Still in New Mexico - the nights are sure cold here!! Took another detour up to Silver City because the billboards along the way advertised Cliff Dwellings. On our way there we passed the City of Rocks, so once we were settled into the Walmart in Silver City we doubled back to check it out. 
It was established as a State Park in 1952 and and encompasses one square mile in the Chihuahuan Desert. The elevation is 5,200 feet.
The rocks forming the City of Rocks is known as the Kneeling Nun Tuff and were produced by a very large volcanic eruption that occurred millions of years ago.
The next morning we drove up to visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, which is 44 miles north of Silver City. Half of this drive was up this twisty windy little road, the second half was nice and flat. The sign read to allow two hours driving time, but it didn't take that long ....
At the Cliff Dwellings there is a one-mile loop trail which climbs 180 feet above the canyon floor.
The monument is a small site of just 553 acres, containing the ruins of interlinked cave dwellings built in cliff alcoves by the Mogolon people between 1275 and 1300 AD.
There were six caves at this site.
Cave three had stairs built to access the huge room.
Caves four and five were constructed on two levels.
These dwellings offers us a small glimpse of the homes and the lives of the people who lived there.
No comments:
Post a Comment