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17 Reasons To Include Ghost Ranch In Your New Mexico Vacation

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The stunning canyon and cliff country of New Mexico’s Ghost Ranch has ensnared some of the greatest artists of the 20th century for good reason. Ansel Adams captured the landscapes on his large-format cameras. The most famous female artist of the 20th century, Georgia O’Keeffe, made the ranch her home for the last decades of her life.

I could see why she found the space so inspiring and why filmmakers continue to gravitate toward locations in the area. While I was there a short time on a press trip, it was long enough to experience the power of the scenery and get a sense of adventure. I’d like to join those who return often to learn in workshops and rejuvenate at retreats. Here are 17 reasons to visit Ghost Ranch during your New Mexico vacation, inspired by my press trip experiences and subsequent research.

a. v. ley / Shutterstock

1. Follow Georgia O’Keeffe’s Footsteps

Georgia O’Keeffe painted the hills, bones, and stone walls relentlessly and over decades at Ghost Ranch. She said that she worked at her home in Abiquiú but Ghost Ranch was where she lived. Fleeing the pressures and distractions of New York City, Georgia first visited friends who lived in New Mexico and then returned often.

This broad and barely accessible land gave her the space to focus on drawing and painting. Inspiration sprang from long walks exploring the canyons, rock formations, and distant mountains. I found that the very things which drew O’Keeffe to the remote landscape remain for the rest of us to enjoy. The current owners work to preserve both her legacy and the country that captured Georgia’s heart.

2. Immerse Yourself In Local History

Ghost Ranch wasn’t always so tranquil. At one time in the early 1800s, it was feared as Rancho de los Brujos (Ranch of the Witches). People disappeared in the recesses of the stone formations that tower over the broad plains of the region. However, the frightening reputation was more by design than nature. Two bandit brothers, violent to their dusty boots, stole livestock and horses from nearby ranches then hid the animals in nearby Box Canyon until they could be sold. Anyone who came looking for their missing animals went missing themselves.

The subterfuge lasted until one brother was murdered in anger and his wife fled to the nearest village. She inspired a posse to find the survivor. Hanging Tree, which still stands over a small cabin in the center of the ranch, earned its name before the villagers returned home.

Carol Bishop Stanley eventually opened the acres to the public as a dude ranch and changed the name. Other families came and went until Georgia O’Keeffe landed there. By the time she passed, the dude ranch had become a retreat and adventure center. The energy of peace and contemplation still reigns over the rugged acres.

3. Enter The Georgia O’Keeffe Landscape

My introduction to Ghost Ranch was with a guide and motorbus ride to actual locations of O’Keeffe’s paintings. The enthusiastic guide expertly pointed out O’Keeffe’s favorite spots. It was thrilling to get off the bus and stand close to the same vistas framed in O’Keeffe’s masterpieces then get a glimpse of her home from a distance. There was ample time for questions as well.

Our guided walk took me through O’Keeffe’s backyard and past many of her painting locations. This activity is limited to eight guests, which makes it easy to learn about the history, plant life, geology, and culture of the area. I was glad to be wearing my walking shoes and to have filled up my water bottle before the trek. A fountain with filtered water is available inside the Visitor Center.

4. Spend A Wednesday With O’Keeffe

One of the highlights of this area is a chance to see O’Keeffe’s home in Abiquiú. There are Wednesday tours with pre-registration which start at the O’Keeffe Welcome Center near the Abiquiú Inn. While I couldn’t take pictures inside, it was still a thrill to walk through O’Keeffe’s Abiquiú house and have lunch before joining the O’Keeffe Landscape tour at Ghost Ranch. The tour returns to the Welcome Center, which has a great gift shop and screens a historical video.

5. Make The Most Of Art Intensives

Clay, glass, and other artistic workshops are offered as seasonal Art Escapes at the ranch. I spent a few hours one evening learning about painting and pastel with local artist Diane Arenberg and wished I was staying longer for her immersives. Most of her sessions run from a weekend to a week long. Other classes include Composition, Plein Air work, and critiques that culminate in a Masters’ Show. The classes are held in the ranch’s Art Center. For more information, check the Ranch schedule .

6. Pay Your Respects At The Pack Memorial

One morning, I took a short walk from my comfortable lodging along the mesa trail behind the Ghost House to a stone memorial dedicated to Arthur and Phoebe Pack. Arthur Pack owned the ranch in its early days and negotiated with Georgia O’Keeffe on the sale of his first house. He bequeathed the ranch to the Presbyterian Church in 1955.

GUILLAUME LECLERC / Shutterstock

7. Take To The Trails

There are nine trails that crisscross the ranch campus. I wandered the land before the day’s activities began. On my return trip, I’ll be certain to take the Kitchen Mesa Trail, a challenging five-mile loop with 600 feet of elevation. It rises to a lookout with views of the Piedra Lumbre basin and Mount Pedernal in the distance. Box Canyon Trail is an especially tempting four-mile round-trip trail that rises 500 feet while winding back and forth across the property’s central stream. The most popular trail to Chimney Rock is a challenging three-mile round trip walk that rises about 600 feet to the sculpted pinnacle.

8. Experience Retreats And Landscape Meditations

There are two labyrinths on the Ghost Ranch site. I found the main labyrinth near the central road along a path that begins at the Arts Center Building. The stone spiral is a tool for contemplation drawn from many traditions across the world. It was a lovely practice as the dawn’s light illuminated Orphan Mesa. There’s a second labyrinth at Casa del Sol. It weaves uniquely in and out of the Piedra Lumbre landscape. I also passed a ceremonial water wheel set along the trail between the Arts Center and the main labyrinth.

9. Enter A Karesansui Garden

As a fan of Japanese landscape design, I was thrilled to hear about this garden created of rock, gravel, and stone, which abstractly represent water and the elements. Typically, this type of garden is found near residences of Zen abbots. This Karensansui space is not allied with a residence but set independently near the main labyrinth at Ghost Ranch.

Monastery Of Christ In The Desert

10. Visit A Monastery

The Monastery of Christ in the Desert is an autonomous abbey following the Benedictine traditions. It’s a quiet space with a guesthouse for private retreats. Both men and women are welcome to join the monks at Mass in the Abbey Church. Religious and artistic articles are available in the gift shop. The monastery is 15 miles northwest of Ghost Ranch.

11. Explore A Mosque Near Abiquiú

For over 40 years, Dar al Islam, a non-profit Islamic organization, has been committed to cultivating understanding, compassion, and empathy among non-Muslims and Muslims alike. The campus, which is near Abiquiú, hosts retreats and meetings in buildings designed by the world-renowned architect Hassan Fathy. Visit Dar al Islam’s website to arrange a visit. I was thrilled to discover that the Dar al Islam property contains The Black Place and The White Place , two paintings by O’Keeffe.

12. Tour The Ruth Hall Paleontology Museum At Ghost Ranch

Perhaps the ancient monsters that frightened the first inhabitants of Ghost Ranch were dinosaurs. Georgia O’Keeffe created notable paintings from more recent bones she collected at the ranch, and just north of the property is one of the best-known digs in the Northern Hemisphere. I could imagine joining one of the dig workshops and discovering remnants of creatures over 200 million years old. One new species, a small archdinosaur, was named Effigia (O’Keeffe’s Ghost). Even if you can’t join a dig, it’s exciting to get close to the bones and equipment inside the ranch’s small museum.

13. Anthropology Comes To Life In The Ranch Museum

The Florence Hawley Ellis Museum of Anthropology , adjacent to the Ghost Ranch Visitor Center, is named for the woman who led a group of students to the world-class discovery of the largest collection of Gallina artifacts in the world. The museum displays other artifacts from Paleo Indian people who lived here 10,000 years ago in addition to current creations. It’s a small exhibit, but I was excited to learn about the ladies of the canyon via vintage pictures and artifacts from local pioneering women, including Ghost Ranch founder Carol Bishop Stanley.

14. Take A Trail Ride

Two ranch rides are inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe — the Landscape Trail Ride and the Sunset Trail Ride. Riding a gentle steed through the low brush was a quiet joy. We stopped for pictures with the cliffs behind us and rode past O’Keeffe’s low adobe home. Our guide filled us in on the area’s history and colorful stories as we loped along. I’d love to return for a private ride up into the foothills one day.

15. Enjoy Water Fun

When the lifeguard is on duty, ranch guests can escape the desert heat in the immense, unheated pool next to the dining hall. I was there for cool fall days, so the pool wasn’t open. If I were there during the summer months, it would be such fun to kayak or canoe Abiquiu Lake. Swimming lessons and hikes can be arranged as well.

Wikimedia Commons ( CC BY 2.0 )

16. Challenge Yourself On A Ropes Course

As I entered the Ghost Ranch Property, we passed a loose grid of tall posts slung with ropes. High- and low-rope and wall-climbing activities are available during the summer when staffing allows. It’s easy to imagine how fun teamwork and problem-solving adventure courses can be.

17. Indulge In Self-Care And Body Work

Ghost Ranch’s nationally certified and licensed massage therapists offer integrative bodywork, massage, and spa treatments daily. Appointments must be made at the Welcome Center in advance. The treatments would make a welcome conclusion to long hikes and adventures at Ghost Ranch.

