexico, that Pecos National Historical Park is in the Northern half of the state, slightly to the East.
On a closer scale, you can see that it’s not too far from Santa Fe or Albuquerque.
It’s just about 30 miles Southeast of Santa Fe.
In driving time that’s about 30-35 minutes away.
It’s also just about 85 miles Northeast of Albuquerque.
In driving time that’s about an hour and 15 minutes away.
Resources For Planning Your Trip To Pecos
If you need help planning your trip to Pecos National Historical Park, check out our Tips For Planning A Trip To Anywhere (A Step-By-Step Guide).
For New Mexico travel in particular, I recommend checking out our New Mexico Road Trip Itinerary that takes you all over the state.
We did an expanded version of this itinerary as part of a 4 week honeymoon road trip where we visited all of the Four Corners states – Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah.
For National Park lovers, check out our weekend getaway guide to visiting Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks.
Carlsbad Caverns is in southern New Mexico and Guadalupe Mountains is just on the Texas border, but they’re so close to each other that it makes sense to visit both if you’re going to visit one.
If you love visiting remote and historic areas like Pecos National Historical Park, I highly recommend adding a trip to the Gila Cliff Dwellings to your New Mexico itinerary.
It’s in southwest New Mexico and has a similar vibe and experience, except you get to climb around and explore!
Also, read our Best Tips For Staying Safe When Traveling During Extreme Weather if you’re traveling during the extreme heat in Summer or the snow in Winter.
Also check out our Best Tips For Staying Well While You Travel if you’re prone to getting colds or allergies when you travel or have other ailments.
Lastly, if you’re traveling on a budget, read up on our Best Tips For Traveling On A Budget: Your Guide To Planning An Affordable Trip.
Conclusion: Is Pecos National Historical Park Worth Visiting?
Pecos National Historical Park is a wonderful hidden gem just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
It has historical and cultural significance for ancient native tribes, the Spanish mission era, and the Civil War era all in one place that’s free to visit.
I highly recommend adding this destination to your itinerary when you’re visiting New Mexico, especially if you’ll already be in Santa Fe or Albuquerque.
