The South Pasture Trail is a 3.8-mile loop.

Between the towering Sangre de Cristo mountains and the flat-topped Glorieta mesa lies the Glorieta Pass, through which a continuously unfolding story of human culture has traveled to and from the Pecos Valley for thousands of years.

Cicuye, later Pecos, became known as one of the most powerful of the northern New Mexico pueblos. Why? Location, location, location. For one thing, it was at a higher elevation, 7,000 feet, where the growing season was shorter but the position more defensive. The Great Plains lay to the east of Glorieta Pass, while to the west there is the Rio Grande Valley and the Colorado Plateau, which in turn led to the Gulf of California, Old Mexico, and lands beyond. Whoever controlled the pass controlled the migration and trade routes of a vast region.

Pueblo and Plains Indians, Spanish conquerors and missionaries, Mexican and Anglo armies, Santa Fe Trail settlers, and adventurers, tourists on the railroad, US-66, and I-25…the Pecos Valley has long been a backdrop that invites contemplation about where our civilization comes from and where it is going.

While Pecos National Historical Park is known for its rich history, it also has a diverse set of wildlife that call the park home. The park encompasses over 6,500 acres of forests, grasslands, rivers, and streams within its borders. This allows a number of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish to roam freely in and around the park.

Pecos is along the migratory route for some species of birds which makes it a popular spot for birding. Birds such as the mountain bluebird and Steller’s jay are common sights along the Ancestral Sites Trail. Sometimes, if you look towards the river, you may catch a glimpse of a bald eagle flying overhead, trying to catch dinner from the Pecos River.

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike on the South Pasture Trail.