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National Monument

El Morro National Monument

CautionJun 22, 2026

Stage II Fire Restrictions

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Park ClosureJun 15, 2026

Trail Closure

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El Morro with Sunflowers

El Morro with Sunflowers

Photo: NPS Photo

About

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.

Activities

Arts and CultureAstronomyStargazingCampingCar or Front Country CampingRV CampingFoodPicnickingGuided ToursSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingHikingFront-Country HikingJunior Ranger Program
Wildlife Watching
Birdwatching
Park Film
Museum Exhibits
Shopping
Bookstore and Park Store

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.

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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.

News

Jun 18, 2026

National Park Service Announces Stage II Fire Restrictions beginning June 22, 2026 for El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments

As a result of the high fire danger, Stage II Fire Restrictions are being implemented in El Malpais and El Morro National Monuments, effective June 22, 2026. These restrictions are necessary to reduce the risk of fire to protect public health and safety, and to protect National Park Service lands, resources, and facilities during the current period of increased fire danger.