Enjoy the quiet of an old adobe casita in a traditional Northern New Mexico village, only a stone’s throw away from a multitude of attractions and activities. Explore our beautiful canyons, rivers, mountains and unique communities in every direction from Lyden. Experience modern-day Pueblo communities, ancient petroglyph sites, scenic drives, National Monuments, hiking/biking trails, birding hotspots, Georgia O’Keefe’s home, mineral springs and local restaurants. More in “Show Host’s Guidebook”! The kitchen has all the utensils you might need to prepare your own meals. If you can’t find something you need, I’m happy to lend anything from my kitchen. Please wash the dishes and leave the kitchen as you found it. There is a patio with a fire pit for cookouts, marshmallow roasting (You'll find roasting forks in kitchen!) or just simply for relaxing in the evening. The tap water in the casita comes directly from my deep well. It is pure and fabulous. Guests will find a pitcher of cold water in the refrigerator and fresh mint to enjoy with it much of the year. There is one friendly dogs and four cats on the property. They may come around to see you, but please, don’t let them into the casita. Some guests may be allergic. There is a comprehensive House Manual in the Casita. It has just about everything you need to know to make you stay enjoyable and safe. Please read it thoroughly. Guests are welcome to explore the mesa directly behind my home. My dog may gleefully accompany you on your walk, but please let me know if you do not want her to go along. Don’t forget a hat, sunscreen and closed-toe shoes for safe hiking. And, be sure to carry plenty of water! I am usually available, at least by phone or text, to answer questions or suggest activities and interesting hikes of varying difficulty for guests. Located in Lyden, New Mexico, a traditional community along the Rio Grande, this beautifully restored adobe casita offers unique access to some of the hidden wonders of Northern New Mexico. Casita del Bosque is a quiet getaway halfway between the must-see attractions of Santa Fe and Taos and just a scenic drive away from the Georgia O’Keefe home and museums at Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch. The casita is part of a two-hundred-year old adobe house that shares a wall with a capilla, San Jose del Bosque, a small chapel built to serve the early Spanish settlers of the village of Lyden, formerly known as El Bosque (The Woods). Restored in 2007 to reflect its early New Mexico beginnings, the casita has ceilings of vigas (log beams) and split cedar latillas between the vigas, and brick floors. The kitchen is fully equipped for those who wish to prepare meals. Guests will find an assortment of breakfast foods to prepare as well as homemade goodies, coffee and a variety of teas. Casita del Bosque sits at the base of the massive Mesa Prieta, which harbors tens-of-thousands of petroglyphs dating from the very earliest inhabitants of this region. Adventurous visitors who hike up its rocky slopes gain a spectacular view of the valley below and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains beyond. They may even experience the thrill of encountering ancient petroglyphs or a lone coyote along the way. For a more choreographed experience on the mesa, the Wells Petroglyph Preserve, less than a mile away, boasts the largest array of flute player petroglyphs ever recorded. The Preserve offers twice-weekly group tours as well as private tours that can be arranged in advance on their web page. If a tour is not available during your stay, hundreds of petroglyphs can be easily viewed from the road. Just a few miles to the south are the Pueblos of Ohkay Owingeh, Santa Clara and San Ildefonso, where practicing traditional Native American artists offer their sought-after artwork for sale. If the timing of your visit is right, you may have the privilege of experiencing a Pueblo feast day with traditional dances that are open to the public. In addition, several Pueblos operate thriving casinos for more modern entertainment options. A short drive away, the town of Española offers an appealing array of restaurants, many featuring traditional Northern New Mexican cuisine. While in town, stop by the visitors’ center and enjoy the gallery and gift shop operated by the Northern New Mexico Regional Arts Center at the Plaza de Española or the one hundred-year-old Chimayò Trading Post. A few minutes outside of Española is the beautiful Santa Cruz church where you can see the lovingly restored retablos and paintings that are precious to this vibrant church community. Fifteen minutes to the north of Lyden is Dixon, a tiny town known for arts and crafts, its thriving theatre scene, its wineries and its award-winning community library. Just beyond Dixon at the village of Pilar, is Orilla Verde National Recreation Area, the southernmost extension of one of our newest national monuments, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. The road through Orilla Verde winds along the Rio Grande providing birders and fishers a unique opportunity to indulge their favorite pastimes. Alert visitors may even spot Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep along the canyon walls. You may access the famed High Road to Taos from Española. Once you turn east, you find yourself winding through beautiful New Mexico mountain villages including Chimayò, famed for its Santuario de Chimayò and traditional weavers. It is also home to Rancho de Chimayò, a favorite restaurant with locals and visitors alike. As you travel the High Road, you will be awed by the beauty of Truchas, nestled in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains at 8,000 feet. Here you turn north, passing through several small villages. At Las Trampas take time to visit the San José de Gracia Church, a designated National Historic Landmark. As you leave Las Trampas, look carefully to the east to see an ancient aqueduct made of hollowed-out logs that still brings water from a mountain spring to irrigate the fields below. You will find endless opportunities to indulge your fancies in any direction from Casita del Bosque, whether they lean toward hiking, biking, skiing, historical exploration, petroglyph viewing, birding, fishing, rafting, photography, visiting with artisans in their studios and galleries or enjoying a scrumptious meal. The Casita del Bosque Guidebook provides you with contact information, including web pages, for many of the sites mentioned as well as many others in Northern New Mexico. Your time at Casita del Bosque will provide a memorable experience, one that you won’t find in a city or a hotel. Reserve today! A car is a must for enjoying Northern New Mexico. As your visit draws near, I will send detailed written directions to my home. GPS may be unreliable in this area, so it is important that you have the directions with you and follow them carefully.