The Gran Quivira Ruins, located about 25 miles south of Mountainair, sit at an elevation of 6,500 feet. Visitors can explore the historic site via a 0.5-mile trail that winds through partially excavated pueblo ruins and the remnants of an unfinished mission church. Known as the best-preserved of the Salinas pueblos, Gran Quivira is one of the most celebrated archaeological sites in the Southwest. The ruins are steeped in mystery and romance, often linked to the legendary "Gran Quivira," a mythical city of wealth and splendor. This connection likely arose when early explorers, encountering the abandoned site, associated it with tales of a grand, lost city. The Gran Quivira Historic District was recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.