← Back to Search

El Morro National Monument

Designation: National Monument

Location: New Mexico

Visit Official Park Website

📘 Park Overview

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 Information

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.

🚗 Directions

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.

Images

El Morro with Sunflowers

El Morro with Sunflowers

Credit: NPS Photo

Pool at El Morro

A drinking hole for visitors for hundreds of years, the pool at El Morro has significant cultural and historical value.

Credit: NPS Photo

Trail at El Morro

Constructed by the CCC, the historic headland trail at El Morro offers visitors great views and the archaeological site of Atsinna.

Credit: NPS Photo

Atsinna Pueblo

Atsinna Pueblo sits atop the headland at El Morro

Credit: NPS Photo

Headland in Snow

El Morro blanketed with snow

Credit: NPS Photo

Activities

Topics

Operating Hours

Sunday
9:00AM - 5:00PM
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

Entrance Fees

No entrance fees listed.

Entrance Passes

No entrance passes listed.

3-Day Weather Forecast

Tuesday, Mar 3

Sunny

Sunny

High: 61.2°F | Low: 32.2°F

Humidity: 39%

Wind: 15.7 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 1.5

Sunrise: 06:41 AM

Sunset: 06:11 PM

Moon: Full Moon (100%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 33.6°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Wednesday, Mar 4

Sunny

Sunny

High: 60.8°F | Low: 31.6°F

Humidity: 33%

Wind: 12.1 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 1.6

Sunrise: 06:39 AM

Sunset: 06:12 PM

Moon: Waning Gibbous (100%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 31.3°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Thursday, Mar 5

Sunny

Sunny

High: 60.1°F | Low: 29.5°F

Humidity: 36%

Wind: 29.8 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 0

Sunrise: 06:38 AM

Sunset: 06:13 PM

Moon: Waning Gibbous (97%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 29.5°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Park Alerts

Stage II Fire Restrictions Park Closure
Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect beginning Thursday June 19, 2025. Due to high fire danger, El Morro is currently under Stage II Fire Restrictions. These include no campfires. No smoking except in an enclosed vehicle or other authorized area.
Trails Closed Park Closure
Trails are closed until further notice due to icy conditions. Roads to the Monument may be icy as well, use caution when traveling.
Trail closures possible with winter weather Park Closure
Portions of trails may close when snow or ice are present. Please check in at the visitor center for current trail conditions.
July 1: Partial Closure of the Inscription Loop Trail Park Closure
A short section of the Inscription Loop Trail is closed today due to a minor rockfall. Most of the trail is open but may require some backtracking to see all of the loop trail. For more information, please call the visitor center at: (505) 783-4226 x801
Stage II Fire Restrictions Park Closure
Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect beginning Thursday June 19, 2025. Due to high fire danger, El Morro is currently under Stage II Fire Restrictions. These include no campfires. No smoking except in an enclosed vehicle or other authorized area.
Park Bookstore & Giftshop Closed on Thursday Morning, Aug 28 for Inventory Park Closure
The Western National Park bookstore at El Morro National Monument Visitor Center will be closed for several hours on Thursday morning, August 28, 2025 for inventory.
Park closed on December 25 and January 1 Information
El Morro National Monument's visitor center and park trails will be closed on December 25, 2025, and January 1, 2026, in observance of the holidays. There is no access to the trails when the monument is closed.
Headland Trail Closed Park Closure
The Headland Trail is closed due to winter weather conditions.
Snow Delay Park Closure
Thursday, January 8. Due to inclement weather, El Morro National Monument will have a 2-hour delay in opening today. The monument will open at 11:00 am MST. The Headland Trail will remain closed until further notice.
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays Park Closure
Winter hours are in effect: the visitor center and park trails are open five days a week, from Thursday to Monday. Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There is no trail access when the visitor center is closed.

More Info

Water in campground is shut off for the winter Information
Due to overnight freezing temperatures, water in the campground has been shut off for the season. Visitors should plan to bring their own water. Small containers may be filled at the visitor center during business hours.

Visitor Center & Contacts

📍 Physical Address:
Mile Marker 44.6 Hwy 53
Ramah, NM 87321

🏤 Mailing Address:
HC 61 Box 43
Ramah, NM 87321

📞 Voice Phone: 5057834226

📞 Fax Phone: 5057834689

✉️ Email: wendy_gordge@nps.gov

Park Location

👏 Fun Fact
Loading fun fact...