From a pure country experience to an artful retreat, I can see returning again and again for a Ghost Ranch vacation.

Elaine of Trip Well Gal has been jumping into travel and living in the most unexpected places for decades -- from suburban Southern California to a cold-water cabin in SE Alaska. While others were planning retirement, she took every chance to explore, taste, meet, and share her discoveries. Ever curious about life and the world, Elaine founded Trip Well Gal nearly ten years ago as a commuting yoga teacher and used her public radio experience to produce the Indie-Excellence Award Winning audiobook, Drivetime Yoga and then Flytime Yoga .

As a freelancer, she focuses on finding the stories underneath issues and those who can tell them best. She’s written for Hidden Compass , Edible San Diego , San Diego Home and Garden , Luxury Living International Magazine , Trivago , Roam Right , Hipmunk and other online outlets. Enamored with the storytelling possibilities of video, she’s an obsessive photographer and filmmaker for her YouTube channel with over 50k views. The blog has evolved to focus on helping Boomers get out into the world and do it well with consciousness and care for the planet and our neighbors.

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Guide to New Mexico’s Renowned Ghost Ranch

New Mexico icon Georgia O’Keeffe was a close personal friend of Witter Bynner and spent many of her first days in Santa Fe at our estate as Witter’s guest. It was Witter who first took Georgia to explore what is now known as O’Keeffe country with a visit to Abiquiú and Ghost Ranch… places O’Keeffe would later make her home. Would you like to retrace some of Georgia’s first steps in New Mexico and etch into your memory an excursion of incredible beauty? Imagine lofty rock walls that make you feel small in comparison, and being surrounded by mesmerizing, vibrant earth tones. This is what you’ll experience at the renowned New Mexico Ghost Ranch, where you’ll step into the natural world. Use this guide to New Mexico’s renowned Ghost Ranch to prepare for a beautiful trip through time.

“All the earth colors of the painter’s palette are out there in the many miles of badlands. The light Naples yellow through the ochres – orange and red and purple earth – even the soft earth greens.” -Georgia O’Keefe

Your trip to the Ghost Ranch begins as soon as you leave the Inn and hit the road. In fact, you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous scenery for 60 miles as you drive from Santa Fe to Abiquiu . The rock formations in shades of burnt sienna, yellow ocher, oranges, and earthy hues are incredible. As creamy clouds drift across the desert sky, the changing landscape offers a surprise at every bend.

The History

New Mexico’s renowned Ghost Ranch has a history that is as colorful and remarkable as the dramatic red and yellow cliffs that characterize the landscape. Ancient history is revealed through discoveries of a significant number of dinosaur fossils, most notably that of the Theropod dinosaur, Coelophysis . Recent history begins with Roy Pfaffle, a man who won the ranch in a poker game. Roy’s wife, Carol Stanley, recorded the deed in her name and chose the name, Ghost Ranch. This ranch has a rich past, which includes cattle rustlers, a Dude ranch, and the brief residence of famed artist, Georgia O’Keeffe.

The Piedra Lumbre , a geologic formation that crops out in the Picuris Mountains, was considered “the best place in the world,” according to Arthur Pack. In fact, that was enough incentive for Georgia O’Keeffe to visit the area, fall in love with the geography and make it her part-time home. One particular geographical feature that captured her attention and often appeared in her paintings was Cerro Pedernal. She commented that Cerro Pedernal “is my private mountain” and that “God told me if I painted it enough, I could have it.” Fortunately, it’s still here for all to enjoy.

Eventually, Carol Stanley sold the ranch to Arthur Pack, who later sold it to its current owners, the Presbyterian Church. It’s no surprise that Ghost Ranch is classified as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service when considering the beauty of the area. This property is a must-see for all who visit Santa Fe.

Present Day

What can you expect as you visit Ghost Ranch today? The administration’s mission to foster well-being and spiritual health through historic and beautiful landscapes permeates the property. So, it’s a great place for contemplation and inspiration.

• Activities – There are many activities to entertain you for several days, so you’ll have to choose your favorites. Activities vary depending on the season but include: canoeing, kayaking, guided hikes, and archery. The more adventurous types will enjoy wall climbing. Perhaps the best way to see the terrain and be part of the environment is to simply go hiking in the area or go on a trail ride. The sunset ride is a highlight.
• Museums – If you enjoy learning about anthropology and paleontology, take the time to invest a few hours at the Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology, Florence Hawley Ellis Museum of Anthropology, and Ghost Ranch Library.
• Workshops – The Ghost Ranch offers dozens of workshops that span all ages and skill levels.
• Tours – The O’Keeffe Landscape Tour will take you to O’Keeffe’s painting locations where you can see in person the actual scenes that inspired her masterpieces. Other Ghost Ranch Tours include Paleontology, Archaeology, and Movie Sites.

Come Prepared

You will appreciate the gorgeous sunny skies that dominate most days at the Ranch. However, that also means protecting yourself from overexposure. Make sure you are prepared if you’re coming for the day and will be involved in outdoor activities.

Things to include for the day:

• Seasonal casual clothes; a jacket or sweater for cool evenings; sturdy and comfy hiking shoes
• Rain gear and perhaps an umbrella
• Protection from the sun: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
• A small day pack with snacks if you plan to hike or do other outdoor activities; a water bottle is a must. Consider our deluxe picnic basket for two which is perfect when you’re day-tripping to explore our Land of Enchantment. We will fill your basket with selections of artisan and house prepared lunch foods, including sandwiches, salads, fruit, sparkling water, and house baked goodies.
• Bug repellent
• And please remember your camera or smartphone to capture memories.

A comprehensive look at the ranch may help you envision what you’d like to do while visiting. So, check out this panoramic view from an aerial perspective. Map of Ghost Ranch

We hope this guide to New Mexico’s renowned Ghost Ranch has whet your appetite for an exhilarating trip. After a day spent in the beautiful outdoors, you’ll relish returning to your guest room at Inn of the Turquoise Bear in Santa Fe, where you can relax and enjoy the many comforts and amenities . Sitting on the patio, sipping a glass of wine, and conversing about your day is a delightful finish to an inspiring day.

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Ghost Ranch

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From 1934 onwards, before she made her home in Abiquiú, Georgia O'Keeffe lived and worked for extended periods on a dude ranch amid the colorful bluffs 15 miles northwest. Now a retreat center run by the Presbyterian Church, Ghost Ranch welcomes visitors and overnight guests . Most visitors come here for the hiking trails, the most famous of which is the 3-mile round-trip climb to Chimney Rock. Pick up a trail guide at the welcome center.

This distinctive landmark is visible from the highway, but the steep hike up to reach it, which takes around 40 minutes each way, is truly superb. Stupendous views unfold the higher you climb, while Chimney Rock itself, an enormous pillar breaking off from the mesa-top, is breathtaking.

Other activities at Ghost Ranch include guided tours covering themes such as Georgia O’Keeffe or the various movies (such as City Slickers ) that have been filmed here, as well as horseback riding for riders of all levels ($95). Two small and unremarkable exhibits on local anthropology and paleontology are on display at the ranch museum. Review the website before visiting so you can maximize your time once you arrive.

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Ghost Ranch + Abiquiu Landscapes Day Tour from Santa Fe Immerse yourself in the vistas that inspired artists, filmmakers, and geologists alike

Friday, saturday, sunday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, additional info.

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What to Expect: Ghost Ranch + Abiquiu Landscapes Day Tour from Santa Fe

After picking you up at the Inn & Spa at Loretto in Santa Fe, you will enjoy a scenic drive through Northern New Mexico, past the historic Camel Rock, and through the foothills of the Jemez Mountains, home to several northern pueblos.

As we approach Abiquiu, you’ll recognize vistas that have inspired artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and recognized familiar places from movies like Oppenheimer, City Slickers, and more. Red-rusted earth covered in the pygmy woodland forest of piñon and juniper and the craggy outcroppings of multi-layered ancient sandstone will blaze past your window.

Our first stop is Ghost Ranch, a 21,000-acre retreat situated on the Colorado Plateau. Here you’ll be immersed in colorful ribbons of Entrada sandstone and the timeless Morrison, Chinle, and Todilto formations. Following our Ghost Ranch hike, we’ll head to Bosshard Gallery in the village of Abiquiu.

This gallery was once the home of the original Bode’s Mercantile. Today, the gallery offers a fine representation of Northern New Mexican history with an extensive collection of Indigenous textiles, jewelry, and ceramics.

Now, it’s lunchtime! We’ll dine at the Café Abiquiu & LaTerraza in Abiquiu and enjoy lunch at this historic gem infused with local flair.

Following lunch, we’ll explore Plaza Blanca. This majestic and protected landscape treasure is made up of awe-inspiring towering obelisks. Discover the dynamic geology that explores the relics of our volcanic pyroclastic flows and a time when New Mexico was once an ocean. It was made famous by Georgia O’Keeffe through her series of paintings called “The White Palace” which will inspire the inner artist in you when you visit this hidden gem.

