Bosque Redondo National Memorial in New Mexico, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-30. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site is a New Mexico state historic site about the forced removal and imprisonment of Diné and Ndé people. Begin with the museum exhibition, then choose an outdoor interpretive route. The lower nature trail has different accessibility from the visitor center.

Understand the place before walking it

The permanent exhibition, “Bosque Redondo…A Place of Suffering…A Place of Survival,” places the landscape in its history of forced removal. Combine the museum with the Old Fort Site Trail or the three-quarter-mile River Walk if the route suits your group.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Choose an appropriate outdoor route

The lower nature trail is not wheelchair accessible. Do not assume the museum’s ground-level access continues along every outdoor route. Contact staff ahead of time for an accommodation or for details that affect your group’s access.

Respect the memorial and exhibition

Flash photography is restricted in the exhibits. Professional photography requires written permission in advance. Pets can use the outside interpretive trail and river walk, with waste removed. Service animals are welcome inside the memorial.

Arrange special requirements before travel

Use the official visitor information for ticket access and visit arrangements. Contact the site before professional photography or a visit needing accommodation. A museum ticket does not substitute for the written photography permission.

Reach the Fort Sumner historic site

From Fort Sumner village, travel three miles east on US 60/84, then 3.5 miles south on Billy the Kid Drive. The official directions identify number 3647 on that road, Fort Sumner, NM 88119. Select the memorial rather than a different Fort Sumner museum.

Lake parks for a separate drive

Sumner Lake State Park is reached at 32 Lakeview Lane in Sumner Lake. Santa Rosa Lake State Park lies on NM Highway 91 near Santa Rosa. Both are separate road trips from the memorial. Check their current access and facility notices before adding either to your day.

Museum, fort site and river walk

• Read the permanent exhibition before exploring the historic landscape.
• Choose the Old Fort Site Trail for an outdoor interpretive component.
• Consider the three-quarter-mile River Walk as a separate route choice.
• Use the picnic area beside the river for a break.

Distinguish accessible areas from the lower trail

The visitor center, interpretive trail access and restrooms are at ground level and ADA accessible. Two wheelchairs are available in order of arrival. Accessible parking serves the visitor lot and old fort area. Read the site’s accessibility details before choosing a route. A museum shop and conference room are also listed.

A memorial to forced removal and survival

The state historic site interprets the Bosque Redondo reservation along the Pecos River. Its focus is the experiences of the Diné, also called Navajo, and the Ndé, also called Mescalero Apache, whom the U.S. Army forcibly removed from their homelands.

Imprisonment, departure and treaty

More than 8,500 Diné and nearly 500 Ndé people were held here at the reservation’s peak in winter 1864. Most Ndé left during the night in November 1865. The June 1, 1868 treaty allowed the Diné to return to their traditional homelands. These events give the outdoor landscape its meaning as a place of remembrance.

Contact the historic site

Call 575-355-2573 for visitor and accommodation questions. For accessibility arrangements, email [email protected] before your visit.