(Distance from 66...approx. 20 miles roundtrip.  Time to allow: 1-3 hours)    

    Heading west on our beloved 66, pay attention to the road signs a few miles east of Grants.  New Mexico highway 117 exits off to the south, and you ought to take it!  Not too far down the road lies El Malpais, Spanish for 'The Badlands'.  A descriptive phrase indeed.  Until very recently in geographic terms (800 or so years), many small cinder cones in this area sent forth basaltic lava out upon the land.  The evidence of this activity is still so very visible today.  For example, take a look at this photo of mine taken from one of the sandstone bluff overlooks (that's Mt. Taylor way off there in the distant NE).  It can be virtually impossible to walk among these lava flows due to the incredibly hard/sharp nature of the basalt.  Nature hasn't had the time to soften the edges.

    Besides intriguing lava flows, this area is populated by interesting sandstone formations.  A classic example is La Ventana Arch (pictured here).  Hard to imagine that a subtle difference in stone composition in a small section of a rock wall can lead to differing erosion rates over millions of years...eventually hollowing out the area beneath this large arch.  Note the juniper trees below for a sense of scale.  The dark streaks are actually stains left from seeping water.

(Distance from 66...approx. a 70 mile loop.  Time to allow: 3-5 hours)

    After exploring your fill of the route in Grants, be sure to meander south out of town on New Mexico highway 53.  This road will take you down south and then west past the lovely Bandera Crater cinder cone.  Be sure to check out the ice caves!.  Once past this area, you are leaving the El Malpais country behind, and re-entering the red rock country typical of this area.  Juniper abounds, and the miles roll pleasantly past.  Then suddenly, a huge monolithic rock structure looms on your left.  You have reached El Morro.

    Since ancient times, a hidden waterhole at its base has made El Morro an important stopping point for all peoples populating this area.  Many of these wandering vagabonds have left their traces for us to ponder many years later.  Only God knows who was the first to etch their mark upon this stone, but a pattern was established and many have emulated that 1st 'graffiti' artist throughout the years.  From early Indians to Spanish conquistadors and ultimately the American pioneer, literally hundreds of individuals have etched their petroglyphs and names into the stone.  Many of the early Spanish inscriptions are especially intriguing as we can easily translate them, and many are dated.  Several date back to early 1700's, and a few even go back into the later 1600's!  For your enjoyment, check out this inscription left by an early conquistador-Ramon ? dated 1709!

    From here, continue to head west until you hook up with New Mexico 602 and back north to our beloved Route.