New Mexico is a cultural treasure trove brimming with a fascinating mix of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and American history. And while most visitors head to the northern and northwestern parts of the state to experience its complex past, this byway explores the lesser-traveled central area. The Salt Missions Trail makes a great daytrip from Albuquerque and focuses on three distinct historical sites that make up the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. Heading east on I-40, the byway starts just outside metro Albuquerque in the town of Tijeras. Following NM 337 south, the byway cruises through Cibola National Forest and numerous tiny towns on its way to the first of the three ruins. The Quarai Mission was established by the Spaniards in 1626. It dates from the earliest period of European colonization in the area when settlers began spreading Christianity to the native people. If you only have time for one ruin, this is probably the most photogenic. Forty minutes south is the second mission ruin. Before Spanish contact in 1583, Gran Quivira was once a vast city. With a completely different look from Quarai, Gran Quivira is the largest of the Salinas Pueblo Missions. “Salinas” refers to salt, essential for trading during that time. Backtracking a bit, forty minutes northwest of Gran Quivira is the last of the three Salinas Pueblo Missions. Abó was also a thriving community when the Spanish arrived in 1581. In the 1670s, disease, drought, famine and Apache raids caused all three missions to be abandoned. And though settlers would come and go, the missions never regained their former glory.

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Keep in Mind

Through part of the national park system, there’s no fee to visit Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. However, each site has a visitor center with toilet facilities and drinking fountains.