Last updated: May 15, 2025
Thing to Do
Hiking the Ancestral Sites Trail
NPS Photo/Stan Ford
The Ancestral Sites Trail leads visitors to the ancestral sites of Pecos Pueblo and the Spanish Mission Church. Pecos Pueblo contributed to a trade network that stretched the continent and beyond, boasting approximately 2,000 thriving inhabitants on this landscape for over 400 years. The Spanish worked to convert Pecos Pueblo by establishing a massive church, which was burnt down in the Pueblo Revolt and eventually replaced by a smaller mission. This trail allows you to see those locations, look across the Pecos River Valley, go into two restored kivas, and learn more about the archeology of the site and connections to communities today.
The trail is a 1.25 mile (2 km) roundtrip loop and begins right behind the visitor center. The trail is easy, with approximately 80 feet (23 m) of elevation change. The trail surface is gravel/dirt. Trail guides are available for purchase inside the the visitor center.
The trail is a 1.25 mile (2 km) roundtrip loop and begins right behind the visitor center. The trail is easy, with approximately 80 feet (23 m) of elevation change. The trail surface is gravel/dirt. Trail guides are available for purchase inside the the visitor center.
Details
Duration
40-90 Minutes
Activity
Hiking
Pets Allowed
Yes
Dogs are allowed on the trail if on leash, under control, and if you pick up after your pets. Pet waste bags are available at the trash cans by the visitor center and church.
Activity Fee
No
Pecos NHP is a fee-free park.
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Time of Day
Day
Visit the park website for information about current operating hours.
Accessibility Information
The Ancestral Sites Trail is mostly accessible; the surface is hard-packed dirt/gravel with a width exceeding four feet. The grade is typically under 3%; however, an area of the trail near the North Pueblo has a grade closer to 7% for a span of 40 feet. The church has two small steps of four inches in height that may be bypassed by following the trail through the side of the church. The reconstructed kivas require use of 10-foot ladders and are largely inaccessible for visitors in wheelchairs or with significant mobility constraints.
Audio Description devices are available at the visitor center for checkout. Accessible parking for the trail is also available at the visitor center and church parking lots. The visitor center and attendant restrooms are accessible.
Audio Description devices are available at the visitor center for checkout. Accessible parking for the trail is also available at the visitor center and church parking lots. The visitor center and attendant restrooms are accessible.