One Day In Pecos New Mexico: A First Timer’s Guide

Have you heard about Pecos, New Mexico? Like most people, when we heard about New Mexico, the first two cities that came to mind were Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Skiers will add Taos.

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I first heard about Pecos from the New Mexico Tourism ad. From the information I got, nature in Pecos is stunning. There are miles of fishing spots along the Pecos River. They have some of the best hiking trails in New Mexico. And Pecos National Historical Park is in this pristine wilderness, too.

It sounds like Pecos is the right destination for us. We enjoy outdoor activities and learning about history and cultures. Besides, it’s not too far from where we live in North Texas.

So, we went to Pecos. And now, I will share our findings on the best things to do in one day in Pecos, New Mexico.

Where is Pecos, New Mexico?

Pecos is only about 30 minutes from Santa Fe and less than 1.5 hours from Albuquerque, making it an easy day trip from either city.

If you’re coming from Santa Fe, take I-25 North to NM-50 in Glorieta. Exit I-25 N at 299 and follow NM-50 to S Main St. in Pecos. Take NM-63 north to the Pecos Wilderness or south to the Pecos National Historical Park.

If you are coming from Albuquerque, take I-25 N out of town and follow it to NM-50 in Glorieta. Then follow the steps outlined above.

The drive from Dallas, Texas, to Pecos, takes approximately 9 hours and 30 minutes without stopping. The destination is in another time zone.

If you fly to Albuquerque and look for rentals, try Discover Cars. They will give you a comparison of various companies. If you rent a car through them, thank you. I’ll earn a small commission that will help me keep this site running. It’s at no extra cost to you.

One Day In Pecos New Mexico: A First Timer’s Guide 

After clicking and reading the ad several times, I decided to do two main things on our one-day trip to Pecos: hike the beautiful Cave Creek Trail and visit Pecos National Historical Park.

If we have time, we’ll go to Tererro General Store and have chips con queso with green chile at Frankie’s at the Casanova in town.

We drove from Dallas to Albuquerque and stayed at Red Roof Inn Albuquerque – Midtown. If you do not know, dogs stay free in Red Roof Inn.

Things To Do In Pecos In One Day

Hike on Cave Creek Trail

To get to Cave Creek Trail, take NM 63 from downtown Pecos to Cowles for about 22 miles. It’s a scenic drive that takes you past the Pecos Benedictine Monastery, numerous fishing spots, the historic Tererro General Store, and log cabins before arriving at the Panchuela Campground.

The hike begins at the Panchuela Campground in the Santa Fe National Forest. But first, you must pay a small fee for day use. There is a wooden board with the form and information about the trail and campground at the trailhead. Drop your money into a slot in one of the metal bars, and don’t forget to take a picture of the trail with your phone.

If you need to use the restroom before beginning the hike, there is a vault toilet near the parking lot.

Panchuela Campground has plenty of parking, in my opinion. Not too many empty spaces when we arrived, but there was no sign of human activity. Everyone must have been out hiking.

We came to a bridge not far from the trailhead, just as I had noted in the advertisement for Cave Creek Trail (Trail 288). It crosses Panchuela Creek, and we’re in the Pecos Wilderness.

We hiked up the hill from the bridge, where a large, tall Douglas-fir tree greeting us. (I assumed they were Ponderosa, but people said they were Douglas-fir.)

It’s nearly noon and very quiet. I’m guessing the birds were sleeping, and the other hikers were deep in the woods. The creek below was the only sound.

Aspen trees appeared in the view, then a vast, stunning mountain view with a blue sky canopied from above occupied our attention. It was breathtaking! We were speechless on our first hike in the New Mexico wilderness. In Texas, we don’t have views like this.

We met a group of hikers who had returned from the cave. One of them had a dog, but the people ahead of them warned us that the dog wasn’t friendly. So my son moved our dog, Snoopy, a few feet to the side.

The trail split in two. My son suggested we take the one on the right. I followed him without looking at the trail map on my phone. (Mistake!) We went up the hill, and it was not easy this time. My husband, who was a few yards behind us, radioed and informed us that we had taken the wrong trail. As a result, we turned around.

(Yes! We used 2-way radio communication because my son and I like to wander ahead. It was practical when there was no cell service, as there was in the Pecos National Forest.)

Not long after that, the trail descended into a grassy meadow dotted with wildflowers. So, so lovely! The trek also got closer to the creek. Then we ran into another group of hikers who had just returned from the cave.

Finally, we arrived at the creek. We must cross the fallen-pine bridge and continue hiking to the cave to get there. We didn’t think Snoopy could cross the bridge when we first saw it. He’s also too heavy to carry. Furthermore, the water is swift. We haven’t yet taught him to swim. So we only followed the creek upriver. It didn’t take long for the trail to vanish.

It began to rain on the way back to the car, but it stopped as quickly as it began. There were no other cars when we arrived at the campground.

According to the article, you can complete the hike in a couple of hours from start to finish. But, we had a wrong turn and numerous photo stops, so we arrived back at the trailhead after almost three hours.

Cave Creek Trail is 5.6 miles round trip and rated moderate. The lowest elevation is 8,400 feet, while the highest is 9,700 feet. We live in North Texas, where the altitude does not even reach 1,000 feet, but we did not experience high altitude sickness.

We all agreed that the trail was lovely. We’re exhausted, but we’re glad we did it.

