Kitchen Mesa and Lightening Greeting Cards
PHOTOGRAPH DETAILS
Photo by: Karen Butts
Date: July 12, 2025
Location: Ghost Ranch Abiquiu, New Mexico
Kitchen Mesa is a dominant feature at Ghost Ranch, towering above the ranch buildings to the east. You can hike to the top but make sure that you are prepared to begin at 6,400’ and climb more than 700’ in a remote high desert environment. The exposed geologic structure is clearly defined by the the prominent strata – the top layer is the youngest, the 160 million year old Todilto formation is composed of gypsum and limestone. Immediately below this layer is the 170 Ma Entrada formation, composed of layers of sandstone from an ancient sand dune environment. Some layers are infused with iron and in other areas, manganese can be seen blackening the surface as “desert varnish”. The lowest and oldest layer is the Chinle formation, at 210 Ma, this layer contains Triassic dinosaur remains which the ranch is famous for – view some examples on site at the Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology or, stop in at the American Museum of Natural History when you are in NYC.
This area is visually stunning and for good reason, it is the south eastern edge of the Colorado Plateau – a vast geologic formation which includes many National Parks and Monuments – Bryce, Zion, Capital Reef and the Grand Canyon. The plateau spans 130,000 square miles. As you depart Ghost Ranch and turn left out of the entrance, you will leave the plateau in just five miles. As you travel south and drop down to Abiquiu, you will enter the Rio Grande Rift zone and an entirely different geological area. Enjoy the journey.
