New Mexico's National Parks and Monuments

New Mexico has something for everyone.  There are many national parks and monuments located in this state.

The Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located near Carlsbad, New Mexico.  Carlsbad is located near the Pecos River in the Guadalupe Mountains.  In some areas the mountains reach 8749 feet in height.  Carlsbad’s economy depends on the tourists that come every year to visit the Carlsbad Caves.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Most visitors to Carlsbad Caverns National Park come to see the main cave area.  The park has much more to offer its visitors.  If you like hiking the park has many hiking trails.

Pecos National Historical Park

In the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe you will find the Pecos National Historical Park.  This is the home of the first settlements in the Pecos Valley.  You will find an Indian pueblo that before the Spanish explorers came was an important place of trade between the between the people of the Rio Grande Valley and the tribes of the buffalo plains.  It is believed that 2000 people lived here.  There are several guided tours you can take.  They are all worth your time.

Chaco Cultural National Historical Park

The Chaco Cultural National Historical Park is the best preserved ancient Southwestern village.  You reach this park by taking a gravel road that crosses the plains of the Navajo Indian Reservation.  Some of the parks best ruins are Hungo Pavi, Chetro Keti and Pueblo Bonito.  You can visit the ruins of the largest and most advanced ancient villages in the Southwest.  Some of the villages are located in the Chaco Canyon.  It was inhabited in the 9^th century.  The residents established trade routes with villages in Colorado, Arizona and northern Mexico.

Aztec Ruins National Monument

The Aztec Ruins National Monument is a great place to visit.  It is a very popular tourist attraction.  The first explorers thought they had found the 15^th century central Mexican civilization.  The ancient Southwest settlement ruins go back to the 12^th century. All that is still standing here is a walled village with 400 rooms on 3 levels.  There are over 12 kivas here.  A kiva is a circular ceremonial area.  The site is in very good condition.  There are Indian arts and crafts shops you can visit.  They have many things to offer and are worth a visit.

Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico is an awesome place.  It has steep canyons with unusual ancient ruins.  They are some of the best in the Southwest.  Some of the mountains in this area are 10,000 feet tall.  This monument area has some campsites available.  There are backcountry hiking trails.  The two main footpaths are the Falls Trail and the Frijoles Canyon Trail.  The Falls Trail goes downstream to where the Frijoles Creek meets the Rio Grande River.  You will see 2 great waterfalls and a lot of beautiful scenery.  The Frijoles Canyon Trail goes upstream to the cliff dwellings.  There are ruins of a pueblo and a Ceremonial Cave her.

Capulin Volcano Monument

The main attraction of the Capulin Volcano Monument is the Capulin Volcano.  This volcano is very well preserved.  It is believed to be around 60,000 years old.  The volcano cinder cone is over 1,500 feet high.  The nearby plains are 8,182 feet above sea level.  The volcanic crater is around 400 feet deep.

El Malpas National Monument

The El Malpas National Monument has many historic sites you can visit.  El Malpas National Monument has more than artifacts to keep it alive.  There are many Indian groups that are still living here including the Pueblo people of Acoma, Laguna, Zuni and the Romah Navajo.  El Malpas has many lava beds.

El Morro National Monument

One of the favorite sites in the El Morro National Monument is the many colored sandstone cliffs.  These cliffs hide a pool of water that has water in it year around.  The El Morro National Monument is not very big.  There is a small campground located here.  El Morro rises 200 feet above the valley floor.  There are Pueblo ruins here.

Fort Union

Fort Union was built in 1851 to protect the Santa Fe Trail.  In a 40 year period three forts were built very close to each other.  The last fort built was the largest fort in the American Southwest.  It was used as a military garrison, territorial arsenal and a military supply depot in the area.

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is actually made up of 3 historic sites.  Each site has the ruins of a 17 century Spanish Mission.  The missions were built alongside the ruins of ancient pueblos.  Gran Quivira has the ruins of 2 churches.  Quarai and Ab have one church each.

New Mexico has many National Parks and National Monuments. There are more National Monuments than Parks.  All of the National Parks and Monuments have much to offer.  They are all very unique and beautiful in their own way.  They are all great places to visit.

Article sources:

http://www.geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/fieldguides/nmparks/1/home.cfm

http://www.go-newmexico.com/National-Parks-Mounments-Historic-Sites/

http://www.americansouthwest.net/new_mexico/national-parks.html

http://www.americansouthwest..net/new_mexico/capulin-volcano/national-monument.html