trip2

Map modified from FAA ABQ Aeronautical Chart

The Abo Ruins are a little more than a hour's drive from Socorro. Visiting all three pueblo missions, Abo, Quarai, and Gran Quivira, with a return to Socorro, is a 4-5 hour round trip.

From the Abo Ruins, continue on US 60. The town of (5) Mountainair is about ten miles to the east. There are service stations, restaurants and other businesses in Mountainaire. Follow the signs to the Quarai and Gran uivira monuments.

From Mountainair, turn left (north) on NM-55 to the Quarai Pueblo Mission (follow the signs). It is about a ten minute drive to (6) Quarai Pueblo and Mission. Like Abo, Quarai was once a thriving pueblo with a massive Spanish mission, built in the early 1600s. An easy to walk interpretive trail goes through the pueblo and the mission.

From Quarai, return to Mountainair and take NM-55 south to Gran Quivira. Follow the signs. Gran Quivira (7) is about a half-hour's drive from Mountainair. Of the three ruins, Gran Quivira is the most extensive. Unlike Abo and Quarai, portions of the pueblo have been excavated and accessible to the public from the main walking trail. Gran Quivira has a large mission structure and convento, and the remnants of an earlier Spanish mission.

You don't have to drive all day long to Chaco Canyon or Aztec to see magnificent ancient Indian Pueblos. About an hour and a half drive from Socorro are the Salinas Mission Pueblos, consisting of Abo, Quarai and Gran Quivera. All three have magnificent Spanish missions built in the early 1600s. Each site has a visitor's center and interpretive trails, operated by the National Park Service. All roads to the sites are paved and suitable for large RVs.

Numbers (1), (2), (3), etc. refer to numbers on MAP - TRIP 2.

All three pueblo missions have Visitor's Centers, operated by the National Park Service, with Rangers on duty. Gifts shops have brochures and books on the pueblos, in addition to other Pueblo Indian and Southwestern themes.

These pueblos were not part of El Camino Real, but they were discovered by Juan de Onate in 1598. By the early 1600s, a trail from El Camino was established over Abo Pass to the pueblos. All three pueblos were found abandoned after the 1698 reoccupation of New Mexico.

To return to Socorro, simply retrace your route. From Gran Quivira, you can continue on NM-55 to intersect with US-64 to Carrizozo, should your travels take you to the east through Lincoln and Roswell via US 380.

(1) From Socorro, drive north on I-25 for 25 miles to (2) the exit for Bernardo and US-60 East, I-25 exit 175.

About a mile after crossing the Rio Grande bridge is the junction for NM 304 to Las Nutrias (north) and La Joya (south). This state route marks the path of El Camino Real. Do not turn off - continue east on US 60 across the plains and over (3) Abo Pass.

About 30 miles from Bernardo, you will see the sign for the (4) Abo Ruins. Turn left (north). The Abo Ruins and the Visitor's Center are only a mile north of US 60. The majestic 1600s Spanish mission is a short walk from the parking lot. The mission, convento, and portions of the pueblo are along walkways with interpretive signs and a walking brochure.