Page 20 - 2019 Las Vegas & San Miguel Co. Visitors Guide

SAN MIGUEL COUNTY
PECOS CABINS
PECOS RIVER CABINS HUMMINGBIRD CABIN
DIAMOND E STABLES •
20 | Las Vegas & San Miguel Co. Visitors Guide 2019
PeCos Gateway to the great outdoors.
The world passes by at high speeds, most not even realizing the treasure hiding not far off I-25. The waters of the Pecos River exit the wildnerness and pass through the village bearing the same name as the cold waters of that fast-flowing river. It’s well worth the detour. Descendants of old Spanish land grant families co-exist happily with artists, monks from the nearby Pecos Benedictine Monastery, rangers and represenatives from the Pecos Ranger District and the Pecos National Historic Park, merchants and restraunteurs, and, of course, the thousands of visitors to a place of grand beauty.
Pecos provides an entry point to the wilderness. Hikers, fishermen, trail rid- ers, campers, piñon gatherers, and picnickers alike are welcome in the village. Here they can stock up before “heading up the mountain,” and stop for food and facilities on the trip back from mountain to civilization. The Pecos Ranger Station right in the village is a must stop for those planning to head into the Santa Fe National Forest and Pecos Wilderness Area. Here visitors can obtain the maps and information to ensure their adventure is both memorable and safe.
Not only does Pecos offer a haven for lovers of nature but also for history buffs. The Battle of Glorieta Pass (aka the Gettysberg of the West) happened just miles from Pecos. Within a few minutes drive from the village, the Pecos National Historic Park offers an opportunity to step back into the distant past and walk with quiet reverence through the preserved ruins of the Pecos Pueb- lo, a once thriving pre-Columbian commerce center, a gateway between the East and the West.
Pecos is a gateway allowing travel from the Great Plains to Santa Fe through the southern Rocky Mountains. The trail was used by Indian tribes, Spanish settlers, traders on the Santa Fe Trail, Civil War soldiers and cruisers on Route 66. Today’s travelers take I-25 on their journey between Santa Fe and Las Ve- gas, New Mexico. Pecos-Glorietta Pass exit 299 and the Rowe exit 307 are both a scenic six mile drive to the center of Pecos.
Photo courtesy Miguel Serna
Photo courtesy Miguel Serna