Atalaya Mountain (Santa Fe County, New Mexico) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atalaya Mountain |
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Atalaya Mountain from Atalaya Trail
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 9,125 ft (2,781 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 721 ft (220 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Santa Fe County, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Parent range | Santa Fe Mountains Sangre de Cristo Range Southern Rocky Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Santa Fe |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | trail hike |
Atalaya Mountain is a cool mountain peak located in northern New Mexico, United States. It's part of the Pecos Wilderness area, which is inside the Santa Fe National Forest. This mountain is also part of the larger Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which are a subrange of the Southern Rocky Mountains.
Atalaya Mountain is a very important and beautiful sight from the city of Santa Fe. When you look from the city, there are no taller peaks between Santa Fe and Atalaya Mountain to the east. From Santa Fe, you can see Sun Mountain to the right, Picacho Peak to the left, and Thompson Peak behind Atalaya.
Exploring Atalaya Mountain
You can reach Atalaya Mountain by following the Atalaya Trail. This trail is a popular way to hike up the mountain. Another way to get there is by using the Dale Ball Trails. These trails connect from the direction of Picacho Peak and trail marker number 36. Hiking to the top offers amazing views of the surrounding area.
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What Does Atalaya Mean?
The name Atalaya comes from a Spanish word. It means Watchtower. This name makes a lot of sense because the mountain offers wide views, just like a watchtower would. Sometimes, people also call it Cerro Atalaya or Cerro de la Atalaya. In the Tewa language, it is known as Ogapogeping or Pogeping.