How to Get Here, What's Included, What to Bring + Traveler Tips

Difficulty rating: 3.

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What's Included

•  Transportation.
•  Entry into Ghost Ranch.
•  Lunch enjoyed at Café Abiquiu.
•  Entry into Plaza Blanca.
•  Professional, First Aid/CPR and Leave No Trace certified, guide

What's Not Included

Gratuity for your inspired guide.

Traveler Tips

At high elevations and in a dry climate, proper hydration, warm breathable layers, and sun protection is a necessity. New Mexico weather can also change without much notice.

ENJOY LOCAL CUISINE BY:

Lunch enjoyed at Café Abiquiu & The Terrace in Abiquiu.

Café Abiquiu offers casual dining in a charming atmosphere adorned with the work of local artists. You'll find seasonal and specialty drinks, local beers, wines and traditional Northern New Mexico favorites. Dine in the vibrant atmosphere inside the café or enjoy your meal outdoors on the lovely terrace.   VIEW MENU »

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Ghost Ranch: Destination Guide

• Post author: The Outdoor Corps
• Post published: October 13, 2020
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Ghost Ranch is located in northern New Mexico and is primarily known for serving as inspiration to one of America’s greatest artists ( Georgia O’Keeffe ). Today, Ghost Ranch operates as an education and retreat center that offers affordable lodging, spiritual retreats, workshops, and tours. So, if you happen to be traveling to New Mexico (e.g., Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, etc.), we highly recommend considering a side trip to visit Ghost Ranch to see the surrounding area’s stunning red rock landscape. 

Indeed, northern New Mexico itself is rich in natural beauty, so a trip to Ghost Ranch can be considered an added bonus. Even if you don’t intend to stay overnight, this place is certainly worth a day trip to see the landscape and partake in a tour or workshop. Thus, this article provides everything you’ll need to know if you want to plan your own epic adventure to Ghost Ranch. 

DESTINATION GUIDE SERIES: GHOST RANCH

What is ghost ranch.

Ghost Ranch was purchased in the 1930s by Arthur Pack, who sold a portion of this land to American artist and legend Georgia O’Keeffe. The property was eventually donated to the Presbyterian Church, which now operates the ranch as an education center. In addition, the ranch offers reasonably priced lodging along with recreational workshops and educational activities. Today, travelers visit the ranch for its colorful desert beauty and to see the landscape that so inspired O’Keeffe.

Why Should You Visit Ghost Ranch?

If you are seeking peace and quiet outside of Albuquerque or Santa Fe, then Ghost Ranch is an excellent destination. Ghost Ranch offers an opportunity to explore the remote high desert of New Mexico in a rustic, comfortable, and educational way. Some choose to visit the ranch due to an interest in Georgia O’Keeffe and her artwork. Others are drawn to the area simply because of its unquestionable beauty with its stunning cliffs and colorful rock formations. In any case, Ghost Ranch provides visitors with a uniquely serene and memorable experience.

You can choose to stay at Ghost Ranch and explore the area on your own, or opt to participate in activities such as ranch tours or workshops. Further, tent camping, RV camping, or standard lodging options are available. Plan to stay a night or so and design your own adventure and experience this special place in your own way.

Where Is Ghost Ranch?

Ghost Ranch is located in the high desert of northern New Mexico and, more specifically, within the Chama Basin along the Colorado Plateau. The ranch is about 60 miles north of the town of Santa Fe and approximately 15 miles from the small town of Abiquiu. It’s an ideal place for a day trip or an extended visit if you plan to be near Santa Fe or Taos.

THINGs to Do

Ghost Ranch offers a number of tours that cater to a variety of interests. For instance, you can take an educational tour focused on the area’s archeology or paleontology, go on a guided horseback ride, learn more about Georgia O’Keeffe’s time on the ranch, and even learn about the various movies filmed on location.

If you seek to spend more than a few days at Ghost Ranch, consider  reserving a spot in one of their workshops . Although the multi-day workshops can be pricey, the costs include workshop tuition, lodging, and meals. All considered, it’s a reasonable deal. Workshops vary throughout the year, but are generally focused on art, southwestern traditions, science (e.g., geology/paleontology), etc.

A visit to Ghost Ranch is not complete without hiking one of the many trails in the area. Whether you want to catch a sunrise/sunset with panoramic views of the desert landscape or hike through dinosaur fossil quarries, there are hikes for everyone. Remember, northern New Mexico is still a remote location. Don’t forget to bring along the  Ten Essentials  on any hike. Below are some of our favorite hikes near the ranch:

Chimney Rock

The Chimney Rock hike is one of our favorites to watch a sunset. The hike is a moderate three miles round trip that begins near the Ghost Ranch Visitor Center. As its name suggests, Chimney Rock is a large sandstone tower jutting out of the sandstone cliff and provides an amazing panoramic vista of the Piedra Lumbre basin. This hike is one of the most popular hikes on the property — for good reason.

Kitchen Mesa

The Kitchen Mesa hike is approximately five miles out-and-back and is considered difficult by Ghost Ranch’s standards. The trail takes you to the top of Kitchen Mesa, which offers exquisite views of Georgia O’Keeffe country. A particularly cool aspect of this hike is that you pass under a dinosaur fossil quarry along the way. If you’re interested, check out some of the fossil findings in the Ghost Ranch museum after your hike.

Area Attractions

The surrounding area near Ghost Ranch has a lot to offer, particularly if you are fond of the desert landscape. So, if you decide to go exploring, below are a few nearby places worthy of a visit:

Plaza Blanca

Also a subject of Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings, Plaza Blanca is a stunningly unique area with tall white limestone rock formations. Although located on private land, it is accessible to the public and often sees few visitors

Echo Amphitheater

The Echo Amphitheater is just a short drive up the road from Ghost Ranch (only a few minutes). Located in the Carson National Forest, the Echo Amphitheater is a popular destination for those seeking to test its amazing natural echoing properties.

Places to Eat

If you don’t feel like eating at the Ghost Ranch meal hall, there are a few worthy options to consider in the vicinity. Remember, Abiquiu is not a big town, so you’re not going to find a tremendous amount of options. Below are a couple of places we enjoy when visiting the area:

Café Abiquiu

Located within the  Abiquiu Inn , which happens to be an excellent lodging option itself, Café Abiquiu offers a great change of pace to the cuisine available at Ghost Ranch. Café Abiquiu has a great dinner menu and is probably the best restaurant nearby the ranch, plus they have a neat gift shop.

Bode’s General Merchandise

Bode’s General Merchandise is a cool general store that traces its origin back to 1890. They offer a solid lunch and late day menu for a quick bite to eat. It’s also a great spot to pick up any provisions, gifts, etc.

Planning Tips

Best time to visit.

• The Outdoor Corps Recommendation: May-September
• Ghost Ranch is located at an altitude of approximately 6,500ft. Thus, the temperature will naturally be a bit cooler than in lower-elevation areas. In the summer, expect temperature averages in the mid-to-high 80s and average lows in the 50s, making for a comfortable visit. We prefer to visit in late spring through summer, though you will have a great time no matter what season you visit.

Getting There

• Traveling from outside of the southwestern United States? Then the easiest way to get to Ghost Ranch is via a flight into Albuquerque International Sunport and then renting a vehicle.
• If you plan to fly from Denver, Phoenix, or Dallas/Fort Worth, you may be able to find a reasonably priced flight into Santa Fe Regional Airport. This is ideal because a flight into Santa Fe’s airport cuts the drive to Ghost Ranch in half.
• From  Albuquerque, NM  expect about a  2-hour  drive via I-25 N to Santa Fe, NM and via US 285 N/US 84 W through the small town of Abiquiu, NM. Don’t miss Santa Fe along the way.
• If you are up for a road trip adventure, consider driving from  Denver, CO . Expect about a  6-hour  drive, with the majority via I-25 S. However, you have a few route options to choose from that can shorten or lengthen your trip.
• You can visit Ghost Ranch for the day or plan to stay overnight in one of a few lodging options that vary in price. Rooms are tastefully decorated in a southwestern theme, though they are more dorm-like and not particularly fancy. That said, the prices are reasonable and the ambience is incredible. Alternatively, if you’re looking for less expensive options, you can camp on the ranch grounds, either via RV or tent. Breakfast is included for overnight guests.
• Pets are not permitted in any of the lodging facilities on Ghost Ranch. However, if you intend to only visit Ghost Ranch for the day, pets can accompany you on hikes, etc.

Weather Forecast

• As previously mentioned, Ghost Ranch is in the high desert of northern New Mexico, so expect cooler temperatures. Summer monsoon season can bring a lot of rain and average high temperatures are in the upper 80s. Alternatively, late spring and early fall may have the most pleasant daytime temperatures, but it can get chilly in the evening. Temperatures can be rather cold in the winter time, with a chance of snow.

REcommended Books

Below is a curated listing of books regarding Ghost Ranch and its history. Included in this listing is our favorite travel guide as well as a number of books detailing the life and adventures of artist Georgia O’Keeffe, who is ingrained in the history of Ghost Ranch. Together, these books provide an excellent perspective on why this area is so special and are worthwhile reads prior to your visit.

