Round Trip Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6283 - 6316 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 1 hr.
Trailhead: Jemez Historic Site
Fee: $7/adult - under 16 free
Attractions: Pueblo/Spanish Mission
The Gisewatowa (GEE-say-wah-tuu-wah), Pueblo is located at the Jemez Historic Site in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. The name translates to "Village by the Sulphur" which is a reference to the many hot springs in the area. By manually counting the number of rooms in the user guide the massive pueblo appears to have had over 200 rooms just in the bottom story. Some parts of the pueblo were as much as 3 stories high.
Getting there is as simple as entering 'Gisewatowa Pueblo' or 'Jemez Historic Site' into your driving app. After arriving enter the Visitor Center where you can pay the entrance fee and begin your self-guided tour.
The paved path that leads through the pueblo is wheelchair accessible.
As soon as the trail begins it passes the first rooms of the pueblo before entering the pueblos plaza.
Within the area that was once the plaza there is a kiva that has been reconstructed.
Inside of the kiva.
Immediately to the east of the pueblo the mission church looms large.
When in use the walls of the church would have been plastered white and covered with painted frescoes and pine panels.
The pamphlet that serves as an interpretive trail guide mentions that the Jemez Mission was designed by Fray Geronimo Zarate Salmeron in the winter of 1621-22. To build something so lasting he must have had good engineering skills. The pamphlet mentions that the walls of the nave were 6 and 7 feet thick. All the wooden parts of the church were destroyed by a fire.
The rest of the ruins are part of the convento and the original mission church that was in use while the larger church was being built.
On the day that we were at the Jemez Historic Site it was getting a regular flow of visitors. Inside the Visitor Center they have a gift shop and a small museum. To get the most out of your visit they recommend going through the museum first to add more meaning to your self-guided tour. Those with kids can pick up a Junior Ranger Activity book before setting out.
The Gisewatowa Pueblo and Jemez Mission Church are well worth the entry fee and the time it takes for a visit.
If you would like to see them for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.
