Nogales Cliff House and Rattlesnake Ridge Ruins

This outing includes two short hikes to ruins from the Gallina culture, a very mysterious people that occupied northern New Mexico 700 to 900 years ago.

This area is about 30 miles northeast of Cuba and includes an impressive cliff dwelling, towers, dwellings and a reservoir. The area was settled between 1100 AD to about 1275 AD.

The Gallina culture is very unique in that none of today's Pueblo people claim them as their ancestors. One story is that the Gallina people killed a small group of Jemez folks and the Jemez people returned to kill all the Gallina. Skeletal evidence indicate that many died violently. Some of the towers contain dismembered remains. I was fortunate to visit the site many years ago when a portion of the ruins were being excavated.

Total hiking distance is about 4 miles with about 500 feet of elevation change. There is a steep section to get to the cliff dwelling and hiking poles are recommended. Hiking will be on well-established trails.

High clearance vehicles are recommended.

Distance to the trail head is about 120 miles. Please provide your driver $20.

Everyone will be placed on the waitlist and those with high clearance vehicles or have proven to show up will be given priority.

We will meet near the entrance to the parking lot behind Market Street Grocery in DeVargas Mall. My number is 505-699-2546.