Navajo Pueblitos Trip

[Touchingstone]

First post here, season's greetings to everyone!

We took advantage of some nice weather to go on an interesting trip. Navajos built hundreds of defensive structures called pueblitos in the 1700's when they were fighting with the Utes from the north and the Spanish from the south. Many remaining structures are scattered over a vast swath of rugged country in NW New Mexico. Few people venture into that area. Most of the pueblitos were built on top of strategic point overlooking entryway into the canyons. One can imagine in the 1700's, those canyon must be dotted with teepees and teeming with activities, while sentries would have been posted on top of the mesa looking out for attackers. The few pottery sherds we found on the ground were rough and unpainted (We left where we found them). One of the side canyons is full of petroglyphs (Crow Canyon Petroglyphs site). We didn't see another person in 3 days of wandering.

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[Occam'sRazor]

Welcome,
Looks nice! Feel free to stay in touch, we are New Mexico/ southern Co also.

 

[rsmith56]

If you haven’t already, checkout the old Spanish ruins around Mountainair NM. They are not 4x4 roads to access them. I did them all on a touring motorcycle.

I have been wanting to check NW New Mexico, but haven’t yet.

 

[OG Mike]

How’s it, looks like great historical run. If you have more places like that please share. Thanks

 

[RicRecon]

First post here, season's greetings to everyone!

We took advantage of some nice weather to go on an interesting trip. Navajos built hundreds of defensive structures called pueblitos in the 1700's when they were fighting with the Utes from the north and the Spanish from the south. Many remaining structures are scattered over a vast swath of rugged country in NW New Mexico. Few people venture into that area. Most of the pueblitos were built on top of strategic point overlooking entryway into the canyons. One can imagine in the 1700's, those canyon must be dotted with teepees and teeming with activities, while sentries would have been posted on top of the mesa looking out for attackers. The few pottery sherds we found on the ground were rough and unpainted (We left where we found them). One of the side canyons is full of petroglyphs (Crow Canyon Petroglyphs site). We didn't see another person in 3 days of wandering.

Very cool! Thanks for sharing. I have a trip planned from Sacramento to Albuquerque next May and I’m taking my jeep to explore for a couple weeks during the return trip. I’ll look for these.

 

[MaybeRubi]

Ah, looks to be BLM land between the Apache and Navajo Nations -- quite the web of roads in there. Is that where you did the bulk of your wanderings?

 

[Redx2]

Wow this is so cool! I'm so into this kind of stuff! Thank you for posting - would love to see more pics.

 

[Dirtflirt]

Thanks for posting up, it looks like an awesome adventure.

 

[Touchingstone]

Welcome,
Looks nice! Feel free to stay in touch, we are New Mexico/ southern Co also.

Thanks! will do.

 

[Touchingstone]

If you haven’t already, checkout the old Spanish ruins around Mountainair NM. They are not 4x4 roads to access them. I did them all on a touring motorcycle.

I have been wanting to check NW New Mexico, but haven’t yet.

If you mean the Salinas Monument, yes, been there. Interesting history too.

 

[Touchingstone]

How’s it, looks like great historical run. If you have more places like that please share. Thanks

The roads are quite tame. Sand/gravels, easy wash-crossings, no rock-crawls. It took some efforts to find the various sites even with directions, none of the pueblitos was signed and there're a maze of side-roads for the many gas/oil wells. Really an underrated off-the-beaten gem especially for history buffs.

 

[Touchingstone]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing. I have a trip planned from Sacramento to Albuquerque next May and I’m taking my jeep to explore for a couple weeks during the return trip. I’ll look for these.

Great! Direction: 10 miles east from Bloomfield, take 4450 south to that area. A word of caution: about 5 miles down 4450, the road crosses Largo Wash. The bridge was closed when we were there. We drove across the dry wash under the bridge. If you go in May, there is a chance the wash may be running.

p.s. Check out Chaco Canyon too while you're here.

Ah, looks to be BLM land between the Apache and Navajo Nations -- quite the web of roads in there. Is that where you did the bulk of your wanderings?

Ah, looks to be BLM land between the Apache and Navajo Nations -- quite the web of roads in there. Is that where you did the bulk of your wanderings?

You're right, that's the area.

 

[MaybeRubi]

p.s. Check out Chaco Canyon too while you're here.

Agreeing -- Chaco is a must see (though no need for a jeep -- we rattled our camper van pretty good to get in).

 

[Touchingstone]

Wow this is so cool! I'm so into this kind of stuff! Thank you for posting - would love to see more pics.

Thanks, glad you like it! Stay tuned...

 

[Touchingstone]

Thanks for posting up, it looks like an awesome adventure.

Yes, so much more to explore, a lifetime is not enough!

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