El Morro National Monument
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courtesy of the National Park Service |
Contact Information:
El Morro National Monument
HC 61 Box 43
Ramah, NM 87321
505-783-4226
http://www.nps.gov/elmo/
Size: 1,279 acres
Location: El Morro National Monument is situated 125 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. From I-40 at Gallup (56 miles), go south on NM 602, then east on NM 53 through Ramah. From I-40 at Grants (42 miles), go southwest on NM 53.
Description: "Inscription Rock" is a soft sandstone monolith, rising 200 feet above the valley floor, on which are carved hundreds of inscriptions from early travelers. The monument also includes pre-Columbian petroglyphs and Pueblo Indian ruins.
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El Morro National Monument |
If you have at least 1 1/2 hours, you can continue past the inscriptions and up to the top of the mesa along Mesa Top Trail. There, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Zuni Mountains, the volcanic craters of the El Malpais area, and the El Morro valley. The Mesa Top Trail is a two-mile loop which includes Inscription Trail. A 250 ft. elevation gain and the uneven sandstone surface makes this a moderately strenuous hike. Sturdy walking shoes and water, particularly in the hot summer months, are necessary. Portions or all of the Mesa Top Trail can close due to severe weather, especially during the winter.
Operating
Hours: Visitor Center: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Trails: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. Closed December 25 and January 1.
History: Proclaimed on December 8, 1906.
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Monuments
See other New Mexico National Parks