Pyramid Rock (New Mexico)

Pyramid Rock is a 7,487-foot-elevation (2,282-meter) pillar in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States.

Pyramid Rock
South aspect
Highest point
Elevation	7,487 ft (2,282 m)[1][2]
Prominence	497 ft (151 m)[1][2]
Isolation	2.68 mi (4.31 km)[2]
Coordinates	35°33′18″N 108°37′02″W[3]
Geography
Pyramid Rock Location in New Mexico Show map of New Mexico Pyramid Rock Pyramid Rock (the United States) Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Mexico
County	McKinley
Parent range	Zuñi Mountains Colorado Plateau
Topo map	USGS Church Rock
Geology
Rock age	Late Jurassic
Rock type	Morrison Formation
Climbing
Easiest route	class 1 hiking[2]

Description

Pyramid Rock is part of the Zuñi Mountains.^[1] The prominent landmark is located six miles (9.7 km) east-northeast of Gallup, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northwest of the town of Church Rock, and can be seen from Interstate 40. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 700 feet (213 meters) in one-quarter mile (0.4 km). A 3.4 mile (round-trip) hiking trail provides access to the summit.^[4] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to the Puerco River. This landform's descriptive toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.^[3]

Geology

Pyramid Rock is composed of the Morrison Formation which dates to the Late Jurassic.^[5] This stratum overlays Zuni Sandstone, Bluff Sandstone, Summerville Formation, and Entrada Sandstone in descending order.^[6]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Pyramid Rock is located in a cool semiarid climate zone (Köppen BSk).^[7] The summers are hot during the day, but the high altitude and low humidity mean that nights remain distinctly cool. Most rain falls in the summer from afternoon thunderstorms, and winter snow is common and sometimes heavy.