Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument - Quarai site
SE of Albuquerque
Photo by Travel Pod
Paint ruins of mission churches from the period of early contact between Pueblo Indians and Spanish Colonials at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument near Mountainair.
For this paintout, we will meet at the Quarai site.
Quarai has the mission, visitor center, interpretive trail, museum, cottonwood-lined picnic area and small stream, bird watching and wildflower identification. The surrounding area is Juniper/pinyon country with a view of the Manzano Mountains. There are shady areas in which to set up and bathrooms are available.
For more information and park map, visit the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument website.
Meet 9 a.m., Saturday August 27 in the visitor center parking lot. There is no entrance fee.
DIRECTIONS:
From Albuquerque: Take I-40 east to Tijeras and take SR 337 south. Turn onto SR 55 south. In the village of Punta de Agua, watch for a brown and white national monument sign where you will turn right. The road (CR AO76) leads through a residential area to the Quarai mission. The mission is 8 miles north of Mountainair.
NOTES:
Climate and recommended clothing: At 6,640 feet, the Quarai mission has mild, dry summers, occasional snow in winter and high winds in spring. Walking shoes and sportswear in summer, light outerwear in winter are recommended. August daytime temps are in the 80s.
Set up along trails or in picnic area only.
Monzano Art Council will sponsor the Sunflower Art Festival this weekend in nearby Mountainair.
Places to eat in Mountainair include Jerry’s Ancient City café (largest menu), Shaffer Hotel (historical décor) and Alpine Alley (open until 2 p.m.; has sandwiches and coffee).
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