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Peak · New Mexico

Huerfano Mountain

Huerfano Mountain, seen from above at true elevation

Huerfano Mountain rises to 2,268 m in New Mexico. Crow Mesa stands 2,244 m to the east-southeast, 12 miles off. The nearest named place is Angel Peak Scenic Area, a nature reserve 8.0 miles away. Trail of the Ancients - NM passes 1.2 miles off. 34 named summits stand within 25 miles.

About

The story

Huérfano Mountain (Navajo: Dził Náʼoodiłii, "People Encircling the Mountain"), also known as Huerfano Mesa and El Huerfano, is one of the six sacred mountains in the mythology of the Navajo people. Located in San Juan County, New Mexico, the 7,470-foot (2,280 m) mountain is believed in Navajo culture to be the home of Yódí Atʼééd (Soft Goods Girl) and Yódí Ashkii (Soft Goods Boy). It is also thought to be the original home of Áłtsé Hastiin (First Man) and Áłtsé Asdzą́ą́ (First Woman). Located at the center of the Navajo's ancestral homeland, the Dinetah, Huérfano Mountain is composed of Eocene sandstone, and is considered one of two sacred "inner mountains". An Ancestral Puebloan long-distance communication system that utilized smoke and mirrors existed in the region, and direct lines of sight have been established between Huérfano Mountain, Chimney Rock Pueblo, and the Chacoan great house Pueblo Alto. Messages could have been relayed between the three points within minutes.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q20714468, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

The record

What the record says

Elevation
2268 m
Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates36.42584, -107.84506

Overlooks nearby

Around it

Named places within 25 miles

Nature reserves
Attractions
  • Log Jam Petrified Wood: 12.2 mi
  • De Na Zin Wilderness Area: 12.4 mi
  • Stacked Plates Hoodoo: 18.7 mi
  • Petrified Log: 18.7 mi
  • Mutt & Jeff Hoodoo: 18.7 mi
Peaks: 34
Parks: 6
  • Overlook Area: 8.3 mi
  • Bishop Square: 21.1 mi
  • Salmon Park: 21.3 mi
  • Majestic Enchantment Fly Fishing: 23.1 mi
  • Lee Acres Park: 23.4 mi
Cliffs: 1
Historic sites: 1
  • US HW 550 end: 21.2 mi
Museums: 1
  • Salmon Ruin Museum: 21.7 mi
Artworks: 1
  • Bloomfield "B": 22.1 mi
On the horizon

Other summits around it

The highest named summits within 25 miles of Huerfano Mountain. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Crow MesaESE 116°2,244 m12.4 mi
Little Blue MesaESE 119°2,192 m17.7 mi
Huerfanito PeakNNE 24°2,180 m8.4 mi
Smouse MesaE 81°2,172 m14.2 mi
Blue MesaESE 115°2,166 m17.7 mi
Harris MesaN 10°2,165 m12.7 mi
Harris Mesa Electronic SiteNNE 13°2,143 m15.4 mi
Albert MesaENE 74°2,143 m24.4 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:1618:4919:23
June solstice05:5519:5520:33
September equinox07:0018:3619:10
December solstice07:2016:2017:00

Local time (America/Denver).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: May–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F303542485869737164534030
Precip in0.50.80.40.80.60.51.61.81.31.00.71.2

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Otis, 6 mi away.

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidata
  • USGS Geographic Names Information System feature 902268 — Huerfano Mountain, San Juan County, New Mexico.

OpenStreetMap element node/357590530

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