In addition, since there are plenty of great hikes around the area, we’ve included a few naturalist books in the list. These are some of our favorite reference books about the area’s flora, fauna, and geology that will help provide a more interpretive trail experience. 

• Moon: Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque
• Land of Enchantment Wildflowers: A Guide to the Plants of New Mexico
• Birds of New Mexico Field Guide
• Roadside Geology of New Mexico
• Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Houses: Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu
• How Georgia Became O’Keeffe: Lessons on the Art of Living

Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links. We may receive a small commission if you buy a product or service through an affiliate link. This revenue helps us provide readers with helpful content to plan amazing adventures.

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Ghost Ranch and vicinity

We are a research and service division of:

Ghost Ranch is located approximately 38 miles northwest of the town of Española, New Mexico, just north of U.S. Highway 84.

Facilities at Ghost Ranch

Ghost Ranch is run by the Presbyterian Church as a conference center. It has facilities for lodging and camping, as well as paleontology and cultural museums.

Regional Geologic Setting

Ghost Ranch lies in the Chama Basin, a broad shallow basin along the eastern margin of the Colorado Plateau in the transition between the Plateau and the Rio Grande rift.

The Colorado Plateau, which occupies parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado, has been a relatively stable block in the Earth’s crust for at least 600 million years; consequently the rocks around Ghost Ranch are generally flat-lying and are only mildly deformed by broad-scale folding and localized faulting with stratigraphic offsets of less than 120 feet (36 m). The broadly downwarped Chama Basin formed during compressional Laramide deformation starting about 75 million years ago (Cather, 2004). North to northeast-trending normal faulting associated with the development of the Rio Grande rift, an extensional feature that roughly parallels the course of the Rio Grande between central Colorado and west Texas, affected the area starting about 26 million years ago. The area was mapped by Smith et al. (1961). The 7.5-minute Ghost Ranch quadrangle was mapped in 2006 by Koning, et al. as a STATEMAP project.

Geologic History

The Mesozoic rocks in the breathtaking red, white, and yellow 1300-foot escarpment surrounding Ghost Ranch contain a rich, but fragmentary, geologic record spanning approximately 130 million years of Earth's history. Portions of river systems, vast deserts, saline lakes, broad mudflats, and ocean shorelines are preserved at Ghost Ranch.

Triassic Rocks

The oldest rocks exposed at Ghost Ranch belong to the Late Triassic Chinle Group, a thick package of brick-red to red siltstone and mudstone and white to tan sandstone that consist of six distinct rocks units that can be traced around the Chama Basin (Lucas et al., 2005). These rocks were deposited by rivers between 205 and 228 million years ago, when the Ghost Ranch area was located about 10° north of the equator . The basal Shinarump Formation (formerly called Agua Sarca Sandstone) is a white to yellow to green, coarse-grained quartz sandstone that locally contains abundant well-rounded quartzite cobbles; this sandstone is overlain the maroon shales of the Salitral Formation. The Shinarump and Salitral Formations are exposed south of the main Ghost Ranch headquarters along the Rio Chama. On top of the Salitral Formation is a second conglomeratic sandstone – mudstone sequence composed of the Poleo Formation, a medium-bedded, yellowish-gray micaceous sandstone with conglomeratic lenses of siltstone and calcrete clasts, overlain by a thick red to reddish brown mudstone, the Painted Desert Member of the Petrified Forest Formation. In many places, a transitional, thinly-bedded sandstone unit, the Mesa Montosa Member of the Petrified Forest Formation, is present between the Poleo Formation and the Painted Desert Member. The Poleo Formation and Mesa Montosa Member sandstones can be seen along Highway 84 southeast and south of the Ghost Ranch Headquarters. Both of these sandstone-mudstone packages were deposited by large Mississippi River-scale river systems flowing from central Texas toward the northwest to Nevada .

The uppermost part of the late Triassic Chinle Group is exposed in the vicinity of the Ghost Ranch headquarters. Most of the facilities at Ghost Ranch are built on the mudstones of the Painted Desert Member of the Petrified Forest Formation. Several of the notable fossil quarries at Ghost Ranch, the Snyder Quarry, Orphan Mesa site, Hayden quarry and the Canjilon phytosaur quarry, are located in this unit at about the same stratigraphic level. The youngest Chinle Group unit, the Rock Point Formation of Lucas et al. (2005), is locally exposed in the escarpment north and east of the ranch just below the conspicuous red and yellow Entrada Sandstone cliffs. The uppermost unit is a thin-bedded red-brown to gray brown siltstone to sandstone. The world-renowned Whitaker quarry, which contains hundreds of skeletons of an early Triassic dinosaur, Coelophysis bauri , is located in this interval (Colbert, 1995).

Triassic Fossil Quarries

Whitaker quarry.

A remarkable accumulation of Coelophysis bauri skeletons was discovered by George Whitaker at Ghost Ranch in the summer of 1947 (Colbert, 1995). Blocks excavated from this quarry have been distributed to museums all over the world. Coelophysis bauri was a bipedal, carnivorous early dinosaur that was generally 6 to 8 feet long, although some adults were as long as 10 feet. The fossil record at the Whittaker quarry is exceptional in that the skeletons display a full spectrum of growth development, ranging from juveniles to fully grown adults, and both genders are represented. Coelophysis was apparently cannibalistic because tiny baby Coelophysis bones have been found in the rib cage of a large Coelophysis (Colbert, 1995). Cannibalism is common among reptiles. No one knows for sure why so many dinosaurs of one species died at once. Usually predators do not congregate unless there is a exceptional food source. Although a few fish and reptile fossils are mixed in with the Coelophysis skeletons, there is nothing to suggest a major food attraction. The skeletons are well-preserved (about 25% are articulated or complete) and show no signs of scavenging, so the animals were buried quickly after death. The leading hypothesis that is consistent with both the fossil and sediment record at the quarry is that the animals were killed by a flood, washed into a low spot or pond, and immediately buried (Colbert, 1995).

Snyder Quarry

A bone bed in the Late Triassic Painted Desert Member of the Petrified Forest Formation that contains a diverse group of land and water-based animals, aquatic invertebrates, and abundant charcoal was found by Mark Snyder in 1998 (Heckert and Zeigler, 2003). Phytosaurs, two genera of aetosaur, a rauisuchian , an amphibian, an Eucoelophysis , and thousands of fish scales have been recovered from the quarry (Zeigler, 2005; Zeigler et al., 2005). Phytosaurs, a common fossil found at Ghost Ranch, were crocodile-like, scale-covered, reptiles up to 20 feet long that lived in rivers and lakes. Phytosaurs had a long, narrow head with nostrils just in front of the eyes. Aetosaurs , another common Ghost Ranch fossil, were 10-foot-long, armored reptiles with a crocodile-like body and a pig-like snout that also liked to live near water. The bonebed is in a 1 foot thick conglomerate containing mudstone rip-up clasts. The bones and wood are aligned, but not abraded, so transport in flowing water was minimal (Zeigler, 2005; Zeigler et al., 2005). The skeletons are mostly disarticulated, but there are no signs of scavenging or weathering, so burial occurred shortly after death. The ten phytosaur skulls found at Snyder quarry range fro 1 foot to 3 feet in length, indicating that juvenile to adults were present in the assemblage; young adult were the most common. Zeigler (2005) has proposed that the animals were killed by a wildfire through a combination of asphyxiation and high temperature, that the decaying carcasses were not at the surface very long, and that the animals were buried during the rapid sedimentation that often occurs after a wildfire.

Hayden Quarry

The Hayden Quarry was found in June, 2002, near the entrance gate to Ghost Ranch at the same stratigraphic level as the Snyder quarry (Downs, 2005). Like the Snyder quarry, the bones are black, and carbonized wood is abundant. The most common skeletal fragments found so far belong to phytosaurs and aetosaurs. Bones from two dinosaurs, one small and one large, have been found (Heckert et al., 2000). The quarry is still under development (Downs, 2005).

Canjillon Quarry

Charles Camp from the University of California Museum of Paleontology excavated this quarry in 1928, 1930, and 1933. This quarry is at the same stratigraphic level in the Chinle Group as the Snyder and Hayden quarries. The degree of articulation of the skeletons is better at this quarry, but the diversity of the fauna is lower compared to the Snyder quarry (Martz and Zeigler, 2005). Like the Snyder quarry, phytosaurs are the most common fossil; the eleven skulls found here are mostly young adults, but juveniles and larger adults are also present (Zeigler et al., 2005). Aetosaur and and few metopsaur bones have been found. No charcoal has been found at this quarry, but silicified wood interpreted to be pyrofusinite, which forms by fire, is common (Zeigler et al., 2005).

Orphan Mesa sites

Several fossils have been found around Orphan Mesa, including a partial Euceolophysis baldwini dinosaur fossil (Sullivan and Lucas, 1999) and parts of phytosaurs (Sullivan et al., 1996).

