Rio Salado Sand Dunes

This is the rewrite of the northbound rest area's older panel, and its subject is the trench. The rest area sits where the Albuquerque Basin of the Rio Grande rift narrows into the Socorro Basin; on both sides of the valley to the south, the rocks under the basin fill come to the surface, some as old as 1.6 billion years. Everything above them is younger, laid down as the rift sank, and the dunes are only the newest layer. Travelers on I-25 know the stop as the Walking Sands rest area.

What the plaque says

Official Scenic Historic Marker Rio Salado Sand Dunes Elevation 4,850 Ft. Winds blowing across the usually dry, sandy riverbed of Rio Salado formed dunes along this part of the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande, just southwest of here, follows a massive geological trench shaped millions of years ago when huge blocks of land sank as the earth in central New Mexico slowly began pulling apart. The resulting Rio Grande Rift uplifted Los Piños Mountains to the east. Northwest are the Sierra Ladrones. Rocks on their 9,000-foot crests are similar to those buried four miles beneath these dunes.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Doña Eufemia — steps away
• Rio Salado Sand Dunes — steps away
• Acomilla — steps away
• La Joya de Sevilleta — 3.8 mi