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New Mexico is one of my favorite destinations. Whether it be in the winter for world-class snow skiing or the comfortable spring and fall seasons where you can find dozens of places to explore. The foods, blending of cultures, art, and beautiful scenery make New Mexico a special place to spend time.
I have spent a considerable time in the state and have traveled from corner to corner discovering places and meeting wonderful people. There is great diversity in the state's land, ranging from hot desert to snow-covered mountains each offering a different experience for the traveler and photographer.
Santa Fe has always been a special place. Great restaurants, historical areas, native art, and boutique hotels, and, is relatively small allowing you to explore most of the city in just a short time.
Without a doubt, the most beautiful blue skies I have ever seen have been in New Mexico! This is a photographer's dream, clear, dark blue skies that highlight just about everything you shoot. The contrast of spring skiing in the mountains near Taos and then having an evening dinner at the award-winning Pasquale's in warm Santa Fe is something everyone should experience.
Beautiful native Adobe architecture can be seen and experienced. Santa Fe is one of the oldest settlements in North America and it is full of history. Old Town Santa Fe has many great local restaurants, beautiful Spanish and native buildings, and more art studios and galleries per block than most places on Earth!
The small mission church at Chimayo just north of Santa Fe is a unique place to visit. Known as Santuario de Chimayo, this church is visited by pilgrims who come to pray and seek miracles. The tiny church is also known as the "Lourdes of America".
To the left of the altar you first enter through an adjacent prayer room. The room displays many ex-votos as well as photographs, discarded crutches, and other testimonials of those purportedly healed.
A very small room to the right of the prayer room is called el pocito (the little well) and contains a round pit, the source of "holy dirt" (tierra bendita) that is believed to have healing powers.
A photo of the inside of the small church. For some reason, you are not supposed to take photos. Well as you can see that didn't discourage me and my new wide-angle lens did just fine, with no ill effects to the church.
Not far from the church, you can find one of my favorite places to stay and eat, Rancho de Chimayo Hacienda & Restaurant. World-class and should not be missed!
Driving through NM always produces some great photo opportunities. This is one of many old mission churches that dot the NM landscape.
San Jose De Gracia Spanish Mission is located off the high road between Santa Fe and Taos, in Las Trampas.
Built between 1760 and 1776, it is one of the least altered examples of a Spanish Colonial Pueblo mission church, with adobe walls rising 34 feet in height. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970
Contrary to most people's idea of New Mexico are the numerous ski resorts located in the high mountains in the northern part of the state. They offer world-class skiing in a beautiful and less crowded setting. The mountains are magnificent as high as 14K feet high, rugged and great for skiing in the winter and early spring, and a wonder to trek during the summer.
Any time of the year you can either ski, trek, or drive to the midpoint of the mountain at Taos to an authentic Bavarian restaurant, another one of my favorites.
The Rio Grande Gorge is about 10 miles northwest of Taos. The gorge depth is 800 feet just south of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge where this photo was taken from.
The Rio Grande has two main sections for rafting near Taos ranging from Class II to Class V white water rapids. The gorge is also the site of many ancient petroglyphs. At the bottom of the gorge, the Rio Grande is flanked by hidden hot springs and many native ruins.
The city of Taos has changed drastically since I first visited it and frankly I just as soon avoid the tourist trap. With that said I would recommend visiting the beautiful outdoors wilderness around the ski valley. I have visited during each of the seasons and found that it is beautiful and rugged during each. Skiing in the winter is world-class, hiking, camping, biking or just driving during the other seasons is well worth it in this pristine part of Northern NM.
Marques' Boots!
Stopping at a restaurant on my way to Taos Ski Valley, I saw a man enter and take a seat next to my table. He was dressed for Sunday church and was picking up some food. I couldn't help but notice his boots and asked him if I could take a picture of him and his boots. He smiled and was very gracious while he posed for my camera.
New Mexico is known for its long history of unique cultures and traditions. Native Americans have dwelled here for millennia, and Hispanics and Mexicans for centuries. In all my visits I have witnessed the kindness and sharing of cultures. A national study done by kindness.org and Verizon ranks New Mexico as the No. 2 kindest state in the country. I am not sure what the criteria were but I can attest, based on my time here that the people here are warm and friendly.
