Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th, 2023
Cost of trip: $85

More formally known as The Creston, Comanche Gap is a prominent volcanic dike that forms a curtain across the landscape in the southwestern portion of the Galisteo Basin. Famous in the pantheon of great New Mexico rock art locations, the south face of the top of The Creston is the canvas for a remarkable array of pecked images, most dating from the fifteenth through seventeenth centuries, and perhaps later. Warrior imagery is particularly abundant, but the range is wide and covers most of the iconic symbolism of the Galisteo Basin as a whole.

FOA has received permission to lead tours of the portion of The Creston on San Cristóbal Ranch on Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th, 2023. This will include an opportunity to see the most famous of the Comanche Gap images. We will offer two, small (12-person) tours throughout both days, the first beginning at 8am and the second beginning at 9:30am. This is the most rugged trip offered by FOA. The elevation gain is equivalent to rapidly climbing 20 flights of stairs with large steps and very uneven, and occasionally unstable, footing. The tour can take up to three hours, and everyone will need to carry their own water and whatever weather gear is necessary. At an elevation of 6500 feet, visitors from lower elevations should be prepared to move slowly. This tour is not recommended for anyone with heart, breathing, or agility problems (we were forced to remove several participants from the tour, for their own and others’ safety, the last time we offered it).

Details for reserving spaces on the Comanche Gap tour will follow and online reservations will be made through Eventbrite. Tour times will be assigned on a first-reserved, first-served basis. The cost of this trip is $85. Lunch will not be included. Bring snacks to keep yourself fueled. Porta potties will be provided. Spaces are limited.

Please check back on this website and the Museum of New Mexico Foundation's Friends of Archaeology website for updates.