Jurassic Rocks

A significant gap in the rock record (unconformity) spanning about 44 million years occurs between the late Triassic rocks and the Middle Jurassic rocks at Ghost Ranch. The oldest of the Middle Jurassic rocks, the Entrada Sandstone, forms the prominent red, yellow, and white cliffs just above Ghost Ranch. The Entrada Sandstone contains spectacular cross-beds that are several feet high, indicating an eolian (wind-blown sand) origin for this unit. The Entrada Sandstone deposits at Ghost Ranch are part of a vast dune field that covered much of northern New Mexico, southwestern Colorado, southeastern Utah, and northeastern Arizona (Korurek and Dott, 1983; Blakey, 1994; Peterson, 1994). Paleocurrent indicators show that the Entrada sands were transported by wind blowing toward the south to southwest (Tanner, 1965). The Entrada sandstone is estimated to be approximately 161 to 165 million years old.

The Todilto Formation, which consists of a basal limestone and shale unit (Luciano Mesa member) and, in places, 25 to 100 feet of gypsum (Tonque Arroyo member), was deposited on the Entrada Sandstone. Locally, a thin bed of limestone sits on the gypsum. The contact between the Entrada Sandstone and the Luciano Mesa limestone member of the Todilto Formation is relatively flat and quite sharp, which has led Ahmed Benan and Kocurek (2000) to speculate that that the Entrada dune field was flooded catastrophically, with very little reworking of the sand dunes. The Todilto Formation was most likely deposited in a salina (Lucas et al., 1985); in other words, in a moderately deep, oxygen-poor, body of saline water that was isolated from the main body of the Jurassic ocean by a barrier. First, limestone precipitated from the evaporating sea water. Anderson and Kirkland (1960) noted that the basal limestone was deposited in thin layers, with each layer consisting of limestone, clay, and dark organic material. Each layer, or varve, represents a one year cycle related to seasonal variations in runoff, water temperature, and abundance of lake organisms. Anderson and Kirkland (1960) carefully counted the varves and found that it took 14,000 years for the basal laminated limestone to accumulate. Two fossil fish have been found in the limestone of the Luciano Mesa Member adjacent to the Chimney Rock trail at Ghost Ranch (Hunt et al., 2005). Later, as the saline waters of the salina became more concentrated by evaporation, gypsum precipitated. The Todilto Formation, based on fossil evidence (Lucas et al.,1985) is approximately 159 million years old.

The Todilto Formation grades up into the Summerville Formation. The basal 25 to 40 feet of the Summerville Formation is tabular white to tan sandstone interbedded with green to red mudstone and shale. Limestone is interbedded with the basal Summerville Formation toward the west. Ripple marks and casts of gypsum crystals are common in the basal Summerville sandstone. The basal sandstone unit is overlain by a thick section of maroon mudstone and pinkish-tan, poorly cemented sandstone deposited on an arid coastal plain (Lucas et al., 1998). Pedogenic carbonate is common in the maroon mudstone, particularly near the top of the unit. The Bluff Sandstone, which is exposed near the top of the Summerville Formation, represents a return to eolian (wind-blown sand) deposition in this area. Cross-beds in the Bluff Sandstone record winds blowing toward the east, suggesting that the Ghost Ranch portion of the North American continent had drifted north into the zone of prevailing westerlies (Lucas and Anderson, 1998).

An unconformity between the Summerville Formation and the overlying Morrison Formation marks a time of a major plate tectonic reorganization of the southwestern United States and a shift from an arid to a more humid environment in this region (Lucas and Anderson, 1998). The Brushy Basin member of the Morrison Formation, the only member of the Morrison Formation present at Ghost Ranch, is made of pistachi-green to salmon-pink mudstone with a few interbedded tan and green sandstone beds. The Morrison Formation was deposited by rivers flowing toward northeast across a broad, fairly low-gradient muddy floodplain that dipped toward the north to northeast away from the developing Mogollon highlands in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. Dinosaurs roamed these floodplains. A few fragments of dinosaur bone, including one femur, have been found north of Ghost Ranch (Heckert et al., 2005). Radiometric dating of ash beds (40Ar/39 Ar on sanidine; Kowallis et al., 1998) in the Brushy Basin member in Utah and Colorado yields ages of 148 to 150 million years for this unit.

Cretaceous Rocks

The mesas around Ghost Ranch are capped by Cretaceous coastal plain, shoreline and marine units that were deposited along the western margin of the Western Interior Seaway ~93 to 125 million years ago. Approximately 25 million years of Earth's history is missing across the contact between the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation and the Early Cretaceous Burro Canon Formation.

The Burro Canyon Formation consists of cross-bedded medium to fine-grained sandstone, quartz and chert pebble conglomerate, and pale-green to pale-red mudstones (Ridgley, 1977; Ridgley 1987; Owen et al., 2005). The unit was deposited by braided streams flowing across a coastal plain towards the northeast to north, toward the Western Interior Seaway . This unit is about 100 to 125 million years old (Owen et al., 2005; Varney, 2005).

The Dakota Sandstone is composed of interbedded tan- to yellow brown-weathering sandstone and dark gray carbonaceous shale and siltstone. Ripple marks on tops of sandstone beds are common. The sandstones are locally cross-bedded, but, in general, the sandstones were intensely burrowed by marine organisms living in the shallow water along the shores of the Western Interior Seaway . Burrows are structures in sedimentary rocks formed by organisms digging or moving through sediment when the sand or mud was soft; organisms burrow through sediments seeking shelter, protection, or food. The Dakota Sandstone records the alternating rise (shale) and fall (sandstones) of sea level as the shoreline moved back and forth across the area~ 98 to 100 million years ago. Gradual, long-term rise in sea level deposited rocks of the Graneros Shale of the Mancos Group, a mud deposited on a shallow ocean floor about 98 million years ago.

Quaternary Sediments

The youngest units exposed around Ghost Ranch are Quaternary terrace and pediment gravels along the drainages, and extensive landslide and colluvial deposits along the escarpment. Many of the terrace gravels contain quartzite,granite, and metavolcanic rocks that likely was derived from the Tusas Mountains to the northeast of Ghost Ranch, either directly from the Proterozoic rocks in the Tusas Mountains, or from clasts recycled out of the Tertiary El Rito Formation on the west flank of the mountain range.

