Ghost Ranch


From 1934 onwards, before she made her home in Abiquiú, Georgia O'Keeffe lived and worked for extended periods on a dude ranch amid the colorful bluffs 15 miles northwest. Now a retreat center run by the Presbyterian Church, Ghost Ranch welcomes visitors and overnight guests. Most visitors come here for the hiking trails, the most famous of which is the 3-mile round-trip climb to Chimney Rock. Pick up a trail guide at the welcome center.

This distinctive landmark is visible from the highway, but the steep hike up to reach it, which takes around 40 minutes each way, is truly superb. Stupendous views unfold the higher you climb, while Chimney Rock itself, an enormous pillar breaking off from the mesa-top, is breathtaking.

Other activities at Ghost Ranch include guided tours covering themes such as Georgia O’Keeffe or the various movies (such as City Slickers) that have been filmed here, as well as horseback riding for riders of all levels ($95). Two small and unremarkable exhibits on local anthropology and paleontology are on display at the ranch museum. Review the website before visiting so you can maximize your time once you arrive.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Abiquiú Lake & Dam

6.81 MILES

Surrounded by red rock and high-desert terrain, Abiquiú Lake & Dam is a beautiful swimming spot. Facilities are managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers…

2. Monastery of Christ in the Desert

11.92 MILES

Day visitors are welcome at this ecosustainable Benedictine monastery, set in a secluded geological wonderland, for a unique spiritual-architectural…

3. Georgia O'Keeffe Home

12.17 MILES

Georgia O'Keeffe died in 1986, at age 98. The Spanish Colonial adobe house she restored is open for guided visits, run by the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in…

4. Dar Al Islam Mosque

12.18 MILES

Muslims worship at this adobe mosque that welcomes visitors. From Hwy 84, take Hwy 554 (southeast of Abiquiú) towards El Rito, cross the Rio Chama, take…

5. Georgia O'Keeffe Welcome Center

12.42 MILES

Opening its doors in 2018, this glossy ambassador for Georgia O'Keeffe ties it all together for road-tripping fans trying to navigate the O'Keeffe sites…

6. Poshuouinge Ruins

13.62 MILES

The site of a 15th-century 700-room pueblo, Poshuouinge (Village above the Muddy River) today is little more than prairie dog burrows and earthen mounds…

7. Tierra Wools

28.12 MILES

Just south of Los Brazos in Los Ojos, Tierra Wools is a century-old weaving cooperative in a historic building. Stop by on weekends for a glimpse of the…

8. Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo

29.54 MILES

Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, 5 miles north of Española, was visited in 1598 by Juan de Oñate, who named it San Juan and briefly designated it as the first…