Tucked in the northwest corner of New Mexico sits the charming town of Farmington. A basecamp for adventure and culture, Farmington is packed full of great amenities to suit all styles of traveler. The following itineraries provide routes and highlight the varied attractions and activities visitors should consider exploring. Please contact our office and let a member of our team assist you in planning your trip, to ensure you don't miss local favorites, hidden gems, and lesser-known attractions.
A 3-Day Adventure in Farmington
A basecamp for adventure and culture, Farmington is packed full of great amenities to suit all styles of traveler. The following itinerary is geared toward a summer traveler in the area, but Farmington still offers outdoor recreation and interesting attractions year-round. Each day has options for a more laid-back traveler and others for the adrenaline junkie. Feel free to mix up the activities to get a real taste of Farmington!
Lodging
There is a range of accommodation options in Farmington. Whether you’re seeking the comfort and consistency of a chain hotel, or a unique bed and breakfast (sleep in a cave house, anyone?), you’ll find many options. Additionally, there are several campgrounds and RV parks in the area.
Dining
We’ll leave the food decisions up to you since everyone has a different palate. One thing is for certain, though, New Mexican chile is world renown, and you should definitely seek it out during your visit. You can order red or green chile with your meals, but the pro-move is to order your meal “Christmas style”, meaning…both! Aside from (New) Mexican food, there are plenty of other dining options including BBQ, Asian, steak and seafood, and loads of family-friendly establishments.
Activities - First Day
1. Take it easy option (10 minutes from downtown)
Pinon Hills Golf Course is a public municipal golf course. Regularly rated one of the top municipal courses in the United States, this course is as challenging as it is scenic. With its vibrant green setting contrasted by the beautiful bluffs and sweeping high desert vistas, the view offers additional incentives to play Pinon Hills Golf Course. If you want to play additional courses, Farmington has you covered for golf and disc golf.
2. Crank it up a notch option (45 minutes from downtown)
The best way to enjoy the landscape in this area is with a hike. Get off the beaten path with an exhilarating and unique hike in the Bisti Badlands. Stop by the Farmington Museum & Visitors Center before you head out (3041 E Main Street). The kind folks there can help get you acquainted with the Badlands and lend recommendations for getting around this true wilderness area. Within only 2-4 miles you can see an ethereal collection of hoodoos, twisted geology, and a rainbow of colors across the hillsides. Hike as little or as much as you’re up for there. And if you prefer to explore the wilderness area with a guide, no worries Journey Into the Past Tours and Navajo Tours USA offer personalized guided tours.
Sip and slow down (35 minutes from downtown)
Indulge in a full spectrum of delicious artisanal wines at the Wines of the San Juan. The tasting room offers a fun, relaxed environment and the vineyard is set against a stunning landscape. The vineyard is open daily until 6 pm and closed Tuesdays, so plan accordingly. If craft breweries are more your style, Three Rivers Brewery and Lauter Haus Brewing Company are must-visits!
Soak up a New Mexico sunset (approximately 35-45 minutes from downtown)
If you haven’t seen a photo of the iconic Shiprock Pinnacle, search this place on the internet right now! There is no formal entrance to the rock, but the best viewing is just off Highway 491, south of the community of Shiprock. Keep in mind that this is a sacred space located within the Navajo Nation, so please be respectful to the land and the people there. If you are looking for sunset views in Farmington, no worries Shiprock Pinnacle is also visible from Farmington. Glade Run Recreation Area (15 minutes from downtown) is another popular area for watching sunsets and Bear Automotive offers spectacular sunset Jeep Tours that provide big thrills and stunning views.
Activities - Second Day
1. Take it easy option (20 minutes from downtown)
Cool off at Lake Farmington! There is a welcoming beach if you’re just looking to take a dip and enjoy a picnic. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, rent a paddleboard or kayak from onsite vendors like Floatsome & Jetsome! Additionally, the lake is stocked year-round, so bring a rod and get ready to catch some fish. Another popular space to cool off and enjoy some fun in the sun is Bisti Bay Waterpark (5 minutes from downtown).
2. Crank it up a notch option (10 minutes from downtown)
Jump on two wheels and explore some of the excellent mountain biking in the Farmington area. The famous Road Apple Rally course offers fast and fun trails, rim riding, and slickrock amongst pinons and junipers. If you need to rent a bike or are looking for local takes on the trails visit Sandstone Cycles. Additionally, Aztec Adventures and High Desert Mountain Biking Tours will guide you on a personalized mountain bike tour. If you prefer to keep it cool, Desert River Guides offers river rafting along the Animas River and San Juan River.
