LOST PUEBLOS:
TSANKAWI AND PECOS

Tsankawi Pueblo is the lesser known side of Bandelier National Monument. It is located just outside the town of White Rock. There is a short hike up series of tuff cliffs to an unexcavated Pueblo site. In the 1400's this site was home to the Tewa Pueblo people.

Pottery shards litter the top of the ruins. Carved rooms and paths criss cross the tuff mesa. It is a magical spot with beautiful views and a serene vibe.

Pecos National Historic Park

Pecos National Historic Park has a storied past. The site had been inhabited for hundreds of years before the Spanish invaded in the 1500's. Native people built pit homes along the banks of the river and farmed and hunted the nearby pinion covered hills. A Pueblo grew up along the river as native people built more permanent housing above ground.

Below is a reconstructed Kiva from Pueblo days. Most of the Pueblo is not reconstructed and hiking trails wind through the rock piles.

The Spanish came through the area in 1598 and set about converting the natives with mixed success. They forced them to build a large cathedral and took over the area around the Pueblo. In 1680, several pueblos united and succeeded in routing the Spanish from New Mexico. Twelve years later the Spanish returned and rebuilt the church. What you see today was reconstructed after the park was designated in the early 1900's.

Added bonus:
​ "Longmire" sighting!!

We toured the Pecos Wilderness Area and stopped in Las Vegas, NM where they were filming the FINAL season of the popular Netflix series.