City of Rocks

City of Rocks State Park - New Mexico

327 NM-61, Faywood, NM 88034

(Not to be confused with City of Rocks National Reserve in Cassia County, Idaho)

Following our long slow trek across Texas, we stopped for a night in New Mexico at the City of Rocks State Park.

Who could have ever thought that a huge pile of rocks and a desolate dessert basin could be so breathtaking and serene?

Coming into the park we drove down off the flat desert, looking down into what felt like a shallow depression or valley where all the sand had eroded away to a flat dry basin and left an odd mess of rocks spilled in the middle of the valley floor.

Driving into the City or Rocks campgrounds.

The sun was still high in the sky and the lack of shadows disguised the scale of the stones.

As we made it to the bottom of the slope and had to look up at the rocky slabs lining the drive to our campsite, the monumental size of the rocks became apparent and the contrast to the flatness of the surrounding dessert floor now obvious. Some of the stones were as much as 3 or 4 stories high.

 We pulled into our reserved campsite close to the end of the campground, our rig too large to fit in one of the cozy campsites nestled in the rocks. Like all of the campsites in the desert, the views in every direction are pretty much fully exposed to the sun and wind.

Looking down onto an occupied campsite nestled in the towering rocks.

And it is hot outside. Really hot. So hot that sweat evaporates from your skin as soon as it forms. 106 degrees was the last report at about 3pm. In the shade with a 12mph breeze, it is tolerable if you don’t move too much. But we still have to set up camp.

Walking by an empty campsite.

Unfortunately for Tyson, as seems to be the case almost everywhere we have been so far, all the hook ups are sunny side on the camper. Of course, my hero braves the inferno without complaint to get the air conditioners going in the RV. 

Once we were set up, we geared up for a short scouting trip of the campgrounds. The roads and campsites are very well maintained.

Climbing one of the many rock trails.

Dispersed among the sand and gravel, nestled in the wind break of the rocks is a tree, gnarled and old, but no taller than a shrub at 6 or 7 feet. Occasional tufts of grass and a cactus or two are peppered in the open spaces between the roadway and the boulders.

That anything, plant or animal, could live in this harsh environment is mind blowing. Yet, the kids managed to find plaques with information about the local plant life.

Educational plaques outside of the visitor center.

They also managed to find a rattlesnake on the way back to the camper. Shutter – yeah no picture to remember that!

As we made our way back to the campsite, the sun began to set. The array of reds, oranges, and pinks colored the sky like the azaleas of a southern botanical garden in full April bloom. The rocks suddenly come alive as fiery pillars. And in less than 20 minutes, the sky seems to almost instantly turn that deep purple that precedes total darkness.

I am amazed at the briefness of the show. During the heat of the day, the sun seems to creep insufferably slowly across the enormity of the sky. In contrast, darkness is a shutter that falls quickly.

Even as the temperature drops with the disappearance of the sun, it is too hot to cook outside. And yet, as I wonder at the quiet stillness of the shadowy view from my seat on top of the covered picnic table, I consider braving the heat.

Instead, we move inside so as not to disturb the peace. Later in the evening will be more comfortable, when Tyson will inevitably want to stargaze.

Heart shaped rock in City of Rocks State Park.

You can find out more about the City of Rocks New Mexico State Park campground here: Campground Details - City of Rocks, NM

Happy Trails!