Rabbit Ears (Clayton, New Mexico)

Rabbit Ears
Oblique air photo facing north in August 2011
Rabbit Ears (Clayton, New Mexico) is located in New Mexico
Rabbit Ears (Clayton, New Mexico)
Rabbit Ears (Clayton, New Mexico) is located in the United States
Rabbit Ears (Clayton, New Mexico)
Nearest cityClayton, New Mexico
Coordinates36°35′32″N 103°13′28″W / 36.59222°N 103.22444°W / 36.59222; -103.22444
Area15,250 acres (61.7 km2)[2]
NRHP reference No.66000499[1]
NMSRCP No.203
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966
Designated NHLDMay 23, 1963[3]
Designated NMSRCPNovember 6, 1970

The Rabbit Ears are a pair of mountain peaks in northeastern New Mexico, United States, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of the city of Clayton. The two peaks were a distinctive landmark along the Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail, a major route for westbound settlers in the 19th century. The formation was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963.[2][3] The name is that of a Native American chief who was killed here in a battle with the Spanish in 1717.[4]

The higher of the two peaks has an elevation of 1,848 metres (6,063 ft) and the lower has an elevation of 1,788 metres (5,866 ft). They rises several hundred feet above the surrounding Great Plains.[5][6]

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Richard Greenwood (December 31, 1981). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Rabbit Ears (Clayton Complex) / Clayton Complex" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying two photos, from 1975 (32 KB)
  3. ^ a b "Rabbit Ears". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
  4. ^ "Rabbit Ear Mountain". National Park Service. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  5. ^ "Peak 5867". Peak Bagger. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  6. ^ Flint, Richard and Shirley Cushing, "Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail," [1], accessed 22 Apr 2019