Northern New Mexico

Who knows why a place gets into your blood and never leaves … is it the excitement of walking in the shadows of our ancestors? In the Española Valley, you will be surrounded by the Eight Northern Pueblo Indian reservations whose ancestors are known as the Anasazi, “the ancient ones.” (The Pueblo Indians got their name from the Spanish word pueblo, which means town.) Española was settled by the first Europeans to arrive in the Southwest 400 years ago.

The Spanish influence is very much alive in the food, architecture, culture and traditions of Española Valley today. In the 1880s, Española began as a station for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, thus introducing Anglo culture to the area. Although the railroad is gone, the town remains a commercial center for the valley and surrounding towns and is a gateway to its many attractions. Many mission churches dot the landscape, the mother church, Santa Cruz de la Cañada (Holy Cross Church), is the spiritual stronghold of the area.

Eight miles east of Santa Cruz is Chimayó, home to the famous El Santuario de Chimayó church, where holy dirt from a hole in the church is thought to have healing powers. Pilgrims from around the globe visit the church in search of miracles, especially during the Easter season. Chimayó is also known for its famous weavers and artisans. Truchas and Cordova are the area’s mountain villages, with long traditions of woodcarvers and weavers. The area is becoming a popular artist colony on the High Road to Taos and hosts an annual art studio tour.

Eighteen miles to the southwest of Española is the world-renowned scientific community of Los Alamos, where the science and scenery are exceptional. Visit the Bradbury Science Museum for information on the history of Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Manhattan Project as well as science demonstrations and current research projects.

A visit to nearby Bandelier National Monument offers a wonderful experience for the whole family, with options to explore Anasazi ruins and cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and educational films and exhibits. With permits, you can also explore the back country trails. A detached section of Bandelier, Tsankawi, which is close to Los Alamos, gives you the chance for self-guided explorations of an unexcavated ruin on a high mesa. You’ll also find sweeping views of the Rio Grande Valley, petroglyphs and cave dwellings, as well as ancient Anasazi trails over the volcanic tuff. In some areas, you can literally follow in the footsteps of the ancients, as the tuff has been worn as much as 18 inches deep by countless travelers over the millennia.

A day trip to the west of Española will take you to Abiquiu — once home to the artist Georgia O’Keeffe. The countryside is breathtaking with dramatic red rock formations. Abiquiu Lake offers fishing, skiing and lots of summer fun. Nearby sits Ghost Ranch on 21,000 acres of colorful hills. Be sure to visit two museums, a natural retreat and education center. A few minutes away is the Echo Amphitheater.

Explore the sandstone caves in Ojo Caliente and visit the only Relais and Chateaux property in the Southwest, Rancho de San Juan, which offers a sensational feast in its three-star, Four-Diamond restaurant. A visit to the mineral springs of Ojo Caliente has a variety of ways to relax and pamper yourself.

To the north of the state is Chama, in New Mexico’s central region bordering Colorado. The alpine setting offers outdoor sports galore and in summer you can enjoy riding on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, an authentic vintage narrow-gauge steam train.

The final stretch of your visit to northern New Mexico would not be complete without a visit to the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, which offers custom guided tours to archaeological sites on tribal land. Stop by the Culture Center and Arts & Crafts Museum in Dulce to learn about Jicarilla traditions and shop for baskets, beaded items and micaceous pottery. The third weekend in July brings the Little Beaver Round-up celebration to Dulce, with a parade, rodeo, powwow and carnival. September 15 features the Go-Jii-Ya Feast day foot races at nearby Stone Lake.

When your visit to Northern New Mexico comes to an end, your memories of a special place are just beginning — we look forward to your next visit.