The site had been closed to visitors for several years and reopened as of Feb. 2025 Check before you plan to visit, there are now new rules for visiting. You now must make reservations and pay several fees, one to the BLM and one to the Cochiti tribe. Good Luck!
Between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, west of I-25, I came across this wonderful place full of incredible rock formations called hoodoos and naturally made canyons. On my first visit here, I stumbled across it late in the afternoon when the sun was at its best and spent a few hours marveling at the beauty of this spot.
With no one else in sight, I had this wonder all to myself. You can imagine the thrill I had, alone in the natural beauty of the canyon, watching the sun set and watching the constant changing of the shadows and colors of the rocks. If ever in New Mexico, the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks is a must-see!
The only way in takes you through the Cochiti Pueblo reservation. The village is part of the Indian reservation, note, that there are no photos allowed in the village, including the old cemetery. It is enforced by the reservation's police.
Just east of the main hoodoos is a small path that leads to a short but beautiful slot canyon. Hiking the slot canyon will eventually take you to the top of the mountain where you can see for miles and view the hundreds of hoodoos that dot the area.
The colors of the hoodoos vary depending on what time of day you visit. Early morning and late afternoon, they have a hint of pink and orange, and during the day, they appear white.
The unique tepee shape of many of the wind-worn rocks gives the area its English name, "Tent Rocks".
The short slot canyon is a great place to start your exploration of the area, don't miss it! From the unpaved parking lot, walk the trail to the far right and you will find the entrance.
The site has been closed to the public since 2020. The initial closure was an attempt to reduce COVID-19 exposure to the community of Pueblo de Cochiti. It remains closed while the BLM works with the Pueblo de Cochiti to develop a reopening plan to address long-standing issues, including over-visitation, staffing needs, and the ability to provide resource protection. BLM hopes the Monument will reopen in a way that reduces impacts on the land and resources, as well as on the Cochiti people,
Between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, driving on the Turquoise Trail you will find numerous things to see and do. Hiking through the desert, discovering small local restaurants, seeing local art, and even finding a lost ghost town is very doable, all within an hour of those cities.
Madrid, a quirky artist community is a fun place to stop, see great art, and purchase handmade art and jewelry items. The turquoise used in the jewelry is still mined nearby. If you are lucky and meet the right person you may be able to visit some of the family-run mines.
Driving along the highway you can't miss the beauty of this desert area. Park your car and enjoy a hike along the many dry creek beds located in the area.
Early one morning, driving south from Santa Fe, I made a wrong turn off of I-25. Not knowing where I had turned, I eventually drove through several large ranches until I found myself on Hwy 14. Not knowing where I was or which way to go, I turned left, and within a few yards I came across this super restaurant. The San Marcos Café, located just north of Los Cerrillos, serves just breakfast and lunch, but oh, what a great place to visit. I had some of the best homemade breakfasts I've ever had and got the best suggestions for the rest of my day. What a great find!
I visit this place whenever I drive down the Turquoise Highway. Just recently, I learned that one of my friends that I grew up with in NY many years ago now lives just minutes from here!
Just a few miles on the Turquoise Hwy 14, before reaching Madrid, there is a turnoff that takes you to the ghost town of Los Cerrillos.
Today, only a few of the buildings from Cerrillos' boom remain. Some of the buildings still show evidence of past movies filmed ("Young Guns" and "Outrageous Fortune") on Main Street. The church still stands at the end of Main Street and the local people still attend mass on Sunday. On my most recent visit, there were still two cafes/bars open. The Black Bird Saloon seems to cater to tourists and didn't have a good vibe, but Mary's Bar, just a block away, is the most authentic and friendly, when you can find it open!
There is art everywhere. As I was driving I spotted these metal origami horse sculptures "running" through the grass just a few miles from Los Cerrillos off Highway 14, the Turquoise Trail. I took this photo several years ago and was surprised. I went back not long ago and although they are still gathered just off the highway, they were not in the field running wild.
HWY 14, runs from Santa Fe to Albuquerque and is worth the trip. Stop in Madrid and enjoy a great lunch at one of the restaurants.
Bandelier National Monument is located in northern New Mexico near Los Alamos. The monument preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Puebloans. Most of the Pueblo structures date to two eras, dating between 1150 and 1600 AD. These settlements were abandoned nearly 400 years before the Spanish began settling in New Mexico.
Since COVID, you must now park away from the entrance and welcome center. A free shuttle will now take you along Highway 4 a few miles to the welcome center.
