No one knows when humans first worshiped upon the crest of the volcanic hill protruding from the Rio Grande floodplain near Los Lunas. But even to this day, on Good Friday of each year, pilgrims climb the hill to reenact the crucifixion of Christ and ask for blessings.
Petroglyphs found on volcanic boulders near the base may have been created as many as 2,000 years ago. In 1661, Spanish Tome Dominguez de Mendoza established a hacienda nearby, lending his name to both a settlement and the hill.
El Cerro Tome is the only natural feature on the National Register of Historic Places.
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| Elevation: |
4,846 feet, at parking area; 5,190 feet at top. |
| Facilities: |
Parking area, sculptures. There are no restrooms or drinking water. |
| Directions: |
To reach El Cerro Tome, take N. M. 47 south from Interstate 25, past Los Lunas. Next, take paved N. M. 263 east, then south around the mountain. You can also take Tome Hill Road east from N. M. 47.
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| Coordinates: |
Map Coordinates (NAD83):
- Parking Area: 34 45.171N; 106 42.516W
- Top of Hill: 34 45.368N; 106 42.307W
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