Southwest Adventure. Legends Awaken: Native Trails & Mystical Ruins!

Awaken your adventurous spirit with a hearty outdoor breakfast, for today, we delve into the captivating Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, cradled within the enchanting embrace of Navajo land.

Behold the majesty of the Navajo Nation, a sovereign state spanning the mystical corners of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. As we venture forth, the desolate badlands of Bisti reveal their secrets, shaped by time’s gentle caress. Marvel at the enigmatic adobe formations, while the echoes of Dééł Náázíní, the “Standing Crane,” serenade your senses. Step by step, we navigate the 8-mile Bisti Wash loop, traversing a mesmerizing maze of hills, where direction dances with the winds, beckoning you to embrace the unknown.

Joining the Penasco Blanco and Pueblo Alto Ruins hike within Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a voyage through time, immersed in the rich tapestry of ancestral Puebloan history. The trail, a blend of archaeology and natural beauty, unveils the enigmatic remnants of a once-flourishing civilization.

Prepare for an enthralling 5-hour driving expedition, an early start to seize the day’s boundless opportunities. Our journey along Hwy 117 weaves through the captivating El Malpais National Monument, granting us precious moments to savor its wonders.

Behold the La Ventana Natural Arch, a colossal sandstone marvel, proudly boasting a 120-foot-wide span, the grandest accessible arch in New Mexico. A brief trail leads us to its very base, where ancient secrets whisper through the stone.

Our odyssey continues as we venture into the northern expanse of Gila National Forest, venturing to the legendary Catwalk. Here, the name itself evokes echoes of history, harkening back to the bygone era of ore processing, where wooden walkways danced upon steel pipes that once quenched the thirst of industry.
Embark on the riveting 2-mile loop trail, an immersive voyage into the geological and historical bedrock of southwest New Mexico.

As twilight descends, delight in the pleasures of a sumptuous dinner and the comfort of a hotel bed at Bear Mountain Lodge, an exclusive haven nestled in the heart of the Gila National Forest. Let the aura of the Gila Wilderness, the nation’s oldest wilderness area, caress your soul, unraveling a tale of timeless beauty etched into the very fabric of the United States.

Leaving the wilderness and into the wide open we drive to Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge to go bird watching. The name of the refuge means “woods of the Apache” in Spanish, named for the Apache tribes that once camped in the forests along the Rio Grande.

A twelve-mile-long loop road ” give affords good views of the fields where crops are grown for the benefit of the birds under cooperative agreements with farmers. There have been 374 different bird species observed in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge since 1981, making it one of the most diverse areas for bird species in the United States.

The wetlands attract the huge flocks of wintering cranes and geese that are the refuge’s most interesting feature. Many other species as waterfowl, shorebirds, and birds of prey also winter in the refuge. The diversity of birds is also high in spring and although the area is hot in the summer still many water birds can be found, including such New Mexico rarities as the least bittern and occasionally the little blue heron. We will make photo stops and stretch our legs on one of the short trails along the wetlands.

After a short drive we stop at the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument to explore the ruins of the Quarai Mission. The mission, one of the three sets of pueblo and mission ruins at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument are located where the Great Plains meet the Manzano Mountains. Quarai is home to a seventeenth century Spanish mission church and convento, the mostly unexcavated and covered ruins of a Tiwa pueblo. Heading into the Manzano Mountains Wilderness our short drive brings us into our last dispersed camp where we spend our last two nights of the trip.

Embark on the thrilling 7-mile day hike along the captivating Spruce Spring trail. Traverse diverse biological zones, venture through enchanting fern canyons, and marvel at the granite rock walls. Reaching Gallo Peak, at 10K feet, relish the breathtaking vistas of the Manzano Mountains, a triumphant finale to our unforgettable journey through New Mexico.