El Morro National Monument

El Morro is a striking sandstone bluff in the New Mexico desert with a natural water pool at its base. The site includes hiking trails, a visitor center, and the remains of a Puebloan settlement on the mesa.

Between 1275 and 1350, more than 600 Ancestral Puebloan people built a settlement with 355 rooms on the mesa along a trade route. Later, Spanish and American travelers used the rock as a landmark and carved their names into its walls.

The rock walls hold carvings and inscriptions left by Pueblo peoples, Spanish explorers, and American settlers from different eras. These layered marks show how different groups used the same landmark across the centuries.

The site offers hiking trails to the mesa top and inscriptions wall, suitable for different fitness levels. Nine camping sites on-site allow for extended stays, while the visitor center provides information on geology and cultural history.

The Spanish governor Juan de Oñate left one of the oldest European inscriptions on the rock in 1605. His carving remains visible today and marks early European contact with the region.

Location: Cibola County

Inception: December 8, 1906

Operator: United States National Park Service

Website: https://nps.gov/elmo

GPS coordinates: 35.03830,-108.35300

Latest update: December 20, 2025 15:51