Things to do
Raven Heart sits in the heart of O'Keeffe Country. Here is our short guide to the places worth the drive, and the one right outside your door.
Georgia O'Keeffe spent decades painting this valley. Her home, her ranch and her favorite places are all within a short drive.
Walk through the adobe home and studio where O'Keeffe lived and painted, on a guided tour that starts at the O'Keeffe Welcome Center on US 84.
Tours run March through November by reservation and often sell out, so book early.
Tour ticketsfor Georgia O'Keeffe Home and Studio (opens in a new tab)Some 21,000 acres of painted cliffs and quiet canyons. A day pass covers the hiking trails, including Chimney Rock and Kitchen Mesa, plus the ranch museums.
Check in at the Welcome Center first, and carry plenty of water: many trails have little shade.
Visit Ghost Ranchfor Ghost Ranch (opens in a new tab)A maze of towering white rock formations that inspired several O'Keeffe paintings, on the grounds of the Dar al Islam center.
Register online in advance to get the gate code, and admire the fragile rock without climbing it.
Register with Dar al Islamfor Plaza Blanca, The White Place (opens in a new tab)Canyons, cliffs and water, most of them along the same scenic stretch of US 84.
A great natural bowl carved into the sandstone of the Carson National Forest, just past Ghost Ranch. A short paved trail ends in a set of stairs and a viewing area where your voice comes back to you.
There is a small day-use fee. Stay on the trail, since the rocks are home to snakes.
Forest Service pagefor Echo Amphitheater (opens in a new tab)A long reservoir on the Rio Chama, ringed by red sandstone and watched over by Cerro Pedernal, the flat-topped peak O'Keeffe painted again and again. Good for swimming, paddling, fishing and picnics.
Water levels change a lot from year to year, so check conditions before you plan a swim.
Lake informationfor Abiquiu Lake (opens in a new tab)A Benedictine monastery at the end of a 13-mile forest road through the Chama River canyon. Day visitors are welcome in the church and the gift shop, where many items are made by the monks.
The road is narrow and winding. In a two-wheel-drive car, give it time to dry out after rain.
Directionsfor Monastery of Christ in the Desert (opens in a new tab)Hot springs, a historic general store and the best show of all, which starts after dark.
One of the oldest hot springs resorts in the country, with communal mineral pools, private tubs and a spa.
The scenic route runs north through El Rito.
Visit Ojo Calientefor Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs (opens in a new tab)Abiquiu's landmark general store has served travelers since the 1890s. Pick up groceries, wine, local gifts and books, fill the tank at the village's only gas station, and grab a green chile cheeseburger from the deli in back.
Bode'sfor Bode's General Store (opens in a new tab)Out here the best show starts after dark. Carry a blanket to the outdoor seating, let your eyes adjust, and watch the stars fill in over the ridge.
Further afield
Abiquiu is close enough to the rest of northern New Mexico for a day out, and far enough that coming home feels like a retreat.
Before you go
Let the heart of the desert bring you home to you.
