Cerrillos Hills State Park facts for kids

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Cerrillos Hills State Park
Cerrillos Hills State Park Location in New Mexico
Location	Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Area	1,116 acres (4.52 km²)
Elevation	6,000 ft (1,800 m)
Established	2009
Governing body	New Mexico State Parks Division

Cerrillos Hills State Park is a state park of New Mexico, United States, located 16 miles (26 km) south of Santa Fe. Transferred to state ownership in 2009, it is New Mexico's newest state park. The hills in the park range in elevation from 6,000 feet (1,800 m) to 6,900 feet (2,100 m) above sea level. The new visitors' center is located in the village of Los Cerrillos. The park does have numerous hiking trails.

History

The Cerrillos Hills were originally known by the Spanish as the Sierra de San Mateo. In 1581, they discovered the lead-silver deposits there, which had earlier been used by the pueblo peoples as an ingredient in pottery glazes. After the coming of the "Americans" the Cerrillos Mining District was created in 1879. The Cerrillos Mining District was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties in 1973.

The park was originally created in 2003 by Santa Fe County with the assistance of the Cerrillos Hills Park Coalition. Its name then was the Santa Fe County Cerrillos Hills Historic Park.

Looking south from Cerrillos Hills State Park towards the Ortiz Mountains
Cerrillos Hills State Park in Winter

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