Vallecitos: Nature and Retreats in New Mexico

Vallecitos is a small, unincorporated community in New Mexico, completely surrounded by Carson National Forest. Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center is in the northern part of the state, in the Tusas Mountains; its grounds cover 135 acres and are located within Carson National Forest. The community and the retreat grounds are distinct points of reference: the specific river, pond, and wetland features belong to the center’s property.

Landscape Around Vallecitos

On the retreat center’s grounds, meadows alternate with mixed stands of aspen, ponderosa pine, and spruce forest. Seven ponds are located on the property, and the Río Vallecitos flows through its center. The grounds also include a rare wetland habitat with more than 60 bird species and over 50 species of grasses and flowers. The combination of forest, open meadows, ponds, river, and wetland gives the grounds a varied landscape. Travelers choosing destinations for their natural scenery will find a description that encompasses not only forest, but also open areas and water features.

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and Location

Vallecitos is just a short walk from the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The trail itself stretches for more than 3,000 miles between Canada and Mexico. The short walking distance and the trail’s total length answer different questions: Vallecitos is close to the route, which extends for more than 3,000 miles. Other points of reference include the retreat center’s elevation of 8,880 feet above sea level and its distance of eleven miles from a paved road.

Visiting and Planning a Retreat

A visit to Vallecitos is possible only as part of a planned retreat; Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center is not open to public visits. All retreats include seated and walking meditation. The specific retreat offerings should be checked again before traveling. For many retreats in Vallecitos, a private shuttle is available from Albuquerque Sunport or Hotel Santa Fe in Santa Fe. Availability varies by retreat; the shuttle must be reserved and paid for in advance. If you choose the center as the reason for your trip, planning around a scheduled retreat and checking the specific program are part of preparing for your visit.

Cultural and Ecological History

Cultural history is also part of the description of the area. The area of present-day Vallecitos lies within the territories of the Jicarilla Apache, the Muu-agha-tuzu-pu (Ute), and the Ancestral Puebloan Peoples. Numerous artifacts found on the retreat center’s grounds provide evidence of use by the Ancestral Puebloans. The Acequia irrigation system is another feature. Acequias are a traditional form of water distribution in New Mexico; the system distributes water across the center’s grounds and helps support a healthy ecosystem there. In this way, archaeological traces and traditional water distribution add cultural context to the area’s ecological description.

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Go to the main travel overview: Rio Arriba County.