Fort Union

New Mexico is rich in history, and many of its National Park units protect this history, both Native American sites and sites which speak to the United States’ westward expansion. Fort Union was perhaps the most important fort in the Southwest because it not only protected the important Santa Fe Trail, but it was a major supply and ammunition depot that supported the strong military presence for hundreds of miles. It was important enough to become the target of a Confederate campaign that was narrowly turned back at nearby Glorieta Pass, preserving the whole of the west for the Union. The site of the crumbling adobe fort (the second of three built here) was designated a National Monument in 1954.

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This is the view from the trail through the fort–old roads are still clear, as are the brick chimneys of the quarters including these officers quarters

Our Visit I visited Fort Union in late September as part of a road trip across New Mexico

Our Weather Overcast and low 50s

Overall Impression Fort Union National Monument isn’t home to stunning scenery or even the best preserved remnants of a fort or pueblo construction from the 1800s, but it’s still worth a visit to understand a little of what life was like for soldiers and the intrepid traders and travelers who were part of the United States’ expansion into the southwest. Where the Spanish had come to this area to open trade, exploit resources and start missions, the Americans traveled west to not only trade but to settle and seek a new life and in doing so, expand the nation. While just 10 minutes from a major freeway, Fort Union still has the isolated feel that helps visitors imagine what it must have been like for the fort’s brief existence.

Visiting Fort Union is easy to visit if you’re traveling on I-25 through northern New Mexico. It’s about a 10-minute drive from the freeway, and a visit only requires a 60-90 minute detour. Any visit should start at the Visitor Center which is located at the ruins of the fort. From there, you can see the fort, or better yet, you can walk the trail and get close to (but not into) the ruins. The trail is a large loop, but for a shorter visit, you can take a path that cuts across the loop and still see about 1/2 the fort. Along the way, well illustrated signs show you what the buildings looked like in their heyday and describes the life of a soldier, an officer, a laundry maid, even a prisoner at the fort.

Ironically the last fort built here is very tough to see–it was an earthwork fort built to fend off a possible Confederate invasion during the Civil War (the Confederates actually got pretty close)

For a longer visit, you can walk the entire trail around the fort and take some of the excursions including a short trail to the site of the third and final fort built at the site, a barely visible set of earthworks built to withstand a cannon assault built during the Civil War. Another short trail goes to the large ruins of the hospital near the parking lot. With a little more time, you can explore two pullouts on the road between the site and the interstate, one an overlook of the fort area and the other a deep channel carved into the earth where the Santa Fe Trail used to pass known as the Mountain Branch Ruts. Even with these extra stops, you’ll still be able to see everything in under 2 hours.

Suggestions If you can, do a little research on the Santa Fe Trail before you come to have a better appreciation for why this fort was so important. If you have a choice, pick a sunny day to visit to better appreciate the bright color of the fort’s adobe construction. Fort Union is also closely tied to the Battle of Glorieta Pass which is preserved as part of Pecos NHP just over an hour south on I-25. If your schedule permits, I recommend seeing both sites in conjunction with each other, especially if you like Civil War history.

Nearby Towns Watrous, Raton, Las Vegas (NM)

Other Nearby Attractions Pecos NHP (NM)

Official NPS Website Fort Union National Monument

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