Site preserves the second of three forts constructed on the site beginning in 1851, as well as the ruins of the third
General Information
Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
How to Get There
From Las Vegas, NM (28 mi): Take I-25 north to exit 366 at Watrous, then follow NM-161 east for about 8 miles to Fort Union National Monument.
Overview
Fort Union National Monument preserves the second of three forts constructed on the site beginning in 1851, as well as the ruins of the third. Also visible is a network of ruts from the Mountain and Cimarron Branches of the old Santa Fe Trail.
Walk the Fort Union Ruins Trail
The self-guided interpretive trail takes you through the remains of Fort Union, including barracks, officers’ quarters, and the hospital. This easy 1.25-mile loop lets you explore the fort at your own pace while learning about daily life in the 1800s.
See the Santa Fe Trail Ruts
One of the most unique experiences is viewing the preserved wagon ruts of the Santa Fe Trail. These grooves were formed by thousands of wagons and illustrate the importance of this historic trade route through the Southwest.
Explore the Historic Fort Ruins
Walk among the adobe ruins of one of the largest 19th-century military forts in the region. Highlights include the officers’ quarters, hospital complex, and Mechanics Corral, all of which provide insight into frontier military life.
Visit the Visitor Center
Start your visit at the Visitor Center to explore exhibits, artifacts, and a short film about Fort Union’s history. Rangers are available to answer questions and help you plan your time at the monument.
This article uses material from the official National Park Service pages for Fort Union National Monument, as well as supporting travel and park resources including Things To Do - Fort Union National Monument, Guided Tours and Talks, Fort Union Visitor Center Guide, Western National Parks Association, and Secrets of Fort Union National Monument.
There is a visitor center with exhibits about the fort and a film about the Santa Fe Trail. The altitude of the Visitor Center is 6760 feet (2060 m). A 1.2-mile (1.9-kilometre) trail winds through the fort's adobe ruins.
The fort was established in the New Mexico Territory, on the Santa Fe Trail. It was provisioned in large part by farmers and ranchers of what is now Mora County (formally created in 1860), including the town of Mora, where the grist mill established by Ceran St. Vrain in 1855 produced most of the flour used at the fort.
The fort served as the headquarters of the 8th Cavalry in the early 1870s and as the headquarters of the 9th Cavalry in the late 1870s during the Apache Wars.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Fort Union National Monument", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
Featured Trails
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Fort Union Interpretive Trail
difficulty: Easy
A self-guided loop trail that takes visitors through the full extent of the fort ruins, including barracks, hospital remains, and officers' quarters.
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Short Fort Union Loop
difficulty: Easy
A shorter section of the interpretive trail that allows visitors to see key ruins and exhibits in a quick and accessible walk.
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Santa Fe Trail Ruts Path
difficulty: Easy
A short path leading to preserved wagon ruts from the historic Santa Fe Trail, offering a direct connection to 19th-century travel.
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Prairie View Walking Path
Difficulty: Easy
A scenic walk across open grasslands surrounding the fort, ideal for enjoying views and spotting wildlife like prairie dogs.
