Medicine Lodge Ranch
Located more than 7,500 feet high in New Mexico’s own Santa Fe National Forest, our family ranch sits on over 185 acres of serenity, surrounded by seemingly boundless and unspoiled wilderness. From our vibrant gardens and glistening ponds to our well-maintained walking trails, wondrous rock formations, and numerous meditation perches, Medicine Lodge Ranch was intentionally designed by Dr. Low Dog herself as an invitation to strengthen your connection to nature, rejuvenate your spirit, and nourish your mind.
This sacred land we call home was originally part of the Pueblo Nation’s territory. Today the remnants of the Pecos/Cicuye Pueblo are part of Pecos National Historical Park. When we moved to the ranch, a Pueblo sculptor told us, “the spirits of this land are ancient, and they want you to sing to them.” It is our family’s priority to be good caretakers and to honor the ancestors, the plants, and the animals that inhabit this place. And we believe it is an unforgettably transformative place for our students who seek to continue their education.
Over 100 medicinal plants can be found in the gardens, both wild and cultivated. On our fields and mountains, you’ll spot scarlet gilia, plantain, horsetail, bee balm, barberry, wild roses, one-seed juniper, dock, purslane, three-leaf sumac, globemallow, mullein, vervain, horehound, uva-ursi, and gumweed. Echinacea, elecampane, marshmallow, lemon balm, motherwort, catmint, hops, astragalus, chamomile, and others thrive in our gardens. Here you will experience, taste, harvest, and learn from a wide array of plants.
In addition to abundant plant life, we are blessed to share this land with a variety of animals. Over the years, much of the wildlife at Medicine Lodge Ranch has become a part of our family. We’ve set up trail cams all over the ranch to capture their magic. Beautiful bears traverse our mountain, stopping to drink from the springs that cascade down to a part of the ranch we’ve appropriately named Bear’s Hollow. Enormous elk regularly come down from higher elevations to graze. Two majestic mountain lions we’ve named Naja and Ali make special appearances occasionally. Bobcats, foxes, ring-tailed cats, and a coyote family are permanent residents. And the birds! Red-tailed, Swainson, and sharp-shinned hawks, regal ravens, mourning doves, grosbeak, western tanager, black-capped chickadees, robins, stellar jays, Calliope and Rufous hummingbirds, and many more are frequent visitors of the ranch. We also share our lives with horses, chickens, beloved canines, and one sweet cat.
The land, plants, animals, and people are all part of what we call the Medicine Lodge Ranch and we look forward to sharing it with you during one of our herbal intensives. Ready to plan your trip? Click here for travel information.