Leaving White Sands National Monument behind, the
next stop in our late-winter campathon was City of Rocks State Park near Deming, New Mexico. It’s not a large park, covering only one square mile,
and the hiking in isn’t what I’d call challenging, but it isn’t about those
things anyway: It’s all about the rocks.
The
park gets its name from its large unique rock formations which, from a
distance, look like city buildings lined up on a grid. They were formed about
35 million years ago when a large volcano erupted and covered the landscape in
a thick layer of lava. Over the course of millions of years, the rocks were
carved out by weathering, leaving behind a unique experience for campers and
daytime visitors.
The
view from the observation point puts the City of Rocks in perspective. Surrounded by flat desert
landscape, the rock formations stand out and resemble a city.
In
the evening, the great-horned owls come out to hunt, filling the night with
their loud, deep hoots. Before our trip to the City of Rocks, I’d never seen an owl in the wild and
(unfortunately) I wasn’t prepared for the encounter. The lens I had on my
camera was only an 18 to 50 mm and could hardly capture the moment.
The
campsites offer privacy in a beautiful western setting. At night while sitting
by the glow of a campfire as it lights up the rocks, it’s easy to imagine
yourself on a cattle drive or as part of a wagon train crossing the country.
Then again, it may have just been the wine.
The City of Rocks State Park, yet another reason they call New Mexico "The Land of Enchantment."
