
Overview
About El Morro National Monument.
Imagine the refreshment of finding water after days of dusty travel. A reliable waterhole hidden at the base of a sandstone bluff made El Morro (the headland) a popular campsite for hundreds of years. Here, ancestral Puebloans, Spanish, and American travelers carved over 2,000 signatures, dates, messages, and petroglyphs. Make El Morro National Monument a stopping point on your travels.
Weather
At an elevation of 7,219 feet (2200 meters) winters can be cold and snowy. Summers are warm with afternoon thunder showers from mid-July through mid-September. Trails can close unexpectedly due to severe weather. Average snowfall: 40 inches per year. Average precipitation (snowmelt and rain): 16 inches per year. Warmest month: July, with average highs of 84 degrees and lows of 52 degrees. Coldest months: December and January, with average lows of 14-15 degrees, and average highs of 44-45 degrees.
Gallery
Photos of El Morro National Monument.
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Things to do
Discover El Morro National Monument.

El Morro Campground
1-14 DaysEl Morro National Monument operates a free, nine-site campground with two vault toilets year-round. Sites are available by self-registration on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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El Morro Junior Ranger Program
Are you interested in becoming a Junior Ranger? Ask a ranger at the front desk for an El Morro Junior Ranger book. Complete the activities during your visit and return it to receive your badge.
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El Morro Visitor Center
For visitors who are unable to hike or would like to learn more about El Morro, the El Morro Visitor Center is a great stop. Learn more about the history of El Morro in the museum, by watching the park film, or chatting with a ranger.
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Hike the Inscription Rock Trail
30-60 MinutesThis 0.75 mile (1.2 km) trail takes you to the pool and past hundreds of Spanish and American inscriptions, and prehistorical petroglyphs. The trail is paved and the main 1/2 mile loop is wheelchair-accessible with assistance. This is a great option if you have an hour or less to spend at the park. It must be started no later than 4:00 pm.
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Hiking the Headland Trail
60-150 MinutesThis 2-mile trail includes the Inscription Loop and takes you to the top of the El Morro bluff. It is a moderately strenuous trail with a gain of 224 ft of elevation. Much of the upper section of the trail is on uneven sandstone so sturdy footwear is recommended.
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