Galleries and museums
Take in the art and culture of the region at one or all of the fabulous galleries and museums! The Bolack Museum offers an unbelievable display of both (separately) taxidermy fish and wildlife and also a massive electromechanical collection. The art galleries downtown feature astonishing works by local artists, and inside many of the galleries, you’ll be able to see the artists at work! Hours vary for all galleries and museums, if you have a specific interest it would be best to look up individual hours for each location.
Activities - Third Day
1. Take it easy option (1 hour 25 minutes from downtown)
History buffs and outdoor lovers alike will LOVE Chaco National Historical Park. There you’ll encounter the largest excavated prehistoric ruins in North America. There are three great ways to explore the park: drive the 9-mile loop, bike the loop, or hike some of the trails in the Park. The ruins in the Park are quite inspiring and definitely worth a visit!
2. Crank it up a notch option (15 minutes from downtown)
If you crave the power and adrenaline rush of an off-road adventure, explore Chokecherry Canyon. This desert playground offers an amazing off-roading experience from rock crawling to desert washes. Bear Automotive offers ride-along and bring-your-own Jeep Tours to help visitors find the best thrills for 4x4 fans and come highly recommended.
Local Shopping
Round out your trip with a visit to one of the historic trading posts in Farmington. These trading posts specialize in authentic American Indian arts and crafts. Take home hand-woven rugs, blankets and baskets, jewelry, pottery, and so much more. Stepping into any of these trading posts offers more than a shopping experience, it’s a cultural experience.
The Four Corners Loop
The Four Corners region offers a variety of activities. From trains, gaming or visiting the Four Corners Monument, the following suggestions make for great day trips during your stay in Farmington.
- Durango, CO lies just 45 miles north of Farmington on Hwy. 550. Spend the day browsing boutiques and souvenir shops on Main Street or take a ride on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Call 888-TRAIN-07.
- Seventy-five miles north of Farmington on Hwy. 160 is Mesa Verde National Park, known for its vast cliff dwelling sites.
- Towaoc, CO, 60 miles north of Farmington on Hwy. 491, is the capital of the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation and the home of the Ute Mountain Casino and RV Park. Stop in to play slots, keno, or a game of blackjack or bingo, and enjoy dining at Kuchus Restaurant. Tribal Park tours of Anasazi cliff dwellings and ruins can be arranged by calling (970) 565-3751 ext. 330.
- Travel 30 miles southeast on Hwy. 160 to the Four Corners Tribal Park, also known as Four Corners Monument, and stand in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado at once. After taking memorable pictures, shop for Native American arts, crafts, and jewelry at the vendor booths which surround the monument. The cost is $5 per person.
- While heading back to Farmington (60 miles southeast via Hwy. 160/Hwy. 491/Hwy. 64) you'll enter the scenic Navajo Reservation. Here you will be immersed in our scenic and sacred landscapes Shiprock Pinnacle, Chimney Rock, and Sleeping Ute Mountain.
Northwestern New Mexico
This suggested itinerary showcases the unique cultures and history of northwest New Mexico. The route begins in Albuquerque and includes Farmington, Gallup, Acoma Pueblo, Zuni and Grants. The itinerary can be adjusted to take from four to eight days, depending on activities in each community. This tour can start in either direction; Albuquerque west to Gallup and Grants, or Albuquerque north to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. There is much to see on this tour, so give yourself ample time to explore!
- Fly or drive into Albuquerque and visit historic Old Town or visit numerous museums, attractions, and Indian Pueblos in the surrounding area.
- From Albuquerque, travel along 1-40 to Exit 102 and explore Acoma Pueblo and the Sky City Cultural Center & Haak'u Museum. As the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America, Pueblo of Acoma shares the story of the Southwest, from its initial role as the home to the ancestral Puebloan people to the thirteenth century founding of the Pueblo, which is still alive and well as a community and touchstone for Native Americans in the area and nationwide.
- From Acoma Pueblo, return to I-40 and head west towards Grants. Visit the New Mexico Mining Museum (100 Iron Avenue) and learn about the rich historical legacy of mining and the related culture of Grants/Cibola County. While in Grants you can also explore cinder cones, lava tube caves, sandstone bluffs, and hiking trails at El Malpais National Monument.
- Just 45 minutes from Grants is El Morro National Monument, another must-visit scenic and historical New Mexico treasure.
- From Grants, follow I-40 west to NM-412 S in Prewitt. Take exit 63 from I-40, turn left onto NM-412 S to visit Bluewater State Park. This serene lake offers scenic views of the Zuni Mountains, camping, hiking, birding, horseback riding, and fishing. And not just any fishing – you’ll find some of the best tiger muskie fishing at Bluewater Lake.
- Continue on 1-40 towards Gallup.
- From Farmington, travel west along scenic Hwy. 64 to the quaint mountain town of Chama and ride the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad through the Carson National Forest.
