Posi-Ouinge, the 'Greenness Pueblo,' is a large prehistoric village dated to
the 13th through the 16th centuries AD. The pueblo may have had well over
2,000 rooms, making it one of the largest in the southwest. The village was
inhabited by Tewa Indians whose descendants now live near the Rio Grande in
the Espanola area. The word 'Tewa' refers to a group of Puebloan inhabitants
living along the northern Rio Grande and speaking a similar language. Today,
the pueblo lies above the hot springs resort at Ojo Caliente. A short, self-
guided hike beginning just west of the Mineral Spring Hotel takes you up onto
the river terrace above and then around the site through room blocks and to
vistas with beautiful views of the Ojo Caliente valley.

Posi-Ouinge, the 'Greenness Pueblo,' is a large prehistoric village dated to the 13th through the 16th centuries AD. The pueblo may have had well over 2,000 rooms, making it one of the largest in the southwest. The village was inhabited by Tewa Indians whose descendants now live near the Rio Grande in the Espanola area. The word 'Tewa' refers to a group of Puebloan inhabitants living along the northern Rio Grande and speaking a similar language. Today, the pueblo lies above the hot springs resort at Ojo Caliente. A short, self-guided hike beginning just west of the Mineral Spring Hotel takes you up onto the river terrace above and then around the site through room blocks and to vistas with beautiful views of the Ojo Caliente valley.

Bird's eye view of the park

Posi-Ouinge

The Old Spanish National Historic Trail links Santa Fe and Los Angeles across
six states and 2,700 miles. It traverses red rock mesas, passes below snow-
capped peaks, and fords untamed rivers, avoiding the immense depths of the
Grand Canyon and skirting the continent’s harshest deserts. The trail takes
its name from the Spanish colonies in northern New Mexico and southern
California that were linked by this rugged route. The Spanish outpost of Santa
Fe, New Mexico was founded in the early 1600s and the pueblo of Los Angeles,
California was founded in 1781. But it was not until 1829 when Santa Fe
merchant Antonio Armijo led 60 men and 100 pack mules northward on the trails
blazed by native peoples that a suitable land passage between these colonies
was established. Armijo’s mules carried woolen goods for trade in California.
On the return trip, Armijo backtracked along the route Spanish padres
Dominguez and Escalante recorded as they returned to Santa Fe from southern
Utah more than 50 years earlier. He and his men drove mules, horses, and
donkeys obtained in California for trade in New Mexico. Some of the several
Old Spanish Trail trade routes were eventually replaced by wagon roads, and
many portions of the routes remain today in state highway transportation
networks. The Old Spanish Trail was designated by Congress as a National
Historic Trail in December 2002. By memorandum from the Secretary of the
Interior, the Old Spanish National Historic Trail is jointly administered by
the BLM and the National Park Service, working in partnership with other
federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as private landowners
who manage or own lands along the trail route.

The Old Spanish National Historic Trail links Santa Fe and Los Angeles across six states and 2,700 miles.  It traverses red rock mesas, passes below snow-capped peaks, and fords untamed rivers, avoiding the immense depths of the Grand Canyon and skirting the continent’s harshest deserts.

The trail takes its name from the Spanish colonies in northern New Mexico and southern California that were linked by this rugged route. The Spanish outpost of Santa Fe, New Mexico was founded in the early 1600s and the pueblo of Los Angeles, California was founded in 1781. But it was not until 1829 when Santa Fe merchant Antonio Armijo led 60 men and 100 pack mules northward on the trails blazed by native peoples that a suitable land passage between these colonies was established. Armijo’s mules carried woolen goods for trade in California. On the return trip, Armijo backtracked along the route Spanish padres Dominguez and Escalante recorded as they returned to Santa Fe from southern Utah more than 50 years earlier. He and his men drove mules, horses, and donkeys obtained in California for trade in New Mexico. Some of the several Old Spanish Trail trade routes were eventually replaced by wagon roads, and many portions of the routes remain today in state highway transportation networks.
 
The Old Spanish Trail was designated by Congress as a National Historic Trail in December 2002. By memorandum from the Secretary of the Interior, the Old Spanish National Historic Trail is jointly administered by the BLM and the National Park Service, working in partnership with other federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as private landowners who manage or own lands along the trail route.

Old Spanish Trail National Historic Trail

**April 19, 2021 update:** The Orilla Verde Recreation Area spot known as the
The Bend **is now reopen after a temporary law enforcement investigation. Due
to cultural values, the placement of rock climbing hardware is prohibited in
some specific locations and near cultural sites.** The public should check
social media or contact the BLM Taos Field Office at 575-758-8851 for more
information.

The Orilla Verde Recreation Area is located within the Rio Grande Del Norte
National Monument and along the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River. Nestled
along the banks of the Rio Grande and within the steep-walled Rio Grande
Gorge, the campgrounds in this area offer nearby access to the river. The
elevation along the river is 6,100 feet and the steep canyon rises 800 feet
from the river to the Gorge rim.

Gentle waters with occasional small rapids flow through Orilla Verde,
providing an ideal setting for many recreational activities. Because of the
dramatic changes in elevation and the diversity of plant life, Orilla Verde
draws many species of animals, including raptors (such as eagles and hawks),
songbirds, waterfowl, beaver, cougar, ringtail, mule deer, and more. The Rio
Grande also has attracted humans since prehistoric times. Evidence of ancient
peoples is found throughout the Recreation Area in the form of petroglyphs on
the rocks and many other types of archaeological sites.

The climate at Orilla Verde is semi-arid, with summer thunderstorms common in
July and August, and snow possible from October through March. Summer
temperatures range from 45 to 90 degrees, and winter temperatures range from
-15 to 45 degrees.

April 19, 2021 update: The Orilla Verde Recreation Area spot known as the The Bend is now reopen after a temporary law enforcement investigation. Due to cultural values, the placement of rock climbing hardware is prohibited in some specific locations and near cultural sites. The public should check social media or contact the BLM Taos Field Office at 575-758-8851 for more information.The Orilla Verde Recreation Area is located within the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument and along the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River. Nestled along the banks of the Rio Grande and within the steep-walled Rio Grande Gorge, the campgrounds in this area offer nearby access to the river. The elevation along the river is 6,100 feet and the steep canyon rises 800 feet from the river to the Gorge rim.

Gentle waters with occasional small rapids flow through Orilla Verde, providing an ideal setting for many recreational activities. Because of the dramatic changes in elevation and the diversity of plant life, Orilla Verde draws many species of animals, including raptors (such as eagles and hawks), songbirds, waterfowl, beaver, cougar, ringtail, mule deer, and more. The Rio Grande also has attracted humans since prehistoric times. Evidence of ancient peoples is found throughout the Recreation Area in the form of petroglyphs on the rocks and many other types of archaeological sites. 

The climate at Orilla Verde is semi-arid, with summer thunderstorms common in July and August, and snow possible from October through March. Summer temperatures range from 45 to 90 degrees, and winter temperatures range from -15 to 45 degrees.

Posi-Ouinge

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Old Spanish Trail National Historic Trail

Orilla Verde Recreation Area