Pecos National Historical Park · New Mexico

Glorieta Battlefield Trail

2.5 mi of trail, end to end · about 300 ft of climbing · 7,264 ft–7,361 ft

Bridges

7,307 ft 7,308 ft · 2.2 mi high 7,359 ft

Along the way Bridge Bridge Bridge Bridge Bridge Bridge Bridge

Hiking Glorieta Pass Battlefield the Park Service's write-up

90-150 Minutes · dogs allowed

A trail winds through shrubs and low trees, leading to a silhouetted windmill.
The shaded trail winds through sites associated with the 1862 Battle of Glorieta Pass. Photo: NPS Photo

When Union and Confederate forces met in battle at Glorieta Pass, they fought for gold and for control of the Southwest. The Glorieta Pass Battlefield Trail allows visitors to hike to several places where fighting took place. Though presently covered by a Piñon-Juniper woodland, locals and travelers had largely cleared Glorieta Pass of wood by 1862. Standing on Windmill Hill gives visitors the opportunity to see the terrain of the battlefield. Continuing the hike to Artillery Ridge allows visitors to stand near the position where the Union positioned mountain howitzers.

The trail is considered moderately strenuous; it is 2.25 miles long with approximately 500 feet of elevation change, and is composed of a dirt and gravel composite. There is a picnic table and a vault toilet; no other amenities are available at the trailhead. Please bring water and wear sunscreen. Pets are allowed on the trail provided they are leashed and under control.

Accessibility The Glorieta Pass Battlefield Trail is a moderately strenuous trail with steep grades. The 0.3-mile paved trail is more accessible and does not offer steep grades, but is not wheelchair-friendly due to trail width.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 3 trails in Pecos National Historical ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.