City of Rocks State Park - New Mexico

Address:Faywood, New Mexico
Tel: (505) 536-2800

Over 30 million years old, the unique rock formations or monoliths at New Mexico's City of Rocks are a natural marvel. The pinnacles of rock here are actually arranged in rows and are separated by lanes, reminiscent of city streets. Visitors can ponder the decoration of arrowheads and pottery shards left behind by the Mimbres Indians as well as the crosses carved into the ash-rock by Spanish conquistadors. At an elevation of 5,250 feet, the park is brimming with wildlife such as antelope, javelinas, and jackrabbits, as well as desert plant life like yucca and bunny ear cacti. Those who decide to camp in the City of Rocks should not miss the star parties, complete with star interpretation and the howling coyotes of the desert night.

Formed of volcanic ash welded together 30 million years ago, then sculpted by wind and water into rows of monolithic blocks, these incredible rock formations give City of Rocks its name. New hiking trails and a new public night sky observatory add to this unique destination. Rock formations like those at the park exist in only 6 other places in the world. Imaginative visitors may see the rock formations as a small city with houses, chimneys, courtyards and streets. Until 1200 A.D., Mimbres Indians roamed this area, leaving arrowheads and pottery shards as evidence of their culture. Spanish conquistadors carved crosses into the rocks. The park's landscape harbors ungrazed and recovered Chihuahuan grassland. Mule deer, antelope, javelinas and jackrabbits can be seen here. City of Rocks was first to receive an observatory in the Division. The observatory consists of a 12' x 16' building with a roll-off roof and is permanently equipped with a 14" Meade LX-200. The entire facility is solar-powered and will include a 20-inch monitor, which will enable many visitors to simultaneously view the jewels in the night sky, as images are transmitted through the telescope.