In July we visited Villanueva State Park Campground in the Pecos River Valley.http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/emnrd/parks/
Nestled between high red sandstone bluffs along the Pecos River, near the picturesque Spanish-colonial village of Villanueva, lies Villanueva State Park. Villanueva State Park is a charming riverside park situated in a canyon of red and yellow sandstone cliffs. Towering cottonwoods and a variety of other native trees and shrubs add additional color to the landscape. The park's adobe-style picnic shelters were designed and grouped to resemble a Spanish hamlet, similar to those that existed in the area in earlier times. A footbridge gives hikers access to trails leading along the river to other sites, including a prehistoric Indian ruin and a cliff-top vantage point.
John and I had camped here 11 years earlier and wanted to bring our children to this beautiful place to hike, camp, swim and explore. In the pics above the boys are observing a golden eagle flying over the campground. The middle picture is a full view of the Pecos river valley. So green and verdant. The bottom picture was taken during one of the daily hikes that John and the boys took each day.
At the edge of the green field area, beside the river, sort of in the middle of the pic, is our pop-up camper and campsite.
Every morning, while the 'men folk' were out hiking, Jenna and I relaxed at the campsite sipping tea while watching and listening to the nature all around. My favorite thing to do was just gazing up at the cliffs as the sun peeked over in the morning...and as the moon slipped up above the cliffs at night.
