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Categories: Arts & Culture; Sports & Recreation; Outdoor Adventures; History & Heritage; Local Highlights
Overview. Don Juan de Onate passed by El Morro, or "the headland," several times before he decided to add his inscription to the Anasazi petroglyphs carved at the base of the sandstone mesa in 1605. His proud proclamation of himself as a discoverer of the "Sea of the South" (the Gulf of California) began a tradition among Spaniards along the trail, a tradition that was carried on by settlers bound for California 250 years later. A pool of clear water at the foot of El Morro provided an oasis for travelers along the dusty trail. Until the railroad bypassed the track in 1881, it was a popular resting place along the westward journey. One group of 26 emigrants carved their names on what is now called "Inscription Rock." Today we can read the record of a thousand years in the carvings at El Morro.
The Anasazi didn't come to El Morro just to get water and etch symbols into its sandstone face. High atop the mesa they built a large pueblo that housed as many as 1,500 people. Excavated in the 1950s and called A'ts'ina, or "place of writings on the rock," these ruins, as well as a smaller, unexcavated site, can be reached via trail from the visitor center. The view from the top of El Morro is a panoramic vista of distant tablelands and, in season, a desert blanketed with vivid wildflowers.
What to see and do. Start your tour by taking in the 15-minute orientation video at the visitor center, then wander through the museum where exhibits spanning 700 years of southwestern culture, including artifacts discovered at A'ts'ina, are on display. From the visitor center, a half-mile loop takes you to the pool at El Morro's base and the inscription-laden rock wall. If you have the stamina for a 200-foot climb over uneven trail, your hike to the top of El Morro (two miles, round-trip) will be well worth the effort. The fascinating ruins and breathtaking views are their own rewards. Be sure to carry plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes.
A small campground (nine sites, first-come, first-served) is located amid a grove of pinon. The park is open year-round except for Christmas and New Year's Day. The visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer and to 5 p.m. the remainder of the year. Park trails close one hour prior to the closing of the visitor center.
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