Fort Union National Monument Custom Search Fort Union was established in 1851 by Lieutenant Colonel Edwin V. Sumner as a guardian and protector of the Santa Fe Trail. During it's forty-year history, three different forts were constructed close together. The third and final Fort Union was the largest in the American Southwest, and functioned as a military garrison, territorial arsenal, and military supply depot for the southwest. Today, visitors use a self-guided tour path to visit the second fort and the large, impressive ruins of the third Fort Union. The largest visible network of Santa Fe Trail ruts can be seen here.    CONTACTS Email - FOUN_Administration@nps.gov Fax- 505-454-1155 Write to P.O. Box 127 Watrous, NM 87753 Phone Visitor Information - (505) 425-8025 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons Open daily, Memorial Day to Labor Day: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p. m.; winter: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed December 25, January 1. Getting There CAR - Travelers on Interstate 25, use exit 366. Follow the signs to Fort Union National Monument, eight miles off the interstate on New Mexico SR 161. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - No public transportation to Fort Union is available. Weather & Climate Sunny year-round with semi-arid conditions. July's average high is 85 degrees, low is 51 degrees. January's average high is 47 degrees, low is 16 degrees. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Accessibility The monument is accessible and a park wheelchair is available for loan.   FACILITIES FORT UNION VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Special Programs - JUNE First Fort Anniversary: 2001 marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Fort Union. JULY Cultural Encounters on the Sante Fe Trail: a living history camp, talks and demonstrations will be offered by soldiers, frontier women, teamsters, traders and a host of others, as these historic figures tell of their cultures and life on the Santa Fe Trail. AUGUST An Evening at Fort Union: experience Fort Union's past on an evening walk through the ghostly ruins. Scenes of past times at the fort will be re-created. Reservations are required. Call (505) 425-8025 for specific dates and times for all the above listed events. Exhibits - The visitor center exhibits tell of the construction of the three forts, the frontier army at Fort Union, the New Mexico volunteers, the Civil War in New Mexico, and the Santa Fe Trail. Available Facilities - Picnic tables are available. A sales area located inside the visitor center is operated by the Southwest Parks And Monuments Association, and carries a wide selection of New Mexico history, western women's history, and frontier military history books. Titles and price lists are available on request.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Fort Union National Monument.   Campgrounds Near Fort Union National Monument: Sierra Bonita Cabins and RV Park, Angel Fire, 19 miles away   Hotels Near Fort Union National Monument: Comfort Inn Las Vegas, Las Vegas , 26 miles away BEST WESTERN PLUS Montezuma Inn & Suites, Las Vegas , 27 miles away Days Inn Las Vegas, Las Vegas , 27 miles away Super 8 Las Vegas, Las Vegas , 27 miles away Knights Inn Las Vegas NM, Las Vegas , 28 miles away Resort Properties of Angel Fire, Angel Fire , 28 miles away Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites LAS VEGAS, Las Vegas , 29 miles away   Trails Near Fort Union National Monument: Santa Fe Trail, Mora County , 2 miles away Santa Fe Trail, Mora County , 2 miles away Santa Fe Trail, Mora County , 13 miles away   Ski Areas Near Fort Union National Monument: Angel Fire, New Mexico , 28 miles away, 2077 foot drop, 7 lifts, 74 runs Sipapu, New Mexico , 39 miles away, 1055 foot drop, 4 lifts, 31 runs Taos, New Mexico , 45 miles away, 2612 foot drop, 13 lifts, 110 runs Red River, New Mexico , 48 miles away, 1600 foot drop, 7 lifts, 58 runs Ski Santa Fe, New Mexico , 57 miles away, 1725 foot drop, 7 lifts, 69 runs Pajarito Mountain, New Mexico , 96 miles away, 1410 foot drop, 7 lifts, 37 runs   Public Lands Near Fort Union National Monument: Santa Fe National Historic Trail, Santa Fe - NM , 69 miles away Coyote Creek State Park, New Mexico , 18 miles away Morphy Lake State Park, New Mexico , 25 miles away Storrie Lake State Park, New Mexico , 26 miles away Cimarron Canyon State Park, New Mexico , 33 miles away