• Ahmed Benan, C.A. and Kocurek, G., 2000, Catastrophic flooding of an aeolian dune field: Jurassic Entrada and Todilto formations, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, USA: Sedimentology, v. 47, p. 1069-1080.
• Anderson, R.Y., and Kirkland, D.W., Origin, varves, and cycles of Jurassic Todilto Formation, New Mexico: Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, v. 44, p. 37-52.
• Blakey, R.C., 1994, Paleogeographic and tectonic controls on some Lower and Middle Jurassic erg deposits, Colorado Plateau. In: Caputo, M.V, Peterson, J.A., Franczyk, K.J. (Eds.), Mesozoic Systems of the Rocky Mountain Region, USA. Rocky Mt. Sect., SEPM (Soc. Sediment. Geol.). Denver, pp. 273-298.
• Cather, S.M., 2004, The Laramide orogeny in central and northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, in Mack, G.H., and Giles, K.A., eds., The Geology of New Mexico, A Geologic History: New Mexico Geological Society Special Publication 11, p. 203-248.
• Colbert, E.H., 1995, The little dinosaurs of Ghost Ranch: Columbia University Press, New York, 247 pp.
• Downs, A., 2005, The Hayden Quarry, a new Upper Triassic fossil locality at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 56, p.355-356.
• Heckert, A.B., Zeigler, K.E., Lucas, S.G., Rinehart, L.F., and Harris, J.D., 2000, Preliminary description of coelophysoids (Dinosaruia: Theropoda) form the Upper Triassic (Revueltian: early-mid Norian) Snyder quarry, north-central New Mexico: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin 17, p. 27-32.
• Heckert, A.B., and Zeigler, K.E., 2003, The Late Triassic Snyder quarry: a brief history of discovery and excavation, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin 24, p. 5-13.
• Heckert, A.B., Lucas, S.G., Downs, A., and Hunt, A.P., 2005, Fossils at Ghost Ranch: The Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology Collection: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 56, p. 40-41.
• Hunt, A.P. Lucas, S.G., and Downs, A., 2005, A new fossil fish locality in the Middle Jurassic Todilto Formation at Ghost Ranch, north-central, New Mexico: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 56, p. 45.
• Kocurek, G. and Dott Jr., R.H., 1983. Jurassic paleogeography and paleoclimate of the central and southern Rocky Mountains region. In: Reynolds, M.W., Dolly, E.D. (Eds.), Mesozoic Paleogeography of the West-Central United States. Rocky Mt. Paleogeogr. Symp., vol. 2. Rocky Mt. Sect. SEPM (Soc. Sediment. Geol.), pp. 101-1 16.
• Koning, Daniel J.; Kelley, Shari; Zeigler, Kate E.; Lucas, Spencer G., 2006, Geologic map of the Ghost Ranch quadrangle, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico , New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, OF-GM-127, Scale 1:24,000.
• Kowallis, B.J., Christiansen, E.H., Deino, A.L., Peterson, F., Turner, C.E., Kunk, M.J., and Obradovich, J.D., 1998, The age of the Morrison Formation: Modern Geology, v. 22, nos. 1-4, p. 235-260.
• Lucas, S.G., Kietzke, K.K., and Hunt, A.P., 1985, The Jurassic System in east-central New Mexico: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 36, p. 213-243.
• Lucas, S.G., and Anderson, O.J., 1998, Jurassic stratigraphy and correlation in New Mexico: New Mexico Geology, v. 20, p. 97-104.
• Lucas, S.G., Hunt, A.P., and Spielmann, J. , 2005, Jurassic stratigraphy in the Chama Basin, northern New Mexico: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 56, p 170-181.
• Lucas, S.G., Zeigler, K.E., Heckert, A.B., and Hunt, A.P., 2005, Review of Upper Triassic stratigraphy and biostratigraphy in the Chama Basin, northern New Mexico: N ew Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 56, p. 182-192.
• Martz , J.W., and Zeigler, K.E., 2005, Taphonomy and sedimentology of the Upper Triassic Canjilon Quarry (Painted Desert Member of Petrified Forest Formation, Chinle Group), Chama Basin, north-central New Mexico, and a comparison with the Snyder Quarry: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 56, p. 41-43.
• Owen, D.E., Forgas, A.M., Miller, S.A., Stelly, R.J., and, Owen, D.E., Jr., 2005, Surface and subsurface stratigraphy of the Burro Canyon formation, Dakota Sandstone, and intertongued Mancos Shale of the Chama Basin: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 56, p. 218-226.
• Ridgley, J.L., 1977, Stratigraphy and depositional environments of Jurassic to Cretaceous sedimentary rocks in the southwestern part of the Chama Basin, New Mexico: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 28, p. 153-158.
• Ridgley, J.L., 1987, Surface to subsurface cross sections showing correlation of the Dakota Sandstone, Burro Canyon (?), Formation, and upper part of the Morrison Formation in the Chama-El Vado area, Chama Basin, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Map MF1496-D, 2 sheets.
• Peterson, F., 1994. Sand dunes, sabkhas, streams, and shallow seas: Jurassic paleogeography in the southern part of the western interior basin. In: Caputo, M.V, Peterson. J.A., Franczyk, K.J. (Eds.), Mesozoic Systems of the Rocky Mountain Region, USA. Rocky Mt. Sect., SEPM (Soc. Sediment. Geol.), Denver, pp, 233-271.
• Smith, C.T., Budding, A.J., and Pitrat, C.W., 1961, Geology of the southeastern part of the Chama Basin: New Mexico Bureau of Mining and Mineral Resources Bulletin 75, 57 pp.
• Sullivan R.M., Lucas, S.G., Heckert, A.B., and Hunt, A.P., 1996, The type locality of Coelophysis , a Late Triassic dinosaur from north-central New Mexico (U.S.A.): Palaontologische Zeitschrift, v. 70, p. 245-255.
• Sullivan, R.M., and Lucas, S.G., 1999, Eocoelophysis balwini , a new theropod dinosaur from the Upper Triassic of New Mexico, and the status of the original types of Coelophysis: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, v. 19, p. 81-90.
• Tanner, W.F., 1965. Upper Jurassic Paleogeography of the Four Corners Region. Jour. Sed. Petrology, v. 35, p. 564-574
• Varney, P., 2005, Dakota outcrop geology and sequence stratigraphy, Chama Basin, New Mexico: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 56, p. 193-217.
• Zeigler, K.E., 2005, The Snyder Quarry: A fire-related Upper Triassic fossil assemblage in north-central New Mexico: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 56, p. 48-50.
• Zeigler, K.E., Heckert, A.B., and Lucas, S.G., 2005, Taphonomic analysis of a fire-related Upper Triassic vertebrate fossil assemblage from north-central New Mexico: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 56, p.341-354.

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OPEN with COVID protocols. Georgia O'Keeffe Loved Ghost Ranch-You Will Too! There is so much to discover here. You can spend days exploring two museums, hiking trails, horseback rides, paleontology tours (kids love dinosaurs!), the Georgia O'Keeffe Landscape tour, high and low ropes courses, archery, numerous classes/workshops and retreats year-round at this spectacular location.  There's no place on earth like Ghost Ranch...

Website: https://ghostranch.org

Address: HC77 Box 11, Abiquiu, NM 87510   MAP

OPEN with COVID protocols in place. Call for hours and more info.

Cafeteria is open for an hour at breakfast, 7.30 - 8.30am, lunch 12 - 1pm, and dinner 5.30 - 6.30pm

Here's a sample of some of the great new tours and activities at Ghost Ranch.(Remember to bring plenty of water and dress appropriately for your chosen activity.) Georgia O'Keeffe Landscape Tour: Ride our tour bus to the restricted area of Ghost Ranch and see through your own eyes the scenes and actual locations of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1:30pm & 3pm(1 hour) $25. Walk in Georgia O'Keeffe's Footsteps: 1.5 miles along a private road through what Georgia called her "red hills". Learn the history, geology, flora and fauna, and culture of the area. 1.5 mi. Friday 9-10.30am $35. We also offer: O'Keeffe Trail Tour by Horseback, Trail, Wrangler and Buckaroo Rides, Movies at Ghost Ranch, Ghost Ranch History Walk, and Paleontology & Archaeology Tours.

Please call us or check our website for more details, rates & times.

Read my blog post about Ghost Ranch Revisited.

Feel A Million Miles Away From It All When You Take In The Natural Beauty Of Ghost Ranch Near Abiquiu, New Mexico

Monica Spencer

Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at [email protected].

More by this Author

On a drive through northern New Mexico, it’s easy to tell why this state earned the nickname the “Land of Enchantment.” Red vistas of sandstone dotted with bushy juniper trees, puffy white clouds, and wide blue skies are an alluring sight for any visitor. There is a specific spot that has all of that and more: Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. One of the most unique ranches in New Mexico , this destination is brimming with natural beauty, history, and allure. As you continue reading more about this bucket-list-worthy spot, you’ll enjoy beautiful pictures of New Mexico as well as details that will help you plan your visit to the famous Ghost Ranch.

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Ghost Ranch is typically open year-round except on major holidays. For details about guided tours, special events, lodging, and more, visit the official Ghost Ranch website.

If you want to see how Georgia O’Keeffe was inspired by the beauty surrounding her at Ghost Ranch, you can explore her artwork in person or online through the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum . Curious to learn more about this famous artist and her work? Be sure to check out this book: Georgia O’Keeffe — Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists . 

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Ghost ranch in new mexico.

What are the most beautiful places in New Mexico?

Some of the most beautiful places in New Mexico include:

• Carlsbad Caverns
• Ghost Ranch
• Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
• White Sands National Park

Ghost Ranch in New Mexico is certainly picturesque, but it's just one of many spots in the Land of Enchantment that are full of natural beauty. A go-to spot is definitely the Rio Grande Gorge, one of the iconic natural features of New Mexico. It's stunning whether you're admiring it from the top or down in the gorge. For a more unique, lesser-known beauty, visit the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks. These quirky geological formations will almost make you feel like you're on another planet, and yet they are strangely stunning in their own way. Speaking of geological formations, you can even find beauty underground in this state. The Carlsbad Caverns are well-loved by the many visitors that enjoy the unique cave formations.

What are the best outdoor adventures in New Mexico?

A trip to White Sands National Monument is one of the best outdoor adventures in New Mexico.

A visit to the Ghost Ranch is certainly an outdoor adventure in New Mexico worth taking, and there's an entire list of many others you can enjoy, too. Take a trip to the White Sands National Monument for one of the state's most unique areas. The stark white gypsum sands are fun to hike through, take pictures at, and even sled down. The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Badlands near Nageezi, New Mexico is the perfect place to let out your inner explorer. The landscape is one-of-a-kind and you could spend all day hiking and poking around every nook and cranny of the colorful rocks there. For a more lush, green environment, try a visit to Sitting Bull Falls. This spot is nestled in the Guadalupe Mountains and the waterfall cascades into a natural pool you can swim in.

Which hidden gems in New Mexico should I visit?

Some of the best hidden gems in New Mexico include:

• Taos Ski Valley
• Williams Lake Trail
• Wheeler Park

Discover some of the best secluded places in New Mexico where you can enjoy lesser-known, yet worthwhile spots to visit. Visiting the Taos Ski Valley during summer may not be anyone's first thought, but places like the Williams Lake Trail make it worth it. The trail will guide you through the trees, through seemingly untouched valleys, and up Wheeler Peak - New Mexico's tallest mountain. Speaking of trials, Glenwood, New Mexico has a unique trail that more people should check out. The Catwalk Trail traverses through a scenic canyon over old water pipes. The trail also features a waterfall, bridges, and more.

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• Jul 16, 2021

Take a Self - Guided Driving Tour Through Abiquiu

Updated: Feb 18

There is so much to see and do in Abiquiú – don’t short yourself and schedule only a quick day trip. We recommend at least four days in Abiquiú to really experience the history, culture, geography and arts in the area...and many of our guests stay for a week or month. So many people flock to Abiquiú to visit Ghostranch and take the Georgia O’Keeffe Home and Studio Tour. We definitely recommend you do both. But, don’t miss the many other hidden treasures, including spectacular hiking, peaceful kayaking, river rafting, vespers at the Monastery, wandering through The White Place, picking lavender at the Lavender Farm, screaming at Echo Amphitheater, and exploring the small village of Abiquiú and its surrounding areas.

