Looking for art, desert beauty, and spiritual calm? Head to Abiquiú! This small northern New Mexico village is famed for its dramatic red rock landscapes, Georgia O’Keeffe’s home, and its serene, timeless atmosphere. Whether you're hiking through Ghost Ranch, touring an artist’s studio, or exploring ancient ruins, Abiquiú offers inspiration and solitude in equal measure.
Abiquiú, NM Highlights:
- For Families: Explore Ghost Ranch – Discover dinosaur fossils, family hikes, and workshops at this breathtaking former dude ranch.
- For Outdoor Enthusiasts: Hike the Kitchen Mesa Trail – Take on stunning canyon and mesa views in this iconic Georgia O’Keeffe landscape.
- For Kids: Cool off at Abiquiú Lake – Swim, picnic, and paddle at this scenic reservoir nestled beneath the Cerro Pedernal mesa.
- For an Adventure: Paddle the Rio Chama – Kayak or raft this wild and scenic river through desert canyons and cottonwood groves.
- For Shoppers: Visit local galleries and gift shops – Browse regional crafts, pottery, textiles, and O’Keeffe-inspired works.
Best Time to Visit Abiquiú, NM
The best time to visit Abiquiú is from April to June and September to October, when temperatures are comfortable and skies are clear. Summers can be hot, while winters are peaceful but colder with some snow in higher elevations.
How to Get to Abiquiú, NM
- By Car: Located along U.S. Route 84, Abiquiú is about 1 hour northwest of Santa Fe and 2 hours from Albuquerque.
- By Air: The closest major airport is Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). Santa Fe Regional Airport offers regional flights.
- By Bus: Limited regional bus service is available, but renting a car is strongly recommended for flexibility.
Where to Stay in Abiquiú, NM
- Abiquiu Inn – Charming Southwestern-style inn with casitas, a restaurant, and access to Georgia O’Keeffe Home tours.
- Ghost Ranch Lodging – Budget-friendly rooms and cabins on a stunning 21,000-acre campus with trails and workshops.
- Vacation Rentals – Find adobe casitas and off-the-grid retreats with breathtaking views of the Chama River Valley.
Best Things to Do in Abiquiú, NM
1. Ghost Ranch
Rating: ★★★★★
Located near the village of Abiquiú in Rio Arriba County in New Mexico, Ghost Ranch is a 21,000-acre retreat and education center that offers a range of programs and exciting adventures. The Ranch is committed to guests’ spiritual development, peace and justice. It celebrates the environment and family through art, culture and nature. Open year-round, the Ranch is owned by the Presbyterian Church USA and is open to all.
The magnificent landscape of vivid colors, towering rocks and enormous skies was made world-famous by painter Georgia O’Keeffe, who lived and worked on the ranch for a while. Today, people come to the Ranch from all over the world come to paint, write poetry, to hike, ride horses, to research the surrounding archaeological and fossil quarries or just to rest and renew their spirits.
280 Private Drive 1708 Highway, US-84, Abiquiu, NM 87510, Phone: 505-685-1000
2. Echo Amphitheater
Located among the sandstone cliffs of New Mexico, near the village of Abiquiu, in the Carson National Forest, Echo Amphitheater is a fascinating natural amphitheater linked to the legend of blood and murder. In the spring of 1861 a group of settlers from Iowa was farming in northern New Mexico when a band of Navajo took them to the top of the amphitheater and executed them. In retribution, ten Navajo men were killed at the top of the amphitheater when the Navajo were being forced on the "Long Walk" by the U.S. Army three years later. The red vertical stripes that run down the horizontally stratified cliff wall are streaks of mineral varnish, but the legend explains them as the blood that seeped into the rock and is still visible today. The natural amphiteater’s echoing auditory properties are explained as the anguished cries of the dead still echo from the cliff's walls. Since the legend is more interesting than the fact, Echo Amphiteater is a popular tourist destination.
US-84, Abiquiu, NM 87510, Phone: 575-758-6200
3. Monastery of Christ in the Desert
The Monastery of Christ in the Desert in Abiquiu, New Mexico is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery that belongs to the English Province of the Subiaco Congregation of Benedictine monasteries. The monastery is surrounded by miles of untouched wilderness of the Chama River Canyon Wilderness area accessible by Forest Road 151. The monastery was founded by Aelred Wall, O.S.B., a monk of Mount Savior Monastery in Pine City, New York in 1964. The monastery provides sanctuary to men from many nations. English is the common language of the house. Christ in the Desert has a guesthouse in which men and women can stay and join the monks in the chapel and share the monastic Divine Office and the Mass. The monks also manage a gift shop that sells books and religious items, work on the land, create crafts, do computer work and maintenance of the grounds and facilities. The monastery is powered entirely by solar power and it has one of the largest private solar power systems in the US,
Forest Rd 151, Abiquiu, NM 87510, Phone: 575-613-4233
Recommended Activities for Families
4. Purple Adobe Lavender Farm
Purple Adobe Lavender Farm was established in 2004 in the picturesque Chama River Valley near Abiquiu, New Mexico. Abiquiu is known for the magnificent views, colorful mountain slopes and Chama River. It is the place where the painter, Georgia O'Keeffe lived, painted and made famous through her art. Purple Adobe Lavender Farm has planted 2500 lavender plants in the terrain with its sandy soil, high altitude, and strong sunlight, the perfect location for growing lavender. We harvest, sell and distill the lavender flowers to use in various lavender products. We also offer educational programs and information on growing lavender, provide consultation, and sell lavender bath and body product line at our gift shop and in local stores.
1622, Abiquiu, NM 87510, Phone: 505-685-0082
5. Georgia O’Keeffe House Museum
Follow the footsteps of one of Abiquiu’s most famous residents, Georgia O'Keeffe, as you tour her former home. Known for her paintings of nature and New York cityscapes, Georgia O’Keeffe moved to Abiquiu in the 1940s after experiencing a meaningful visit to the region ten years prior. Her first property was a breathtaking summer house with over 10 acres of land just outside of Abiquiu. Her second property, a beautiful example of Native American and Spanish architecture, became her permanent home in 1949 after undergoing a four-year restoration. The home was named an official historical landmark in 1998, with parts of the 5,000-square foot home dating as far back as 1744. While both homes are under the museum’s care, only O’Keeffe’s permanent home and studio are open to the public.
Georgia O’Keeffe House Museum, 217 Johnson Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, Phone: 505-946-1000
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