New Mexico Archives – GlassMountains Trip Reports

On Monday, February 9, I climbed Cookes Peak, the highpoint of the Cookes Range in Southwestern New Mexico. Cookes Peak is a remarkable landmark, one I have often admired as we passed by on our autumn and spring migrations between Arizona and Oregon. I had not had an opportunity earlier to stop and visit it. But this month we decided to spend some days camped at City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico. This provided me my chance to finally visit Cookes Peak.

Our campsite at City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico

Sunday we drove from Tucson east to Demming, then north towards Silver City, and parked at our small campsite amongst the curious rock towers at the park. The site was flat and had room for both our RV and my Jeep.

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In November I visited the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona to hike three prominent Navajo Nation peaks before winter settled in. My goal was to hike the highpoint of Black Mesa and the summits of Pastora Peak and Roof Butte.

On Thursday, November 9, I drove from Tucson to Chinle, Arizona. I stopped at the “Tseyi Heritage Cottonwood Campground at Canyon De Chelly” and purchased a Navajo Nation hiking permit for the next three days. During the previous phone calls and when I arrived the people there were friendly and helpful. A young woman issued my Navajo Nation hiking permit for Black Mesa, Pastora Peak, and Roof Butte and checked me in to the campground where I spent that night.

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Cookes Peak, New Mexico, February 2026

Navajo Nation Peaks, Arizona, November 2023