In our blog today, we will cover an afternoon driving tour of Abiquiú that you can do on your own. It's time to Discover Abiquiu.

HISTORY OF ABIQUIÚ

Abiquiú is a small village in northern New Mexico, about 55 miles north of Santa Fe. There is much history and culture in the village, including dinosaurs and cattle wrestlers; Native American Puebloans who claimed this land for generations; and Spanish colonists. And, of course, famous painter Georgia O'Keeffe.

The village of Abiquiú was founded in 1754, 22 years before the American colonies severed connections to Great Britain and issued the Declaration of Independence!

Abiquiú is thought to be the starting point of the Old Spanish Trail, the 1,200-mile trade route that opened up the west from northern New Mexico with Los Angeles, California. Later, Abiquiu also was a stagecoach stop for travelers.

Famous artist Georgia O’Keeffe also lived in the area from 1929 until 1984, and many of her famous paintings depict the colorful vistas and landscape in the area. Her home and studio in Abiquiu is open for tours and nearby Ghost Ranch offers tours of the locations where she painted.

Abiquiu is also a popular spot for movies and films, including Cowboys and Aliens, Rattlesnake, Silverado, City Slickers, Wyatt Earp, 3:10 to Yuma, Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Lone Ranger, Red Dawn, the TV series Earth 2, and many more. What show wasn't filmed here? Breaking Bad's episode titled, "Abiquiu". You can take a tour of filming locations at Ghost Ranch.

Read more about the history of Abiquiu in Lesley Poles-Kempes book, Valley of Shining Stone, The Story of Abiquiu. It's a wonderful book - covers the history, the people and the legends. Readers are given a solid history of the area, as well a good feel for what life was life.

ABIQUIÚ PRONUNCIATION

Abiquiu (pronounced A-bhi-kyoo, as in A as in Apple, Bi and in Big, and Quiu pronounced like the letter Q) gets its name from the Tewa Puebloan words “pay sha boo-oo”, meaning "timber-end town”, and “abechin”, meaning “the hoot of an owl”. ( listen )

DRIVING TOUR OF THE VILLAGE OF ABIQUIU

This tour is limited to the village and surrounding area. Future blogs will cover other attractions.

Poshuouinge Ruins – start your tour at the Ruins. Take Hwy 84 and drive south about 4.1 miles from the village to Poshuouinge (pronounced "poe-shoo-wingay), a large ancestral Tewa Puebloan ruin. You will see a pull off area on your right-hand side with a trail hike leading up to the top of the mesa where you can look out over the ruins. Poshuouinge was built around 1400 on a high mesa, some 150 feet above the Chama River. The site was abandoned around 1500. The ruins left behind give you an idea of life when it was occupied. It is thought that the Puebloan city had about 700 rooms on the ground floor, and many rooms were two or three stories high. There were two main plazas and a large kiva in the center courtyard. There are two springs located about 500 feet to the south of the ruins which are believed to have been the main water sources for the habitation.

Santa Rosa de Lima - Head back out to Hwy 84 and travel north, back towards Abiquiú, for about two miles. On your right-hand side, you will see the ruins of Santa Rosa de Lima, an early 18th-century Spanish settlement and the original village of Abiquiú. The first license for the Chapel at Santa Rosa was apparently issued by the Bishop of Durango and Visito General Don Martin de Elisacochea in 1737. The chapel’s patron saint was listed as Santa Rosa de Lima. Still standing are the substantial adobe ruins of the church and mounds where the settlers’ adobe houses once stood. By the 1730s, Spanish settlers were moving into the Chama River valley, and by 1744 at least 20 families were living in the village around Santa Rosa de Lima. The church, on the plaza, was built in 1744, and was in use until the 1930s. Repeated raids by the Utes and Comanche tribes forced residents to abandon the village and retreat up to the mesa where the current village of Abiquiu is located today. The Santa Rosa de Lima site is private property, belonging to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, but you are welcome to respectfully visit.

Bodes - Next, drive into Abiquiú and first stop at Bodes – our general store. It’s a fun store to visit because it is a true general store (and gas station) and has everything from cast iron skillets, to Monk’s Beer, to vegetables, fishing supplies and carry-out food. And, of course, you will find necessities here as well.

Village of Abiquiú - .Head across the street from Bodes, up the hill in front of the post office to the current village of Abiquiú. Please respect the privacy of this residential village.

The village of Abiquiú served as a one-time military outpost, an Indian agency, and a starting point of exploration, including the Santa Fe Trail to California. Today, many of the families that live in the village have lived here for generations.

As mentioned, the village of Abiquiú was formed when the residents of Santa Rosa de Lima retreated up to this mesa for safety against nomadic Indian attacks. The Spanish crown gave a land grant - The Abiquiu Genízaro Land Grant - to the residents. Genízaros , who are of Hispanic and Native American descent, were given the land grant in return for protecting the area against nomadic Indian attacks.

Most Genízaros were, or their ancestors had been, kidnapped slaves of Indian tribes sold to the Spaniards. The Genizaros were forced to give up their religion and were Christianized, taught to speak Spanish, and given citizenship by the Spanish Crown. Genizaros gained their freedom by serving as soldiers to defend frontier villages like Abiquiú from Indian raids. By the late 1700s, Genizaros comprised one-third of the population of New Mexico .

The Abiquiú Genízaro Land Grant was classified as a reducción i . Only those who were granted the land through the grant were allowed to reside on the land. The land grant documents also stated that a “doctrinal teacher” would be provided to the community and it specified the construction of a mission church - which became Santo Tomás de Apostle Catholic Church. For an interesting read about the resistance of the Genízaros, check out the book The Witches of Abiquiu, by Malcolm Ebright and Rick Hendricks . The book covers the witchcraft outbreak among the Genízaro Indians between 1756 and 1766. No executions took place. As you drive up the mesa, you will see an ancient adobe ruin in front of you. To your right, stop by Bosshards Gallery – a wonderful mercantile store/gallery that feels more like a museum. Bosshard travels the world and brings treasures back to the mercantile: antiques, paintings, sculptures of animals, tables and furniture, drums, tapestries, and other treasures from the far corners of the world. Past Bosshards you will find Santo Tomas the Apostle Catholic Church . The church was completed in 1773, although the first sacramental records are dated earlier, from 1754. Fray Félix Joseph Ordoñez y Machado became the first priest for Santo Tomás de Apostle Catholic Church. In October of 1867, the church burned down and was rebuilt. In the 1930’s the villagers decided a new church as needed and the church you see today was built in 1935. Santa Fe architect, John Gaw Meem, was hired to design the new church. Building the new church was a community effort, and community members donated money, time and effort. It is said that the viga timbers were floated down the Rio Chama and dragged up to the village. Adobe bricks were made by hand. Latillas were hand-peeled. But the new build wasn't without conflict and problems. Architect Meem positioned the door to the church facing east, which was the custom for most Christian churches was that one should turn eastward to pray. This was the church architecture John Gaw Meem followed. But the old Abiquiu church had always faced south and the Abiquiu residents insisted that the new church also face south. Architect Meem and the Archdiocese officials insisted that the church face the easterly direction, and work stopped. There are legends as to what happened next, but locals tore up the unfinished foundation and, after repairs were made, the doors faced south. John Gaw Meem gave up on the project and did not attend the opening ceremonies.

Across the street from the church, you will see Abiquiú’s wonderful Library - the El Pueblo de Abiquiu Library and Cultural Center . There is a nice mosaic on the sidewalk in front of the library. The history of books in the area dates back to the Spanish colonists who brought books with them from Spain. Georgia O'Keeffe was a book lover - she had more than 3,000 titles between her two homes at Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch.

Continue driving around the small circle of the village and you will pass Georgia O’Keeffe’s Home and Studio . You can only access this property with a tour, but you can see her home from the roadside, over the wall. Schedule a tour by visiting the O’Keeffe Welcome Center in the village, or purchase tour tickets online at www.okeeffemuseum.org . To read more about O’Keeffe’s homes in Abiquiu, here is a link to a wonderful book by Harry Abrams, Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Houses: Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu. What I love most about this book are the pictures - photographs of her homes, photograph of O'Keeffe in her homes, her paintings and the vistas she looked at every day.

Penitente Morado - past the wall in the village and up the hill in the back is the Penitente Morado. Penitente is a Spanish word meaning “one who does penance”, and morado is the Spanish word for “adobe”. The morado was built in the 1700’s with straw and mud. A large bell hangs at one end, three crosses stand in the dirt. The morado is a Penitente chapel and meeting house. Please respect this sacred place and do not take photographs.

RESTAURANTS

There are several restaurants in the area if you want to stop for lunch or dinner, including the Abiquiú Café, Sierra Negra, Bodes, Ghost Ranch, The Frosty Cow, Fire N Ice, and Mamacitas Pizza.

