El Morro National Monument, Ramah, New Mexico, USA
Rising 200 feet above the valley floor, this massive sandstone bluff was a welcome landmark for weary travelers.
El Morro National Monument: NM-53, Ramah, NM 87321
A reliable waterhole hidden at its base made El Morro (or Inscription Rock) a popular campsite. Beginning in the late 1500s Spaniards, and later Americans, passed by El Morro. While they rested in its shade and drank from the pool, many carved their signatures, dates, and messages.
The Oasis
Before the Spanish, petroglyphs were inscribed by Ancestral Puebloans living on top of the bluff over 700 years ago. The softness of the sandstone made it easy to carve pictures, names, dates and messages.
While many travelers rested in its shade and drank from the pool, many carved their signatures, dates, and messages.
Looking back
Looking forward onto the trail. From here, it goes uphill to the top of the bluff, but I stopped here and turned back.
Returning to the visitor center.
