Formed of volcanic ash welded together 35 million years ago, then sculpted by wind and water into rows of monolithic blocks, these incredible rock formations give City of Rocks its name. Hiking trails, a botanical garden and a public night sky observatory add to this unique destination.

A Rocky Vacation
Rock formations like those at the City of Rocks State Park exist in only six other places in the world. Imaginative visitors may see the rock formations as a small city with houses, chimneys, courtyards and streets. Visitors can choose from 62 campsites scattered among the rocks, from which they can hike, bird watch, picnic, bike, take in the interpretive exhibits at the visitor center, explore the park’s botanical garden or star gaze.

Life on the Rocks
City of Rocks State Park lies in the Mimbres Valley of the Chihuahuan desert. The park and surrounding grassland support yucca, agave, cacti and ocotillo, while growing among the rocks are Emory and gray oak. Mule deer, roadrunners, javelinas, cactus wrens, western diamondback rattlesnakes, ground squirrels, coyotes and jackrabbits all make their home here.

History on the Rocks                                                                                        Until 1200 A.D., Mimbres Indians roamed this area, leaving arrowheads and pottery shards as evidence of their culture. The park also lies within the traditional homelands of the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache. Spanish explorers and settlers arrived in 1500 and mule trains loaded with copper from the nearby Santa Rita mine passed nearby on their way to Chihuahua from 1804 to 1834. After the Mexican War of 1846-48, the Mormon Battalion blazed a trail south of the park to link newly acquired New Mexico and Arizona with the eastern United States.

First Astronomical Observatory

Southern New Mexico is famous for its clear night skies and New Mexico State Parks established its first astronomical observatory at City of Rocks State Park. The observatory is a 12’ x 16’ building with a roll-off roof and is equipped with a 14" Meade LX-200 telescope. The entire facility is solar-powered and includes a 20-inch monitor, which enables visitors to view images of the planets, stars and constellations transmitted through the telescope.

Click here to find out more about upcoming star parties.

Getting There
To get to City of Rocks State Park from Deming, take US 180 northwest 24 miles; then go northeast on NM 61 for 4 miles to the park entrance road.

Park Map

Park Brochure

Park Management Plan

Park Photo Tour

   Fast Facts

Gate Hours
7 am - 9 pm

Park Ranger
Gabriel Medrano
(575) 536-2800
gabriel.medrano@state.nm.us

Address
P.O. Box 50
Faywood, NM  88034

Land
1230 acres

Elevation
5,250 feet

Precipitation
15.7 inches/year

Temperature
  January    53/25
   April        69/38
  July         86/56
 October    71/41

Current Fire Restrictions