El Morro National Monument

Address:Ramah, New Mexico
Tel: (505) 783-4226

Explore a waterhole hidden at the base of a massive sandstone bluff! El Morro National Monument was once a popular campsite for ancestral Pueblos as well as Spanish and American travelers who rested and drank here, leaving their mark for visitors to enjoy hundreds of years later!

Today, El Morro (meaning "the bluff") National Monument protects over 2,000 inscriptions and petroglyphs, as well as Ancestral Pueblo ruins. The exhibits in the Visitors Center span 700 years of human history and a video program provides a great introduction to the area. If looking to take in some fresh air while you're at El Morro, there are two self guided trails including the Inscription Trail, a 1/2 mile round-trip walk on a paved surface which takes you to Inscription Rock where you can see petroglyphs, hundreds of Spanish and Anglo inscriptions and messages, and 1800's autographs. If you choose the Mesa Top Trail, the 2 mile round-trip hike which begins at Inscription Rock and continues to the Anasazi ruins, be sure to bring sturdy walking shoes and water—this 200 foot climb and the uneven sandstone surface makes it more suited for experienced hikers. El Morro National Monument is open year-round and operates a 9 site campground year-round, each complete with graveled tent pads, picnic tables and ground grills.

To get here from Grants, New Mexico, take I-40 to NM 53 west. Pass the El Malpais National Monument to the El Morro National Monument turnoff. Come prepared for intense walking through beautiful, historic grounds!