Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Join Park rangers and volunteers for a spectacular Dark Sky Event! As an International Dark Sky Park, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is proud to welcome you to the Abó Unit to experience the awe and wonder of the park’s pristine night skies! 

To kick off the evening, enjoy a ranger-led hike to introduce you to the Ancestral Pueblo and Spanish Mission site of Abó. The hike will introduce you to the tapestry of cultures of the Salinas Pueblo Missions and how their interconnectedness continues to shape New Mexico’s central region. After the hike, spend some time enjoying the park’s dark skies at the Telescope Viewing activity station. Or check out the Dark Sky Photography activity station to learn all about the tips and tricks of taking great photos (with your phone too!) of the dark skies. Select your best photo of the night and Park rangers and volunteers will print out the photo for you to take home as a souvenir! 

Our Dark Sky Events often feature speakers from partner organizations across New Mexico that introduce you to various topics on astronomy. Make sure to visit our website and social media to learn more about what we have in store for our monthly programs! 

For more information, please visit our website at Dark Sky Programs - Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) 

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, in partnership with Raptors of New Mexico Foundation, invites you to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) at the Quarai Unit on Saturday, October 10.

Join park rangers for guided bird count hikes throughout the day, as well as guided Bio Blitz tours, along the paved interpretative trail and the rugged Spanish Corral Trail. During the hikes and tours, you’ll explore the diverse local ecosystem of the Salinas region and contribute to our annual bird count and support our citizen science efforts at the park.

Our event partners, Raptors of New Mexico Foundation (RNMF), will host a live bird presentation that you do not want to miss! RNMF is a non-profit organization that provides engaging live bird presentations throughout New Mexico. Come meet RNMF staff and their amazing ambassador birds and join us for a special Q&A session.  

Throughout the day, you can stop by our outreach table to learn more about Salinas Pueblo Missions, our upcoming events, to pick-up FREE WMBD-themed giveaways, and how you can make a difference as a citizen scientist! 

Join us for ALL or ANY of the programs happening during the WMBD Celebration! Programs include:  

• 7:45am – 9:00am – 1st Bird Count hike 

• 9:30am – 10:30am – 1st Bio Blitz tour 

• 11:30am – 12:30pm – Live Birds Presentation by Raptors of New Mexico Foundation 

• 1:30pm – 3:00pm – 2nd Bird Count hike 

• 3:30pm – 4:30pm – 2nd Bio Blitz tour 

Join us for this guided walk as we explore native plants found along the Quarai landscape and the important roles they have played throughout history. Led by the Salinas Pueblo Missions Tribal Communities Engagement Intern, participants will learn about the traditional medicinal and practical uses of these plants, as well as the cultural knowledge that surrounds them.

Ethnobotanical knowledge continues to be practiced today, passed down through generations and reflects the enduring relationship between people, the land, and its resources. During this trail program, participants will learn to identify nine plants and explore their traditional uses. The program will also include an overview of the traditional Three Sisters planting method.

As we walk along the trail, we will discuss how the people who lived in the Salinas region hundreds of years ago likely relied on many of these plants in similar ways. Participants are invited to learn about and share knowledge of plant uses. This family-friendly program is open to all ages. Pets are welcome, and the paved trail is wheelchair accessible, providing an inclusive opportunity to explore the rich relationship between people and plants at the Quarai Unit.

Join Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument and the Friends of Mountainair Animal Shelter (FOMAS) for another BARK in the Park Hike! Just like our Junior and Senior Ranger activities, the BARK Ranger program lets your furry friends join the adventure and earn their ranger status too!  

We're excited to welcome our partners from FOMAS as they share information about their organization. So, join our BARK ambassadors as they support the 2026 BARK Ranger Program, learn about dog etiquette at the park, and help spread dog adoption awareness! 

Programs include:   

• 10AM – 12PM — Ranger-led Trail Hike with your furry friends! 

Bring your pup and join the fun!

Join us for this guided walk as we explore native plants found along the Quarai landscape and the important roles they have played throughout history. Led by the Salinas Pueblo Missions Tribal Communities Engagement Intern, participants will learn about the traditional medicinal and practical uses of these plants, as well as the cultural knowledge that surrounds them.

Ethnobotanical knowledge continues to be practiced today, passed down through generations and reflects the enduring relationship between people, the land, and its resources. During this trail program, participants will learn to identify nine plants and explore their traditional uses. The program will also include an overview of the traditional Three Sisters planting method.

As we walk along the trail, we will discuss how the people who lived in the Salinas region hundreds of years ago likely relied on many of these plants in similar ways. Participants are invited to learn about and share knowledge of plant uses. This family-friendly program is open to all ages. Pets are welcome, and the paved trail is wheelchair accessible, providing an inclusive opportunity to explore the rich relationship between people and plants at the Quarai Unit.