When one thinks of an idyllic place, pine forested mountains, crystal clear brooks and wildlife living in its natural state may come to mind. In this day and age, finding an unpopulated mountain retreat is becoming harder and harder to find, but the little village of Pecos, New Mexico may just fill the bill. Pecos is located at 6945 feet in a high mountain pass between Santa Fe and Las Vegas New Mexico that was used for centuries by nomadic Indian tribes and later by settlers moving west along what was once known as the famous Santa Fe Trail. Pecos is settled alongside the river of the same name and with a population of just over 1,500 full time residents, Pecos is a quaint, quiet and close knit community of friendly residents.
Situated in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Pecos is an ideal jumping off place for outdoor activities including hunting, camping, hiking and fly-fishing. If you check in the rather small Pecos, New Mexico yellow pages or the Pecos, New Mexico business directory, you'll find not only fly-fishing schools and local guides, but listings of accommodations including motels, hotels, fishing lodges and quaint mountain cabins. Pecos hosts a variety of eating establishments featuring broiled steaks, Mexican cuisine and some down home cafes offering hearty fare for the active adventurer.
The Santa Fe National forest and the Pecos wilderness area allow the visitor to get lost in the natural splendor of the mountains, there are natural history tours, ancient Pueblo ruins and an 18th century Spanish mission. A little known Civil War battle was waged in Glorieta Pass and visitors to Pecos can walk this historic landmark where the tide of the nation's bloodiest war was turned with the Union army turning back the Confederacy on its march westward.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