If you are looking for a place to stay, you will find several options in the area. To get away from the crowds and O’Keeffe busses, make a reservation outside of the village on Abiquiu Lake. The Grand Hacienda Inn is Abiquiu's most luxurious lodging choice and includes a gourmet breakfast and afternoon dessert. With the lake in front of you, red cliffs as a backdrop, and Cerro Pedernal standing guard behind you, there is no better place to stay. The owners also own a lakefront lot so you can enjoy the rocky beach area for fishing, swimming or kayaking. You will always save money by booking direct (using the links below), rather than booking through a third party such as AirBNB, VRBO, or Booking.com.

· The Grand Hacienda Bed and Breakfast

MEMENTO OF YOUR TRIP

Take home your copy of Discover Abiquiu from A to Z - available online or locally at The Grand Hacienda, Abiquiu Inn, Nest, Cafe Sierra Negra, and the Dome.

SUGGESTED READING LIST

To learn more, here are links to our favorite books about the area.

Discover Abiquiu From A to Z by Carolyn Calfee

Ghostranch, by Lesley Poling-Kempes

Valley of Shining Stone: The Story of Abiquiu by Lesley Poling-Kempes

Abiquiu: Geologic History by Kirk Kempter

The Witches of Abiquiu, by Malcolm Ebright and Rick Hendricks

Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya

Georgia O’Keeffe and Her Houses: Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu by Harry N. Abrams

Georgia O’Keeffe and New Mexico: A Sense of Place by Princeton University Press

O’Keeffe at Abiquiu by Harry N. Abrams

Remembering Ms. O'Keeffe: Stories from Abiquiu

Ghost Ranch and the Faraway Nearby , by Craig Varjabedian

A Painter's Kitchen: Recipes from the Kitchen of Georgia O'Keeffe: Recipes from the Kitchen of Georgia O'Keeffe, by Margaret Wood

The Pueblo Revolt: The Secret Rebellion That Drove the Spaniards Out of the Southwest,

by David Roberts

This article may include affiliate links through an Amazon Associate program. If you click on a link and buy something through Amazon, we may make a small commission from it, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend items that we’ve personally used and read.

#abiquiu #discoverabiquiu #walkingtour #abiquiuwalkingtour #ilovenewmexico #newmexicotrue #okeeffe #bedandbreakfast #newmexico #visitabiquiu #landgrant #travel #wanderlust #vacationlife #thegrandhacienda #thecasitadellago #stayabiquiu #pueblodeabiquiu #bosshards #bodes #ghostranch #poshuiuinge #newmexicotrue #wanderlust #travelobsessed #ilovenewmexico #georgiaokeeffe #AbiquiuAirbnb #Abiquiuvrbo #bookdirect #discoverabiquiufromatoz

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A Toast to Five Years! The Grand Hacienda Inn in Abiquiu Celebrates a Milestone.

Hot off the presses, literally!

Abiquiú Art Guide - An Art Enclave for Visitors and Collectors

Georgia O’Keeffe

Part of our past….

      “Georgia O’Keeffe on her portal,” Abiquiú, New Mexico, 1960, by Tony Vaccaro. Used with permission.

Georgia O’Keeffe and Ghost Ranch

In 1929, Georgia O’Keeffe traveled to Taos at the invitation of friends Dorothy Brett and Mabel Dodge Luhan. It was there that she first heard of Ghost Ranch and once even caught a tantalizing glimpse of it from a high plain. In 1934, she finally visited the ranch but was dismayed to learn that it was a dude ranch owned by Arthur Pack and Carol Stanley. However, a place was available for her that night in one of the cottages and, due to another guest’s health emergency, O’Keeffe stayed the entire summer at the ranch.

This established a pattern she would follow for years, summers at Ghost Ranch exploring on foot and on canvas the beauty of the place, winters in New York. Because she was basically a loner, she sought lodging at the ranch that was somewhat isolated from the headquarters area. Pack offered to rent her his own residence called Rancho de los Burros. This suited her very well. One spring, O’Keeffe arrived unexpectedly and found someone else lodging at Ranchos de los Burros. Feeling a sense of ownership, she demanded to know what those people were doing in her house. When Pack pointed out that it wasn’t her house, she insisted that he sell it to her. Thus, in 1940, she became the owner of a very small piece of Ghost Ranch land: a house and seven acres. In later years she told a ranch employee doing roadwork near her home, “I wanted enough land to keep a horse. All Arthur would sell me was enough for my sewer!”

The Move to Abiquiu

But Rancho de los Burros was a summer place and also a desert one. O’Keeffe wanted a garden and a winter home. Eventually, she bought three acres in the village of Abiquiu with a crumbling adobe home. She spent three years remodeling and rebuilding the house before it was fit for human habitation. After her husband, Alfred Stieglitz, died, O’Keeffe left New York to make Abiquiu her permanent home. (While both houses are owned and managed by the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, only the Abiquiu Home and Studio is open for public tours. Visit The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum website for more information.)

The Presbyterians

During the last few years of her life, O’Keeffe was unable to come to Ghost Ranch from Abiquiu. Eventually, she moved to Santa Fe where she died in her 99th year, reclusive to the end. “I find people very difficult,” she once said.

O’Keeffe is spelled many ways throughout the world O’keefe, O’Keefe, OKeefe but the artist is Georgia O’Keeffe.

A Century of O’Keeffe – For more information and history about Georgia O’Keeffe, visit The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos

Custom-built ‘Oppenheimer’ film set opens to visitors in New Mexico

by: Fallon Fischer

Posted: Mar 14, 2024 / 08:05 AM MDT

Updated: Mar 15, 2024 / 05:35 AM MDT

**Editor’s note: Since this story was published, Ghost Ranch said it will suspend the set tours for an indefinite period of time after the tours on March 21 and 23 take place. Ghost Ranch encouraged visitors to keep an eye on their activities page for future tours.

RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, N.M.  (KRQE) – A new opportunity to tour the same set that was used during the award-winning “Oppenheimer” film is now available in New Mexico. Tucked away in the desert at Ghost Ranch, near Abiquiu, stand several buildings and dirt roads that were built specifically for the movie.

Director Christopher Nolan, executive producer Thomas Hayslip, production designer Ruth De Jong, and their crew created the set to resemble the real-life Los Alamos town, where J. Robert Oppenheimer and other scientists worked to create the atomic bomb under the Manhattan Project in the 1940s.

David Manzanares, Ghost Ranch’s field producer, recalled the moment he was contacted by Todd Christensen, the former director of the New Mexico Film Office, about the “Oppenheimer” film in October 2021. “He gave me a call looking for locations in New Mexico. So, I gave him several ideas to pick my brain. And ultimately, in the conversation, it was kind of a little bit more mysterious, and you can’t talk about, or disclose any information. He mentioned it would be looking for a hill or a cliff of sorts with this big overlook,” said Manzanares.

A few weeks later, Nolan, Hayslip, De Jong and part of the crew visited one of the areas Manzanares suggested that was later selected to be part of the set. The team was taken to an untouched desert area that sits above the Tennessee Valley at Ghost Ranch off of U.S. 84. In the distance surrounding the area are mesas, red rocks, Abiquiu Lake, and the same desert landscape that captivated artist Georgia O’Keeffe and several other filmmakers.

Construction of the “Oppenheimer” set at Ghost Ranch began in November, and filming took place in 2022. “It was incredible to watch,” Manzanares said about his experience working on the set and watching Nolan in action. “He’s very meticulous. He has a vision in his mind, and he hires people. He surrounds himself with professionals that can get it done. It was exciting,” said Manzanares.

It took the crew about eight days to complete their filming at the set. Manzanares said he was there every day, starting from when the crew first arrived through early May. Much like the top-secret Manhattan Project, the details about the “Oppenheimer” film were kept under wraps until recently.

Manzanares’ interview with KRQE News 13 is one of a handful of interviews he has given since the film was released in July 2023. Ghost Ranch is also now conducting guided tours of the set and brought its first group out there on Tuesday.

The remaining set features include a reproduction of the main Los Alamos security gate, a building that was based on the real blueprints of Oppenheimer’s office, two Quonset huts that served as a theater and an auto repair and storage shop, a church, and additional log cabin-esque buildings. Visitors will also see the main road where Cillian Murphy, as Oppenheimer, and Emily Blunt, as Kitty Oppenheimer, drove into town.

Those who watched “Oppenheimer” and visited the set may notice that some of the buildings that were shown in the film, are no longer standing at Ghost Ranch. Parts of the set were removed, and the telephone poles that were used were taken down and remain on site if any other group wants to use them for filming.

“So I think when people come for a tour, they get to maybe feel or touch a little bit of that magic.  And I think that’s kind of cool. The magic is here all the time. But now we get to share it with, you know, the rest of the world,” said Manzanares.

The hour-and-a-half tour of the “Oppenheimer” set at Ghost Ranch is open to those ages 10 and up. The cost is $45. To book a tour, you are asked to contact Ghost Ranch’s tour department via email: [email protected] . The schedule can also be found online here .

“Oppenheimer” was filmed at multiple locations across New Mexico, including Los Alamos. To learn more about film locations, click here for more coverage by KRQE News 13.

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