Less than an hour from Albuquerque’s international airport and the allure of Santa Fe beats the heart of New Mexico. Can you hear it? Cool mountain forests. Hot springs. Lush riverbanks. High desert vistas. Can you see it? Spicy chile and exquisite wine. Can you taste it? Sandoval County is a land of contrast steeped in history. From pueblo Indians to Spanish explorers to Mexican traders, these diverse cultures continue to enrich this land and all its visitors. Can you feel it? From bustling Rio Rancho and Bernalillo to the serenity of Jemez Springs and wide-open wilderness, Sandoval County has plenty to offer.

For more information, visit:
Sandoval County Visitor Center
264 Camino del Pueblo
Bernalillo, New Mexico 87004
505-867-TOUR (8687) / 800-252-0191

Bernalillo is situated at the foot of the Sandia Mountains by New Mexico’s largest river, the Rio Grande. The charm of this small New Mexican town is still evident along its main street, Camino del Pueblo, and through its rural adobe haciendas and buildings like the historic Santuario de San Lorenzo.

Bernalillo is considered a gateway to numerous recreational sites in the nearby Sandia and Jemez Mountains and is a popular starting point for outdoor adventures. There are also seven Native American pueblos in the vicinity of Bernalillo, each one offering a different history as well arts and crafts, feast day celebrations, and casinos. Noted golf courses, some very popular local eateries, and historical sites like Coronado State Monument all welcome the curious explorer, and all are located in Albuquerque’s back yard! Bernalillo–just waiting to be discovered!

Just minutes north of Albuquerque (off of I-25, exit 242) in Bernalillo, is Coronado State Monument where Francisco Vásquez de Coronado—with 300 soldiers and 800 Indian allies from New Spain—entered the valley while looking for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. Instead he found villages inhabited by prosperous native people. Coronado’s party camped near the Tiwa pueblo of Kuaua, one of the many villages encountered by the explorers.

The Town of Bernalillo is set at the northwest slope of the Sandia Mountains and hugs the banks of the state’s major river, the Rio Grande. This community boasts being the historical center of the State of New Mexico with occupation reaching back almost a thousand years. Bernalillo progressed from a string of haciendas along the river in the 1600’s to a commercial center of trade among the pueblos and the Mexican settlers in the 1800’s. Founded by Don Diego de Vargas in 1695, the Town of Bernalillo remains a retail trade and service center for this part of the Rio Grande basin.