Strawberry Canyon and a rough end to our unlucky day
Last hike in our trip is in Strawberry Canyon towards the top of the mountain before returning to Phoenix with another tire blowout on the way
An eventful morning and Milk Ranch Canyon
After a morning unexpectedly spent repairing our tire we drive to Milk Ranch Canyon for a nice hike in the high forest
Pueblo Bonito and Casa Rinconada at night
Before returning to Gallup we visit in the increasing darkness Pueblo Bonito and with flashlights at Casa Rinconada the largest kiva found
Peñasco Blanco ruin and return
The highlight of the day is the exploration of Peñasco Blanco a well preserved ruin affording great views of the surrounding area before returning to the car
Petroglyphs and Ruins on the way to Peñasco Blanco
The trail to Peñasco Blanco is a highlight in itself with a couple beautifully situated ruins and an extensive petroglyph area as well as the Supernova pictograph
Chaco NHP – Pueblo del Arroyo
We start our visit to Chaco with a tour of impressive Pueblo del Arroyo close to the start of the Penasco Blanco trail
Casamero Pueblo, the lost one
Casamero Pueblo was on our radar for quite some time and today we finally made to this secluded ruin part of the Chaco culture area
A Revisit of El Morro National Monument
We barely make it to El Morro prior to the closing of the trails and therefore can explore only the shorter trail to the many historic inscriptions on the cliffs
Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano
One of the attractions we wanted to visit on this stretch of road is Bandera Volcano and Ice Caves a private attraction which is worth a stop
Our first Annular Eclipse in Grants
We start our NM visit with our first ever annular eclipse that we are watching from an official location in Grants