El Morro National Monument

I started the morning off at El Morro. This pretty sandstone bluff marked one of the most important spots in the desert. A reliable source of water hidden at the base. The rock became a place where people visited for water and left their name in the stone. Plenty of carvings dating back hundreds of years can be found in the stone.

Aztec Ruins National Monument

The distance to Aztec Ruin National Monument is very deceptive. I ended up driving over 3 hours to get here from El Morro. I arrived shortly after 4pm and had plenty of time to explore the ruins before closing time at 5pm.