Near Sapello in San Miguel County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Strike Valleys
Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 21, 2014
1. Strike Valleys Marker
Between Sapello and Mora, State Road 3 follows a narrow strike valley eroded into soft shale between ridges of resistant sandstone called hogbacks, both the result of uplift of the Rocky Mountains. To the east stretch the Great Plains, and to the west, the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, rising to elevations exceeding 13,000 feet.
The elevation here is 7000 feet.
Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 35° 49.076′ N, 105° 14.308′ W. Marker is near Sapello, New Mexico, in San Miguel County. It is on State Road 518 north of State Road 94. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sapello NM 87745, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hermits Peak (approx. 5½ miles away); La Cueva National Historic District (approx. 8½ miles away); La Cueva Mill (approx. 8.6 miles away); St. Vrain Mill (approx. 12 miles away); Curanderas Women Who Heal (approx. 12.2 miles away); Fort Union National Monument (approx. 12.3 miles away); Las Vegas (approx. 13.7 miles away).
More about this marker.
this page online
Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 21, 2014
2. Strike Valleys Marker
Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 21, 2014
3. Reverse of Strike Valleys Marker
The present alignment of New Mexico Route 518 is not shown on this map. It proceeds in a relatively direct line between its intersection with 94 just south of this marker through La Cueva to Mora. Click on image to zoom in.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,086 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2025, by Bill Wingate of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 28, 2014, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of a strike valley. • Can you help?
