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

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Our family, like most of you, had never heard of Pecos, New Mexico. When we hear about New Mexico, the first two cities that come to mind are Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

I finally told my husband that we needed to visit Pecos because of a New Mexico Tourism advertising on Pecos that popped up every time I opened my Facebook page. For at least one day. 

According to the advertisement, Nature in Pecos is stunning. There are miles of fishing spots along the Pecos River, as well as a Pecos National Historical Park, in this pristine wilderness.

Pecos appears to be an ideal destination for us, as we enjoy outdoor activities as well as learning about history and different cultures. Besides, it’s not too far from where we live in North Texas.

So, here’s how to spend one day in Pecos, New Mexico, on your next trip to the Enchanted State.

Where Is Pecos New Mexico Located

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.

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

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

I decided to do two things on our one-day trip to Pecos after clicking and reading the ad several times: 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.

1. Cave Creek Trail (Trail 288)

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. At the trailhead, there is a wooden board with the form and information about the trail and campground. 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. It was nearly full 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 we were greeted by large and tall Douglas-fir trees. (I assumed they were Ponderosa, but the majority of 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.

Then Aspen trees appeared in the view, and all of a sudden, a wide stunning mountain view with 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 us warned us that the dog wasn’t friendly. So my son moved our dog, Snoopy, a few feet to the side.

When the trail split in two, my son advised us to take the one on the right. I simply followed him without consulting the trail map in my phone. (Mistake!) We went back up the hill, and it didn’t feel as easy this time. My husband, who was a few yards behind us, radioed us 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, and it was especially useful 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 trail also got closer to the creek. Then we ran into another group of hikers who had just returned from the cave.

We finally 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 simply 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. By the time we arrived at the campground, all of the cars had left.

According to the article, the hike can be completed in a couple of hours from start to finish, but due to a wrong turn and numerous photo stops, we took close to 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 elevation does not even reach 1,000 feet, so 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 couple of wonderful hikes near Santa Fe we took the previous year.

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.

We also visited the old bridge (not far from Tererro General Store), a church, and the Lisboa Springs Fish Hatchery. All of these locations will be on your right as you return to town.

2. Pecos National Historical Park

Pecos National Historical Park is rich in history. The Pueblo and Plains Indians arrived in the 15th century, followed by Spanish settlers in the 16th and 17th centuries, traders on the Santa Fe Trail, and, finally, Confederate and Union soldiers.

Begin your visit to the Visitor Center by watching 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 you begin your tour, the helpful park ranger will hand you a narrative brochure and a laminated interpretive guide. When you do the self-guided Ancestral Sites Trail tour to the back of the Visitor Center, you bring these with you.

If you’re traveling with kids (like us), don’t forget to bring their Junior Ranger Activity Book. This will teach them a lot about the park. If your dog comes along, they can participate in their Bark Ranger program. While we were there, our son and our 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, but the sun was shining brightly. Because the trail is 1.25 miles long, bring sunscreen and a water bottle.

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. Of course, we took advantage of the opportunity to explore one of the trail’s reconstructed kivas. You must go if you go.

Aside from the Pueblo, you’ll also get to see the Mission Church and Convento. The church 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, so if you are, stay on designated paths.

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 get to see Forked Lightning Ranch or Kozlowski’s Trading Post. That’s where travelers on their way 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, and 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 that future visitors can benefit from it.

In 2018, CNN.com named Pecos National Historical Park as one of the top 17 places to visit 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. Fought 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? Santa Fe Fly Fishing School can be reached 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 by appointment only. 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 welcomed as Christ. Address: 16 Guadalupe Lane, Pecos. Phone: (505) 757-6600.

Tips For Visiting Pecos In One Day

• Begin early so you have enough time to explore
• Bring plenty 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 anything 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 thought of it.

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