This trail reminded me of a wonderful hikes near Santa Fe we took the previous year.

Stop at Tererro General Store

On our way back to town, we stopped at Tererro General Store. We got ice cream and sat on the porch, watching hummingbirds congregate at the store’s feeder.

It was a neat stop after a hike.

Unfortunately, Covid hit Tererro General Store badly. The owner had to close the general store for good.

Cross the Old Bridge

We also visited the old bridge (not far from Tererro General Store).

U.S. Forest Service built the bridge in 1921. In the late 1920s, the forest road became NM 63 and served the Tererro mining district.

The bridge was listed on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties and on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

I crossed the bridge by foot, not by car.

Visit El Macho Mission Church

Also known as Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, the church was built about 1857.

The building has no water or electricity. It is lighted by candles and lanterns and warmed by a wood-burning stove.

I didn’t get to go inside though.

Stop at Lisboa Springs Fish Hatchery

It is the state’s oldest hatchery.

This hatchery supplies Monastery Lake, Cowles Ponds, and the Pecos River. If you haven’t been to a fish hatchery, it’s a great place to learn about game and fish management.

All these locations will be on your right as you return to town.

Explore Pecos National Historical Park

Pecos National Historical Park is rich in history. The Pueblo and Plains Indians arrived in this area in the 15th century. Then came the Spanish settlers in the 16th and 17th centuries, traders on the Santa Fe Trail, and the last ones were Confederate and Union soldiers.

Begin your visit to the park with a visit to the Visitor Center. Watch an introductory film about the park. Then, stroll through the small museum to see the artifacts on display to learn about the region’s history and archeology.

Before the tour, the helpful park ranger will hand you a narrative brochure and a laminated interpretive guide. You take these with you for the self-guided Ancestral Sites Trail tour.

If you’re traveling with kids (like us), don’t forget to take their Junior Ranger Activity Book. It will teach them a lot about the park. If your dog comes along, they can participate in their Bark Ranger program. Our son and dog Snoopy participated in the programs.

Summer and winter hours are available for visitors to Pecos National Historical Park. When we visited in June, the park was open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the Visitor Center open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We arrived a little before 4.30 p.m., so we skipped the museum after the movie. The temperature was in the 80s, and the sun was shining brightly. Because the trail is 1.25 miles long, bring sunscreen and water.

The trails through the Pueblo ruins are well-kept, so visitors can easily walk around. While our son worked on his activity book, we followed the laminated interpretive guide.

There’s a reconstructed kiva on the trail. It is open to visitors, and you must go inside when you are in the park.

Aside from the Pueblo, you’ll see the Mission Church and Convento. The ruins are from two churches that were built about 100 years apart. The first church, built in 1625, was destroyed during the Pecos Revolt in 1680. The Spanish then rebuilt the second church in 1717.

While we were there, a bull snake crawled across the trail, which ruined some of my time there. Haha. I’m afraid of snakes. Stay on designated paths when you are in the park.

Unfortunately, we arrived late and did not have enough time to hike to the Battle of Glorieta Pass. It was the site of a Civil War battle in Pecos in 1862. We also didn’t see Forked Lightning Ranch or Kozlowski’s Trading Post. That’s where travelers across the Santa Fe Trail stopped to buy supplies.

You will return to the Visitor Center at the end of the trails. Your children will take the Junior Ranger Pledge and receive a badge from Pecos NHP.

It will also be your last opportunity to purchase a small souvenir to take home with you.

Don’t forget to return the laminated interpretive guide so future visitors can benefit from it.

In 2018, CNN.com named Pecos National Historical Park one of the top 17 places in the United States. Isn’t that amazing?

Other Things To Do/See at Pecos

Pecos Baldy. Pecos Baldy is a Moran County mountain peak that rises 12,487 feet above sea level.

The Battle of Glorieta Pass. The Battle of Glorieta Pass, dubbed the “Gettysburg of the West” by some authors, was the pivotal battle of the New Mexico Campaign during the American Civil War. The war was in northern New Mexico Territory from March 26 to 28, 1862.

Santa Fe Fly Fishing School is a fly fishing school in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Do you want to learn to fly fish or improve your existing skills? Contact Santa Fe Fly Fishing School at (505) 757-2498. Address: Pecos, 79 Camino Rincon.

Cicuye Studios, LLC. The artist couple Wendy and Bob Wilkerson’s working studios. While the two artists are working, it is open to the public only by appointment. Address: 60 Cicuye Rd., Pecos. Ph.: (505) 757-3008.

Benedictine Monastery Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey. Visit for a day, weekend, or longer, or participate in one of the many retreats offered throughout the year. It is not necessary to be a Catholic to visit or stay at the monastery. All visitors are welcome as Christ. Address: 16 Guadalupe Lane, Pecos. Phone: (505) 757-6600.

Tips For Visiting Pecos In One Day

• Start early so you have enough time to explore
• Bring plenty of water and sunscreen
• Take only photographs and leave everything else alone
• Bring a picnic or dine at one of the town’s restaurants

As I write this, I can still picture our trip to Pecos National Historical Park, where we hiked the stunning Cave Creek Trail and walked the Ancestral Site Trails.

Have you ever visited Pecos? If you’ve been and have something to add that I didn’t see during our visit, please leave a comment below so that others can plan their trip to Pecos.

And, if you’ve ever had chips con queso with green chile at Frankie’s at the Casanova, let me know what you think.

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