The ancient ruins are easily accessible as are the numerous "apartment" caves that are spread along the site. Climbing on the handmade wooden ladders into one of the ancient homes hollowed into the cliffs was a real thrill. Peering out from inside one of the dwellings I imagined a family spending time here raising their children, hunting the many deer, farming the land, and playing in the nearby stream.
The Tsankawi section of Bandelier National Monument is located on State Highway 4, twelve miles from the main section of the park. Unfortunately, Tsankawi is not the easiest place to find.
At Tsankawi you take a 1.5-mile walk along a mesa, viewing cavates, petroglyphs, and the Ancestral Pueblo village of Tsankawi. Tsankawi is the ancestral home of the modern pueblo of San Ildefonso.
Using the soft volcanic rock to construct houses and the flat open lands between mesas for farming, the Ancestral Pueblo people called this place home in the 1400s and 1500s. When I spotted this cave home my first thought was the "Flintstones".
Tsankawi has gorgeous views looking in all directions. This photo is looking towards the Jemez Mountains and Los Alamos.
The Pecos and other native settlements had existed since at least the 8th century. The Pecos Pueblo, built by the Pecos tribe, is thought to have been established in about 1100 A.D. Built centuries before the Spanish arrived, the multi-story pueblo became a regional power and trade center among the area Indian tribes by 1450 A.D.
In 1598, Don Juan de Onate, along with settlers, livestock, and 10 Franciscans, arrived in the area and built the Spanish mission church at the existing Pecos Pueblo in 1619. The area tribe rejected the missionaries during the Pueblo Revolt in 1680, but the Spanish returned in 1692.
Ruins of the Mission Church built over the Native Pecos Tribe village in 1619.
There are numerous sites of Spanish missions built over existing native settlements in this area. In some sites, you can see the original native settlements and get a good feel of how these ancient people lived centuries ago. In many other settlements, you can see remnants of the native culture that had been destroyed by the Spanish and built over. In both Pecos and Jemez, you can see the ruins of both the decaying Spanish missions and mixed in several kivas left by the original native tribe.
A kiva is a space used by Puebloans for rites and political meetings, many of them associated with the kachina belief system. Among the modern Hopi and most other Pueblo peoples, "kiva" means a large room that is circular and underground, and used for spiritual ceremonies.
Mission ruins at Pecos with Kiva entrance in the foreground. I left my flashlight in my car and thought better of it to descend into this dark Kiva!
In 1838, the few native Pecos Pueblo residents remained at the decaying Pecos Pueblo and the empty mission church moved to this Jemez Pueblo some 80 miles to the west.
Today the Pueblo of Jemez is a sovereign nation with an independent government and tribal court system. The town is known as Walatowa meaning “This is the place”. The people of Walatowa pride themselves on the preservation of their native language where over 90% of the nearly 2000 people speak Towa, a Tanoan language.
With just a few short strokes in my post-production software, I changed the entire look and feel of this photo. May make this one into a card? If I had waited a few hours and the fantastic sunsets I have seen in New Mexico I may have found this exact image without having to use the computer.
Early one morning I decided to explore the Jemez Mountains about 10 miles southwest of Los Alamos on HWY 4. I stopped to photograph the clouds and mist formations within the valley below. When I first saw the landscape I thought there was a lake under the mist. I later learned and saw that indeed it was a unique area, one that I have returned to several times.
Valles Caldera is a 14-mile-wide volcanic caldera in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico. Hot springs, streams, fumaroles, natural gas seeps, and volcanic domes dot the caldera floor landscape, creating the warm mist that blankets the bottom of the valley.
Exploring further down the mountain into the valley, I waited and watched as the mist began to lift and eventually disappear. All morning I had heard numerous elk bulls and cows calling through the dense fog and mist. Knowing that there must be a large elk herd close by, I eventually made my way into the lower valley. After some time I spotted in the distance a lone bull. I tracked it for about an hour, knowing the directions he was heading. I was sure that he wanted to head up the hill to where I had heard and still heard so many elk calls.
As I made my way back to where I had left my vehicle I opened my trunk and changed my camera lenses. When I looked up I was to see to my surprise this bull staring right at me. He stared at me for a while and then began to move away. I guessed that he wanted to cross behind me to where I heard numerous cow calls. I backed off and this bull began to step sideways moving along the ridge and eventually crossing the dirt road where I was parked. He eventually reached the other side of the hill on his way to his date with a cow.
