El Morro National Monument

El Morro ("The Headland") is sometimes called "Inscription Rock." The small mesa juts out into a broad, shallow valley that was easy travelling is early years. And there was a deep pool of water at the base, making it a reliable source of water. Several Spanish expeditions exploring the Southwest and seeking the Seven Cities of Gold passed on this route. They left "historic graffiti": names carved into the rock in ornate script. Later American expeditions also left their marks here.
In addition to the pool and the inscriptions, there are the remains of an Ancestral Puebloan pueblo on the mesa top, apparently for defense (reminiscent of Acoma Pueblo today). There are a couple of short trails, many interesting geologic and biologic subjects, and quiet surroundings.
Read less