Teakettle Rock

Useful Information

Location:	Forest Rd 103, Jemez Springs, New Mexico, 87025. South of Coyote. Take NM 96, between Gallina and Coyote turn south on FR 103, south/southeast on FR 103 for 29 km. From Coyote take FR 316 some 20 km south, turn left on FR 103, 2.5 km. (36.047518, -106.688982)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Erosional Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Teakettle Rock, Forest Rd 103, Jemez Springs, New Mexico, 87025. Coyote Ranger District, Coyote, NM, Tel: +1-575-638-5526. Santa Fe National Forest Headquarters, 11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, NM 87508, Tel_ +1-505-438-5300.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Teakettle Rock is a strange sandstone formation in the middle of nowhere, which vaguely resembles a teakettle. The reddish sandstone on the grassy clearing is quite spectacular. It is a popular climbing location, and a nice spot for picknicks. Its also fun for children to explore the various caves. And as this is the U.S.A. the site is public and free to visit while the surrounding land is private and walking on the grass is trespassing and you might get shot for such a major offence. There is snow in winter, so the best time to visit is summer and fall. The 30 km single lane dirt road from the highway requires a 4WD vehicle. It is hard to find, there are no signs, and even the road number 103 seems to apply to numerous different roads in the area, so we guess a good map is essential. Both Google Maps and OSM seem to be okay, we suggest using the coordinates as destination for routing.

Pecos Bill himself used to brew green tea with the giant teapot. As a result there are green stains on one side of the rock.

The geological explanation is less spectacular though. Cutler sandstone was deposited about 300 Ma ago in a basin on the bottom of an inland sea. First layers were deposited on top, the pressure and temperature solidified the sand to sandstone, a process called diagenesis. Then the situation changed, the rocks were uplifted, erosion started and the rocks were eroded. Finally, the overlying rocks were completely gone, and the Cutler sandstone was on the surface, and due to varying resistance of different parts of the rock against weathering, some parts were eroded faster and others slower, and the result is this formation. It has numerous shelters, small through-caves, and a sort of natural bridge on top which is the handle of the tea kettle, and a rock which forms the spout. The whole formation is 22 m long and 8 m wide, and about 10 m high.

Actually the erosion of sandstone creating strange rock formations is a rather common effect, but the teakettle is nevertheless exceptional. The forest is actually full of strange rock formations, but the others are both harder to find and less spectacular. There are several other rock formations to the north, like the Buffalo Head Rock Formation, Bathtub Rock and Omega Rock Formation.