He was not pleased that I stood between him and his harem. As you can see, he looked me over and made several grunts before moving a bit to my right and eventually moving up into the forest.
Valles Caldera is one of New Mexico's premier elk locations. Between 2,500 and 3,000 elk occupy the area for breeding, calving, and foraging. Years ago, I stumbled across this area by accident while exploring the Jemez Mountains about 40 minutes Northwest of Bandelier along Highway 4.
During one of my visits, I was able to obtain a backcountry pass from the National Park Service. The pass allowed me to explore the hidden part of the wildlife refuge and drive throughout the valley. Soon after I had crossed into the backcountry I spotted this coyote. It had crossed just in front of me and stopped to look back. I was quick enough this time to capture this photo.
One of thousands of prairie dogs I spotted along the way.
I have visited this area several times and besides seeing herds of elk I have run across numerous other wildlife. This has become one of my favorite places to spend time with lots to see. The National Parks Service only grants 30 backcountry passes a day so get there early!
On subsequent visits to the area I knew to arrive early when I would experience the sun rise causing the misty cloud in the valley to slowly dissipate.
On this day I actually arrived long before the sun. In the darkness of the early morning I could still hear the elk and while leaning against my vehicle, looking up I could see a sky full of stars!
Visit in late September and you are guaranteed to witness the elk rut. Waiting for the sun to rise you can hear the bulls bugle throughout the valley. As the sun rises you will see numerous elk in the misty valley making their way up the hill into the forest for the day.
Early morning glimpse of a bull elk through the caldera's mist.
Play this short video and you will hear the elk bugling early one morning during the rut. It was an experience that I will never forget.
Click on the red area of the photo and listen closely.
Pay attention to the 9, 24, 30, 43, and 49-second marks.
Not far from the valley heading south toward Canon, you can turn off and head west on one of New Mexico’s most photogenic and interesting stretches of road. The Gilman Tunnels and canyon have been the filming locations of several Hollywood hits. Between the beauty of the Red Rock Box Canyon and the visual history the tunnels represent, it’s an iconic setting and one well worth exploring. You can also connect to the road from the valley's north and return to Highway 4 if you choose. Either way, it is worth the time. I contemplated my visit, but after experiencing the beauty and enjoying the quiet, undisturbed drive it has become one of my favorites.
White Sands National Park is located in the southern portion of New Mexico. I wasn't sure about making the 3-hour drive from Albuquerque, but once I arrived, I was glad that I did. I planned to experience the sunset on the first day and return for the sunrise the next morning.
White Sands National Park's primary feature is the field of white sand dunes composed of gypsum crystals. The gypsum dune field is the largest of its kind on Earth. The park protects 115 sq mi of the 275 sq mi dune field, about 41%, while the remaining 160 sq mi is located to the north within White Sands Missile Range. The depth of gypsum sand across the entire field is about 30 feet below the dune surface, while the tallest dunes are about 60 feet high. About 4.5 billion tons of gypsum sand fill the dune field, which formed about 7,000–10,000 years ago.
Sunset on the White Sands
Without question, New Mexico skies are the most brilliant and stunning to photograph. Driving one morning from Chimayo to Abiquiu, I could not believe my eyes. As I looked out my vehicle's windshield, I saw the beginning of one of the most stunning sunrises I had ever witnessed. I pulled the vehicle over and wandered through a field to take some photos as the sun rose while providing some of the most beautiful, if not a bit weird, sunrises I had ever seen. These photos do not do it justice, but enjoy this view!
It does not take long for the entire scene and sky to change. Within just a few minutes as the sun began to rise the colors changed dramatically!
Not long after sunrise, while driving north on Highway 84, I would come across some beautiful high-desert natural landscapes. This highway will take you past Georgia O'Keeffe's former ranch, named the Ghost Ranch. If you continue on the road, you will be treated to some wonderful sights and eventually cross the Colorado state line. If you like handmade carpets, one of the best places to stop and buy is just south of Chama, right on the New Mexico-Colorado border.
The Ghost Ranch is a wonderful place to experience many things. It offers much more than just the natural beauty of the area. You can find classes from yoga to watercolor painting and even metal sculpting. The Ghost Ranch has also been used for many film locations. Here are just a few of the movies that were filmed here. Watch the movies and find the Ghost Ranch!
