Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument and Friends of Mountainair Animal Shelter (FOMAS) have teamed up to invite the community to their monthly Bark in the Park hikes.
Ranger-led hikes will continue every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Quarai Mission Site until October 18.
While this month’s event was originally scheduled to take place at the Ábo Unit of Salinas Pueblo Missions, it has been moved to the Quarai Unit unless otherwise noted.
National parks are exciting places for pets, but they can also be overstimulating and intimidating for some furry friends.
Through outdoor exploration, pet education and advocacy, the goal is to learn to navigate the Salinas Pueblo Missions and how to make your pet a B.A.R.K. Ranger.
The acronym B.A.R.K. stands for:
Bag your pet’s waste.
Always leash your pet.
Respect wildlife.
Know where you can go.
Although each B.A.R.K. Ranger program is uniquely designed by its park, all participants are encouraged to follow the same core guidelines to ensure a positive experience for everyone on public lands.
Despite policies enacted by the Trump administration that weakened environmental protections, reduced National Park Service staffing, limited public input and threatened historical integrity, the National Park Service (NPS) continues to strive to engage the community and encourage active use of public lands.
This new NPS program, part of the Healthy People, Healthy Parks Initiative, aims to promote dog etiquette at parks and spread dog adoption awareness through collaboration with FOMAS.
FOMAS is a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the well-being of all dogs in their care. The hikes provide an opportunity to engage with them and gain insight into their mission and impact to improve the lives of dogs in local shelters.
This month’s event features a guided hike through the historic Quarai ruins, offering panoramic views of the Estancia Valley.
Participants will also receive instructions on trail safety and will have the opportunity to meet FOMAS’s official B.A.R.K. ambassador dogs.
Additionally, adoption fees for select dogs will be covered by Fortis Construction Inc., who generously sponsors the events to support pet adoption in the community.
The next hike in this monthly series will take place Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at the Quarai Mission Site.
The B.A.R.K. Ranger Program, which officially launched at Salinas Pueblo Missions on March 22, 2025, has since evolved into a monthly event occurring every third Saturday through October.
Hikers and their leashed dogs who participate and pledge to uphold the B.A.R.K. principles receive an official B.A.R.K. Ranger tag—a badge of honor in the growing network of dog-friendly national park initiatives.
The trail offers a scenic mix of historic ruins and natural landscapes—perfect for taking in the views, enjoying the fresh air and getting some steps in along the way.
The event is free and open to the public. Year-round, the B.A.R.K. Ranger Program is available at any of the park’s four visitor centers. Water, waste bags and sun protection are highly encouraged.
For more information, visit nps.gov/sapu, fomas.org, or call the Mountainair Headquarters Visitor Center at (505) 847-2585.