The pristine mountain-top vistas of the valleys and mesas below are renowned worldwide as some of the most remote and beautiful scenic areas upon the planet. From the mountain forests of Ponderosa Pines and Piñon to the high plains of grasses, sage brush, juniper and wild flowers – the Village of Magdalena and the surrounding region provide an intriguing diversity of historical and natural beauty to explore and photograph.
Alamo Navajo Indian Reservation
The Alamo Navajo Indian Reservation, being one of the most remote Navajo settlements in the west, is located 29 miles north of Magdalena. Being accomplished artisans, Navajo artwork, jewelry, and wool rugs can be found throughout Magdalena. The Navajo culture is alive and well here, complementing the diverse cultural mix found in the region.
The Navajo Prayer below, As I Walk in Beauty, represents a unique and sacred regard towards life and the earth. The public is invited to the annual "Indian Day Celebration," held around Columbus Day in October. You may call the Chapter House at 505-854-2686 for more information.
As I Walk in Beauty
In beauty, may I walk.
All day long, may I walk.
Through the returning seasons, may I walk.
Beauty will I possess again.
Beautiful birds...
Beautiful joyful birds...
On the trail marked with pollen, may I walk.
With grasshoppers about my feet, may I walk.
With dew about my feet, may I walk.
With beauty, may I walk.
With beauty before me, may I walk.
With beauty behind me, may I walk.
With beauty above me, may I walk.
With beauty all around me, may I walk.
In old age, wandering on a trail of beauty,
lively, may I walk.
In old age, wandering on a trail of beauty,
living again, may I walk.
If it is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
Bosque del Apache
The Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located 49 miles south of Magdalena. It is a refuge and breeding ground for waterfowl and other wildlife, particularly the endangered Greater Sandhill Crane, best seen during the winter months. Today the refuge has over 57,000 acres and provides habitat for some 325 different bird species.
Visitor center: 575-835-1828
Bosque del Apache web site.
Kelly Mine & Ghost Town
Historians and rockhounds will find a visit to the Old Kelly Mine, three miles south of Magdalena, to be unforgettable. From the silhouette of the old Kelly headframe to the dramatic view of distant mountains and plains, the secrets of the past still whisper upon the wind. In addition to a few ruins of the once thriving town of Kelly, the area still renders wonderful specimens of azurite, barite, quartz, and smithsonite.
Web Sites:
Ghost Towns (Kelly Mine)
Millenium Inc.
Rozylowicz Family (Travel - Kelly Mine)
Riley (Santa Rita) Ghost Town
Web site:
Ghost Towns of New Mexico – Riley
Very Large Array (VLA)
An astounding scientific wonder, the VLA is a collection of 29 large dish antennas spread out across the Plains of San Augustine just west of Magdalena. The facility is operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) for gathering the world's most detailed radio photographs of the cosmos.
An on-site visitor's center is open from 8:30 a.m. to sunset, featuring a video presentation, photo display and a self-guided walking tour. For more information, visit the VLA web site.
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This website made possible by the Magdalena Chamber of Commerce
and the New Mexico Department of Tourism.
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