Salinas Salt Missions

At the edge of the Tularosa Basin, the Salinas Salt Missions are an often criminally overlooked piece of New Mexico history and a gateway into some of the more remote wilderness areas of the region. 

Just an hour’s drive south of Albuquerque and rising from the high plains stands Quarai, the first of three salt missions along the Salt Trail that was once a robust trade network that connected the Plains tribes with the Pueblos of the Rio Grande Valley. The area was originally occupied by the Tiwa people until Spanish missionaries arrived in the area in 1626. Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Quarai was established with the significant aid of the local Tiwa population soon after. The now abandoned mission lies at the base of the 10,098’ Manzano Peak and boasts the largest and arguably the most impressive of the churches from the old missions. With locally quarried red sandstone, the church is nothing short of a marvel, rising over 40 ft above the forest floor. 

To the west of the old mission lies the Manzano Wilderness, the larger and wilder cousin of the Sandias. Few venture into this forgotten wilderness. Hundreds of miles of empty trails and maintained trailheads will greet any visitor. Many of the trailheads into the wilderness are still easily accessible in the winter. With the aid of snowshoes, a vast and largely untouched area awaits anyone willing to make the hike. 

Manzano Peak Trail is especially noteworthy and manageable with snowshoes. The 7.7-mile out-and-back trail begins at Kayser Trail No. 80 and connects with the range’s crest trail at the summit. Despite the relatively short distance, the elevation gain should not be underestimated, especially with time management during these shorter days.  

20 miles to the south of Quarai lies the expansive Abo Mission. The expansive mission once hosted a population of 1,400 that peaked in the mid-17th century. The wealth of the mission is evident in the two churches built on the site with locally sourced red sandstone. During its zenith, the mission was a center for pottery and agriculture. A small one-mile trail guides visitors through the ruins. 

For those willing to make the extra 20-minute drive farther south, the largest of the three missions, Gran Quivara, offers an experience far different than its two northern neighbors. The ruins feature San Andres Limestone rather than the red sandstone that sprawls through rolling high plains. Surrounding the mission are the vast golden plains of the Tularosa Basin stretching as far as the eye can see to the east and south, while the Manzanos rise nearly 4,000 ft to the north. 

To the East of Gran Quivara rises Gallinas Peak, a seldomly visited peak located in the Cibola National Forest. For anyone looking for a truly overlooked central New Mexico gem, Gallinas Peak offers a rare and unparalleled view of the basin. 

With its rich history, architectural marvels, and adjacent wilderness areas, the Salt Missions should be on the radar of anyone looking for a quick escape from Albuquerque.