We woke to another beautiful day...perfect weather for a travel day! But it's going to be a short one...about an hour to Deming, so we weren't in any huge hurry. While packing up, we met our neighbours, Al and Kathe, from Maine. They own a Grand Design Solitude and had been at the Elkhart rally last August and, of course, knew Pam and Red, the Wagon-masters running the rally. Small world!
While packing up, Dave came up with an idea that he ran by us...our reason for stopping in Deming is to go the City of Rocks State Park, so why don't we go the extra 25 miles to the park and if there is nothing available, we can just drive back to an RV park in Deming. I gave the park a phone call and found out that most sites are first come, first serve and currently there are 3 electric/water sites open and there are plenty of primitive sites open. Decision made...we will go all of the way to City of Rocks State Park.
Border Patrol Security Checkpoint...
Akela Flats...a cool little community...
Dave and Leslie following...
Almost there!
City of Rocks State Park!
City of Rocks gets its name from the incredible volcanic rock formations found here. The park encompasses a one square mile area in the scenic Chihuahuan desert region of southwestern New Mexico at an elevation of 5,200 feet.
We pulled in behind the Visitor Center at about 12:30...a short hour and a half drive...perfect! A volunteer working in the center suggested a few sites and 2 of them happened to be electric sites. We walked to the electric section to take a look...the 2 sites would be perfect for us...Dave and Leslie took the back-in site and we took a long pull-through, site E9.
After getting situated on our sites, we both started setting up. I happened to notice a familiar rig in the site next to us...and found out it was indeed Mark and Leslie, fellow RV-Dreamers. I knew they were planning on being at City of Rocks but didn't know when. They weren't home...so hopefully we'll be able to connect later on.
After we were set up, I walked back to the visitor center with Leslie and Dave to register and pay. There is a self-registration kiosk where we filled out the form and paid for 3 nights...$14/night! Sweet!
Our site...Dave and Leslie are in the row behind us, backing onto the desert...great view out their back window! Actually, there are no sites behind us, either, so our view isn't too shabby either!
After lunch, we headed out for a walk around the campground with Dave and Leslie...
The “city” is a geologic formation made up of large, sculptured rock columns, or pinnacles, rising as high as 40 feet and separated by paths or lanes resembling city streets. These rocks were formed about 34.9 million years ago when a very large volcano erupted. Then, erosion over millions of years slowly formed the sculptured columns seen today, creating a stunning, otherworldly landscape.
Look at that campsite ahead...
Cool!
There are some large sites, but we found most were not at all level...especially for big rigs like ours...
This is a trailhead...we're going to hike up to that peak tomorrow....
You can see forever from this site...
That middle rock looks like it's wearing a robe with folded arms...
Indian grinding holes called Mortars...
Our rig in the distance is second from the left...
Close up...Dave and Leslie's, largest rig on the right...
Leslie and Margaret...
Dave chill-axing!
A rock climber must have done this...
Lots of sites are very private...
See the small arch on the right...
Entrance to a rock garden...
Visitor Center...
There's a look out up there...
We stopped at the visitors center and checked out the displays...
Small, but very well done...now it's time to head back to our rigs.
We were back from our walk around 4:00...time to sit outside and toast our new location...we love it! Such a cool place! Good idea, Dave....and decision!
It wasn't long before it got too chilly, so we retreated inside for dinner...
....followed by a little TV, before calling it a night. Looking forward to a hike tomorrow!
What a fantastic place! We really liked City of Rocks and what a bargain at $14/night. We would go back there in a heartbeat but at 5200 feet it would have cooled off quickly.
ReplyDeleteGlad we decided to take a chance on getting a spot there. Sure beats a private campground!
DeleteGreat job scoring sites at City of Rocks! Does not surprise me that you ran into someone who knows Red and Pam, they are RV Rockstars!
ReplyDeleteFrom all their Grand Design Rallies they must have met thousands of RV'ers by now!
DeleteThat was a cool place. We really enjoyed it. You should have taken a site in the rocks though. If any were open that is.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very cool place! There were open sites but with overnight temps going below freezing we wanted power to run our electric heaters.
DeleteNice post. We were there about 3 years ago with the McCormacks. Love the landscape. Have a reservation in April as we travel East to GA to see our granddaughter.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I first learned of City of Rocks from reading Deb's blog and put it on our "must see" list! An amazing place.
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