Wyatt Earp (1994) ...
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) ...
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) ...
3:10 to Yuma (2007) ...
The Magnificent Seven (2016) ...
City Slickers (1991) ...
Red Dawn (1984) ...
Silverado (1985)
Outrageous Fortune (1987)
The Last Outlaw (1993 TV movie)
Earth 2 (1994 TV series)
All the Pretty Horses (2000)
The Missing (2003)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Georgia O'Keeffe (2009 TV movie)
Year One (2009)
Brothers (2009)
Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Lone Ranger (2013)
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
Next day's sunrise near the Ghost Ranch
Rustic " City Slickers" Cabin at the entrance to the Ghost Ranch
I was given a wonderful experience on my visit here. The ranch opens at 9 am to visitors but the wonderful folks there allowed me access as early as 6. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't the best for morning photos but I was able to explore several of the trails and get some nice photos. If you are looking for a great place to get away and find yourself give the Ghost Ranch a try. Thanks, Andie!
Head to the visitor's center and just sit in a chair in front. You will be treated to the antics of dozens of hummingbirds that although very territorial don't seem to mind humans.
This is a great story! In 1993, while visiting New Mexico on a ski trip to Taos, I decided to visit Santa Fe. One afternoon, I stopped at Jackalopes, then a wonderful store that sold authentic native and local art. It was known to have some of the most unique and sought-after handmade items at wonderful prices. While there, I saw a man carving a work of art on a gourd. The work was so intricate and beautiful that I stopped and watched as he continued his work. I began to speak to him and realized that he spoke little English. Through broken English and my broken Spanish, he introduced himself as Evaristo Medina, and he told me that he was from Peru. Since he was almost finished with this gourd, I asked him how long it would take him to complete it. He told me that he was just about finished, and then I asked him if I could purchase it. He smiled and nodded, and we agreed upon a price. I asked him if he would sign and date it for me, and he readily agreed. I returned about an hour later, and my gourd was complete and Evaristo had indeed dated and signed it on the gourd's bottom. I returned to my home a few days later and found a special place for this work of art and admired it frequently. I later researched Evaristo, and I learned that he was indeed from Cochas Chico Huancayo, a small village high in the Andes of Peru known for native gourd makers. He had been in Santa Fe to show his work at the time that I met him. Based on my research he and his family's gourd carving goes back generations and was famous throughout the world. I also learned that his work has been exhibited in museums around the globe, including the Smithsonian. As the years passed, I also learned that the Medina family was a legend in Peru, and they, too, had mastered and passed on the gourd carving through many generations. They had inherited this form of art from their ancestors, the knowledge was passed on from generation to generation.
Bertha Medina signed her gift to me of a hand-carved gourd. She like her father before her is world renowned for this native art form, and like her father, she is exhibited in museums globally.
Move forward 23 years to 2016. I was browsing in a small mall near the Santa Fe plaza when I came across small gourds carved as Christmas decorations. I admired the work and asked the woman working there if she knew who made these. She smiled and proudly stated that she did. I told her that I had purchased something a bit larger and similar many years before in Santa Fe from a man from Peru. I also shared with her that he had signed it for me. She seemed very interested but for some reason, I was unable to remember Evaristo's name as we spoke. She introduced herself as Bertha and shared with me that she was from Peru too. I asked her if she had access to the internet and she walked me over to a counter that has a computer. I accessed my website and found a photo of the gourd Evaristo had signed. Bertha had been looking over my shoulder as I had searched my site, and when the photo of the gourd came up, she let out a short gasp and began to cry. I turned to her and she whispered to me that the gourd on the computer had been made by her father. I asked if he was still alive, and she tearfully told me no. She looked at the photos that I had of her dad's work and then stood still when the photo of his signature came up. With tears of joy and excitement on seeing her father's work, Bertha handed me one of the small gourds and offered it to me as a gift. I was touched and asked her if I could purchase another one. I told her that I would be honored to accept the gift if she would consider signing it as her father had done 23 years before. She gladly agreed, carved her signature on them both, and with tears and a smile presented them to me.
Bertha has continued to carry on the ancient ways of her ancestors and it seems she is as prolific and famous as her father! What a find and what a great story! Now I have both Evaristo's and Bertha Medina's works of art in my home.
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