Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Quarai Unit

The weather was wonderful and the trails are well kept.

The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument consists of three Mission ruins in the beautiful State of New Mexico that you’ll need to drive to due to the distance between them.
Quarai Ruins: The Spanish Franciscan mission church of La Purisima Concepcion (1630) is the most complete remaining example of the three Salinas Pueblo Missions. On the edge of the plains, located at the eastern flank of the Manzano Mountains, stands the abandoned Tiwa Pueblo Indian village of Quarai (1200-1670). The village and the Mission were abandoned in the late-1600s due to drought, famine, and disease. The natives and the Franciscans relocated to pueblos located along the Rio Grande 50-miles away.
Abo’ Ruins: Located adjacent to the major east-west trade route through Abo’ Pass, the Tompiro Pueblo of Abo’ (1300s-1670s) was one of the Southwest’s largest Pueblo Indian villages. Natives’ homes are dominated by the Spanish Franciscan mission church of the San Gregorio de Abo’ which stood 40’ high.
Gran Quivira:

Interesting site. I am always surprised to find stone ruins in the US. I suppose the various TV shows/movies focus on Native Americans in tents and settlers in wooden structures. This was a large sophisticated Pueblo with some of the buildings 4 stores high. The church was a fine size and it will be interesting to compare it to other Pueblo churches which are still intact. Great tour from the ranger.

Well worth the time to see it. It is not large but the ruins are nice. The short 1 mile Spanish Trail provides nice views of the ruins.

This ancient pueblo and approximately 400 year old mission ruin is one of the most photogenic mission churches in NM. The reddish stones are particularly striking during sunrise. It's also only a little over an hour away from Albuquerque, making it ideal for a day trip. I've been coming here for 35 years and it never gets old.