Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Mountainair, NM Hours and Location

Learn and Explore

Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.

We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.

Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support.

Our Mission

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I obtain a park entrance pass?

Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

… more

About this location:

National Monument

Operating Hours & Seasons

Salinas Pueblo National Monument Winter Hours

The three park Mission Units (Abo, Quarai, and Gran Quivira) are open daily with summer hours (Memorial Day – Labor Day) 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and winter hours (rest of the year) 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Salinas Pueblo Missions is closed three days out of the year: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Monday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Tuesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Wednesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Thursday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Friday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Saturday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM

Additional Information View More

• Christmas Day:
• Closed

• New Year’s Day:
• Closed

• Memorial Day – Labor Day
  
• 9:00 AM-6:00 PM

• Thanksgiving Day:
• Closed

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

• $0.00 – Salinas Pueblo Entrance Fee
  There is no fee to enter Salinas Pueblo National Monument.

About

Salt, Societies, and Spirituality: A Tale of Two Cultures.

Tucked away in the middle of New Mexico you’ll find Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. The three sites offer a glimpse into a unique time in history. A time entrenched with cultural borrowing, conflict, and struggles. The now abandoned sites stand as reminders of the Spanish and Pueblo People’s early encounters.

Directions

Reach the Mountainair Headquarters by taking I-25 south from Albuquerque to Belen, then NM 47 diagonally to US 60, then east 21 miles to Mountainair. To travel the historic highway route (Turquoise Highway) from the north, take I-40 east from Albuquerque to NM 337, drive south 47 miles (76K) to junction with NM State Highway 55. Proceed right (west) on Hwy 55 about 16 miles (26 K). Turn right on Highway 60 and proceed one block to HQ. Information on the ruins & surrounding area is available here.

Visitor Centers

Salinas Main Visitor Center Headquarters

The Main Visitor Center in Mountainair is open daily 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. A 14-minute Park Movie is shown, on demand, at the headquarters. The visitor center includes a museum, restrooms, and gift store. All park sites closed Thanksgiving, Dec. 25th, and Jan 1st. Abo Ruins Visitor Center

There is a visitor contact station, a short trail through the 17th Century Mission of San Gregoiro de Abó, and another short trail around the the Spanish Resettlement Structures. The site also included restrooms and a bookstore. Quarai Ruins Visitor Center

The Quarai Ruins Visitor Center includes a museum, restrooms, and a bookstore. A small parking lot makes mid to large RV turnaround difficult. Please park on hill above parking lot. Gran Quivira Ruins Visitor Center

The Gran Quivira Ruins Visitor Center includes restrooms, museum, bookstore. There is ample parking and a large parking lot allows for easy RV turnaround.

Weather

Salinas Pueblo Missions is at 6100-6500 ft (1860-1980 m) in an arid climate. Average annual rainfall is about 15 inches. Winters can be cold & snowy. Summer highs are above 90F/32C with cool evenings. June-September often has thunderstorms. Flash flooding may occur in the area. Abo Ruins is especially prone to road closures as a result. Spring highs average 75F/24C & Fall a little cooler. High winds often occur. Trails may be closed during these times. Check local weather prior to visiting.

Permits and Reservations Information