Photo: NPS Photo
Imagine the refreshment of finding water after days of dusty travel.
Weather now61°F Sunny
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.
The south portion of the Headland Trail is closed due to ongoing restoration work. Access to the trail will now close at 2:30 pm daily. All hikers must be off the trails by 4:45 pm.
5 experiences from the National Park Service, plus every activity offered in the park. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
El 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.
Learn more about El Morro Campground on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
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.
Learn more about El Morro Junior Ranger Program on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
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…
Learn more about El Morro Visitor Center on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
This 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…
Learn more about Hike the Inscription Rock Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
This 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…
Learn more about Hiking the Headland Trail on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)Showing 5 of 5
Pick one to find other parks that offer it.
1 campground listed on Recreation.gov. Check availability and current conditions before you go.
Not reservable on Recreation.gov Campground
El Morro operates a nine-site campground 7 days/week, year-round. First come-first served. Each site has a graveled tent pad, picnic table and ground grill for fires…
Find visitor services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Facility
Your visit to El Morro National Monument begins here. Park rangers and volunteers are available to answer your questions and orient you to the facilities and self-guided…
E. Highway 53, Mile 44.6, Ramah, NM (505) 783-4226 Directions
Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM · El Morro National Monument
Summer Hours (May 24, 2026 - October 17, 2026). Park visitor center and trails open 7 days/week. Winter Hours (October 18, 2026 - May 27, 2027). Visitor center and trails open 5 days/week. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Trail access begins at 9:00 am. Last admittance to the Headland Trail is at 2:30 pm MT. Last admittance to the Inscription Loop Trail is at 4:00 pm MT. There is no access to park trails once the visitor center closes at 5:00 pm. Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1.
| Monday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Thursday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Friday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Saturday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Sunday | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
No entrance fees listed.
66° 46°
56° 46°
53° 39°
Updated 2 hr ago
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.
Discover the many layers of history caputured in stone carvings along the Inscription Loop Trail. Join a ranger for this easy, half-mile guided walk. Bring water, a hat, and sun protection.
From Albuquerque, NM, or from the east: take Interstate 40 west to Grants. At exit 81, go south on Highway 53 for 42 miles to El Morro National Monument.
From Flagstaff, AZ, or from the west: take Interstate 40 east to Gallup. At exit 20, go south on Highway 602 for about 31 miles. Turn east (left) onto Highway 53. El Morro is 25 more miles.
Mailing address: HC 61 Box 43, Ramah, NM 87321
Ask about trails, fees, weather, events, or planning your visit.
AI answers can be wrong. Check official NPS info before you go.
