El Morro National Monument protects a sandstone bluff surrounded by the Navajo Nation. We arrived in the morning and after listening to a ranger talk started hiking.

There is a trail that goes up one side of El Morro, down the other, and back around. We opted to ascend the portion closest to the visitor center as it has a series of steps to climb - we figured that would be preferable to walking down them. It was a hot walk up as there was not a cloud in the sky.

At the top, we entered the remains of a pueblo settlement. This settlement was occupied by the Zuni, who are now located to the west of El Morro. There were 800 or so rooms making up the pueblo. Only a few have been excavated, including a circular and a square kiva.

After taking a look at the pueblo, we continued along the trail at the top of El Morro. There is actually a box canyon running through the middle of it, making for an interesting scene. We eventually made our way down the switchbacks to the other side.

Walking back towards we started, we reached a section that contains 2000 or so petroglyphs and inscriptions carved into the sandstone face of El Morro. Petroglyphs were carved when the Zuni occupied the pueblo above. When the Spanish came around to conquer, they left inscriptions as well. After taking New Mexico, American inscriptions were added.

Near the inscriptions, there is also a year round natural pool of water. It fills from rainfall flowing down from El Morro. There is no output so the water stays there until it evaporates.