- Continue west about 100 miles on Hwy. 64 to Farmington, the city the Navajos call Totah, "the meeting place of waters." For an introduction to the area, visit the Farmington Museum & Visitor Center, which features several changing exhibits, visitor information, and a gift shop. Walkthrough downtown and browse for Native American arts and crafts at the many trading posts that have existed here since the area was first settled. Take U.S. Hwy. 516 east 14 miles to Aztec, NM, and tour the Aztec Ruins National Monument, a prehistoric pueblo more than 800 years old, which features the only fully-reconstructed Great Kiva in the Southwest. Visitor Center and picnic facilities available.
- Travel 7 miles south on Hwy. 550 and 3 miles west on Hwy. 64 to Salmon Ruin. Both Salmon and Aztec Ruins were built by the ancestral Puebloans in the architectural style of Chaco Canyon. Tree ring dates from roof beams tell us that most of the Salmon Pueblo was built between 1088 and 1095 A.D., which is a very short time considering the huge dimensions of the structure. After 40 years of occupation in the mid-1100s, the site was abandoned and then reoccupied in the late 1100s.
- Take a step back in time at Heritage Park, which is comprised of eight habitation units representing the human occupation of the San Juan Valley through thousands of years. Sites include the ice age pond, an archaic sand dune hunting site, a basketmaker pithouse, Ute and Jicarilla Apache wickiups and teepees, Navajo forked-stick, and cribbed-log hogans, and the original Salmon family homestead. Self-guided and guided tours of the grounds are available. Salmon Ruins also sponsors guided tours of Chaco Canyon and the Dinètah area. Call (505) 632-2013 for information.
- Return to Farmington, 10 miles west on Hwy. 64, to enjoy a relaxing evening of Outdoor Summer Theater presented in a natural sandstone amphitheater. Call (800) 448-1240 or (505) 327-9336 for information. If the outdoor drama is not being performed, check the calendar of events for other productions, or enjoy a leisurely diner at a local restaurant.
- Travel 10 miles east on Hwy. 64 then 50 miles south on Hwy. 550 to the turn-off for Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Be prepared to drive 13 miles on dirt roads after the turn-off. Chaco Canyon was once the dwelling place of the Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi), and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Dark Sky Park. Thirteen major excavated ruins now dominate the canyon floor. The surrounding network of 1,200 miles of arrow-straight roads were the production of relatively sophisticated engineering and have impressed even veteran archaeologists. It is no wonder that these recent discoveries have generated a new scientific field of research - archaeoastronomy - and earned Chaco the nickname "Stonehenge of the Southwest".
- From Farmington, travel west on Hwy. 64 to Shiprock (30 miles) and view the famous Shiprock Pinnacle along the way. Take Hwy. 491 to Gallup, New Mexico, the heart of Indian Country, featuring nightly Indian dances, (end of May through September 1). The Annual Intertribal Indian Ceremonial, held mid-August, is one of the country's major Native American events. The festivities include an all-Indian rodeo, parade, powwow, Indian Marketplace, and Indian dancers from throughout the nation and Mexico. Area attractions include Zuni Pueblo, El Morro National Park, Hubbell's Trading Post, and Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
- Travel east on I-40 to Grants, New Mexico, and visit the New Mexico Museum of Mining, El Malpais National Monument, Ice Caves, and Bandera Crater, Acoma Pueblo-Sky City, La Ventana Arch and Crownpoint, which is the home of the monthly Navajo Rug Auction. Return to Albuquerque via Interstate 40 east or by rail via Amtrak.
Native American Culture Past & Present
There are many ancient Indian ruins located right in the Four Corners. Aztec Ruins National Monument, 14 miles east on Hwy. 516, provides a glimpse into the lives of the ancestors of modern Puebloan people. This Chacoan style pueblo is over 800 years old and features the only fully reconstructed great kiva in the Southwest. A self-guided tour will lead you through this ancestral pueblo village.
For more history and culture, head south 7 miles on Hwy. 550 to Bloomfield, then west 3 miles on Hwy. 64 to Salmon Ruins and Heritage Park. The museum contains an extensive collection of artifacts from the excavation at Salmon Ruins.
Enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds of Heritage Park at Salmon Ruins. The park is comprised of eight habitation units that represent the human occupation of the San Juan Basin throughout thousands of years. Don't miss the original adobe Salmon homestead site which is full of unique memorabilia and pictures from the 1800s. Admission to the museum and for the self-guided tour is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $1 for kids 6-15, and free for kids under 6.
Return to Farmington and visit some of the many trading posts in the area to shop for Native American arts, crafts, jewelry, pottery, and rugs. Visit with the traders about the history of the trading post and how it exists today. You might even catch a demonstration by a local artist. Spend the evening under the stars at Farmington's Lion's Wilderness Park Amphitheater, located 2.5 miles north of San Juan College, during the performance of outdoor summer theater.
