Explore New Mexico’s most ancient and coveted places when you embark on an exploration of New Mexico’s Native American ruins. Dive into another world of petroglyphs and cliff dwellings. Discover life through the eyes of the Mogollon and Ancestral Puebloan people and get an unfiltered glimpse of life nearly 1,000 years ago. What are you waiting for? Discover the history of the Land of Enchantment today!
Ready to see all of the area’s best spots? Discover it from the people who know it best. Get your customized Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch itinerary and gain access to all of our favorite things to see and do in New Mexico. Best of all? It’s free!
Everything You Need to Know About New Mexico Native American Ruins
Hike the paths of the ancient Pueblo people when you visit some of New Mexico’s best Native American ruins. Exploring these iconic ancient sites offers a perspective only seen by a few. Explore a simpler time when you discover the beauty of the Native American past during your next visit.
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Over 700 years ago, the people of the Mogollon culture built their homes in the natural caves of the Gila Wilderness in southwest New Mexico. Although the caves were only occupied for roughly one generation, the eight to ten families who lived in these cliff dwellings left behind artifacts to paint a picture of what life on the cliffside was like. Explore the five naturally eroded alcoves with 42 rooms constructed from local stone and the abandoned riverside fields where crops such as squash, corn, and beans were grown. Adventure is only a stones throw away from Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch when you discover the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
Petroglyph National Monument
Unlock a piece of New Mexico’s Native American history when you explore the largest and most extensive petroglyph site in North America at Petroglyph National Monument. Located 20 minutes northwest of Albuquerque, this park offers four short hiking trails with amazing views along the Boca Negra, Rinconada, and Piedras Marcadas canyons.
View over 25,000 petroglyphs and images carved between 400 and 700 years ago onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and early Spanish settlers. The images on the volcanic stones of the park were once used to communicate between Native Americans and Spanish settlers and today they hold incredible value of cultural expression and spiritual significance to the ancestors of these early inhabitants.
Acoma Pueblo
Located an hour west of Albuquerque, Acoma Pueblo, known as “Sky City”, is one of the few places in the country you’ll be able to recount a long, ancient history while experiencing it in the present day. Acoma Pueblo is made up of four Native American communities and is currently home to about 65 Ancestral Puebloan people. Situated atop a 367-foot sandstone bluff, rising from a valley dotted with towering rock formations sacred to the native people, Acoma Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America. Travel back in time when you explore San Estévan del Rey Mission Church, the Haak’u Museum, and the 300 or so adobe buildings that line the streets of the mesa. Immerse yourself in authentic and modern-day life of New Mexico’s Native American history when you visit Acoma Pueblo.
There’s Even More to Discover at Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch
Your exploration of ancient Native American culture doesn’t end at these sites! Your visit to Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch will include daily trail rides to 1,000-year-old pit houses, pueblo villages and cliff dwellings of the Mimbres branch of the Mogollon culture. Take an exclusive ride with us to the Dwelling Canyon – search for pottery shards and arrowheads and view pictographs from these early people while your hosts, Meris and Seth teach you the history of the area.
When you’re ready to retire for the day, relax in the comforts of our cozy cabins. Our cabins overlook the horses in the pasture and the stillness of the Ponderosa forest. A stay at Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch means gourmet ranch-style meals, unlimited horseback riding and hiking, exciting ranch activities such as line dancing and campfires, and comfortable accommodations to fit any family size. If you’re ready for an adventure of a lifetime, Geronimo Trail Ranch is excited to welcome you to our family!