El Morro National Monument and other attractions near by
Details
This will be a two day outing. The plan is to visit El Morro National Monument (NM), Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano, and La Ventana Natural Arch. We will visit El Morro NM and Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano on Saturday. We will be staying in Grants, NM Saturday night. Each one can individually decide on staying in a hotel, campground, or Airbnb. Each participant will be responsible to drive to this outing. Attendee’s can coordinate car pools with other attendee’s if you wish.
Sunday morning, plan on meeting at the La Ventana Natural Arch visitor center at 9:30 am. Itinerary for this day follows below.
Saturday, 30 May
From Albuquerque we will be driving to El Morro National Monument (NM) Saturday morning. Please plan on leaving at 8 am to arrive at the El Morro NM visitor center no later than 10:30 am. According to Google maps the distance from the center of Albuquerque to the visitor center is 120 miles. Please plan accordingly.
From the visitor center, we will be doing the inscription loop trail. This trail will take us by inscriptions left by travelers. Doing the entire trail should take us about three (3) hours and I rate this hike as moderate.
El Morro is dog friendly! At El Morro NM, you may take your pet on the trails with you. Your pet must be under control and on a six (6) foot leash at all times. Pet owners must bag and properly dispose of pet waste. Note: Pets are not permitted in the visitor center. These same rules pertain to the other two locations as well.
After having lunch, we will proceed to Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano. There is a one hour hike to both features. There is a $14 entry fee (I might be able to get a group discount) for adults – children are less. The following link provides information on the hike.
After visiting/hiking the area we will be driving to Grants and spending the night there.
Sunday, 31 May
We will be meeting at the La Ventana Natural Arch visitor center at 9:30 am. From there we will drive to the Sandstone Bluffs overlook. Should take us about 30 minutes to explore this area.
Next, we will be driving to the La Ventana Natural Arch. This is an easy walk to the arch. Visiting this area should take about 30 to 45 minutes.
Optional – for those interested, we will be doing the Narrows Rim hike. For those NOT interested on doing this hike, at this time you can return home (please drive carefully!).
This hike will take us about 4 to 5 hours and is an 8 mile round trip. I would rate this hike as moderate to difficult due to the distance and elevation gain/loss (593 feet). It will take us to a plateau that overlooks the arch.
Description: The Narrows Rim Trail gives hikers the opportunity to witness geologic processes, thousands of years apart. Stroll along the ancient mesa top and view the much younger lava flows below. This remarkable scenery of the lava beds and surrounding countryside ends with a picturesque view of La Ventana Natural Arch.
Return home at the conclusion of the hike (please drive carefully!).
At all times be respectful of your activity leader and other participants, follow the trip leader’s direction and do not venture out on your own. Participate in all activities in a friendly and positive manner. Manage your posts (sign-ups): if you have posted onto an activity, you are expected to post out at least 48 hours before the activity in order to allow those on the wait list to participate. Shorter notice may be excused based upon extenuating circumstances. No shows will be cause to be blocked from future outings. Please no religious or political discussions in the carpool, on the trail or on an activity.