Be advised that the NPS has issued alerts for this park.

Stage II Fire Restrictions

Stage II Fire Restrictions will be in effect beginning Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Due to high fire danger, El Morro will implement Stage II Fire Restrictions. These include no campfires. No smoking except in an enclosed vehicle or other authorized area.

Water in Campground is Shut Off for the Winter

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.

Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays effective Oct 20

Winter hours begin on October 20, 2024: the visitor center and park trails will be open five days a week, from Thursday through Monday. Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There is no trail access when the visitor center is closed.

Title El Morro
Park Code elmo
Description 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 Ameri...
Location
Contact
505-783-4226, 505-783-4689
wendy_gordge@nps.gov
Activities
  • Arts and Culture
  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • RV Camping
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
Entrance fees
Campgrounds Count: 1

El Morro Campground

  • No reservations; first come, first served.
Places Count: 0
Visitor Centers Count: 1

El Morro Visitor Center

  • El Morro Visitor Center
  • 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 trails. Both of the park trails begin at the visitor center.
Things to do Count: 5

  • El Morro Campground
  • 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.

  • Hiking the Headland Trail
  • 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 trail is on uneven sandstone so sturdy footwear is recommended.

  • Hike the Inscription Rock Trail
  • 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 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.
Tours Count: 0
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