City of Rocks State Park

The City of Rocks State Park in the southwest of the USA was founded in May 1952. It covers a relatively small area of only about 2 km ² and is located at about 1,800 meters altitude in the Chihuahuan Desert region in southwestern New Mexico between Deming and Silver City in Grant County northeast of the intersection of U.S. Highways 180 with the New Mexico State Route 61

The park is visited by approximately 50,000 people a year who use the majority of the camp, which was embedded in the rock formation.

The attraction of the park are the large granite boulders that rise up to 15 meters and are separated by narrow paths. The rock formations in the park are geologically very exceptional.

Formation

The rocks formed during a large eruption about 35 million years ago. Erosion over many millions of years, the rocks were brought into the present forms.

History

Around the year 1200 Mimbres Indians populated the area and left arrowheads and shards of pottery. Spanish conquistadors came past the rocks and reported it. In May 1952, the State Park was established.