Petroglyph

Volcanic activity near modern day Albuquerque, New Mexico produced canyons of black boulders that became the canvas for native Americans who inscribed these rocks with an amazing variety of petroglyphs. Many of these glyphs are preserved in the multiple units of Petroglyph National Monument, established in 1990 to protect these sites.

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Our Visit. I visited Petroglyph NM in late September as part of a road trip across New Mexico

Our Weather. low 80s and sunny

This is one of the denser area of petroglyphs near the end of the Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail

Overall Impression. Petroglyph National Monument is a great place to enjoy a hike while getting a glimpse into some unique native American history (as well as some Spanish additions) through the art that’s been preserved for centuries on these rocks. One of the things that makes Petroglyph unique is its proximity to a sprawling population center. The two areas I visited were nestled among neighborhoods in the suburbs of northwest Albuquerque making the sites surprisingly accessible but giving this park a feeling of odd contrast with the surrounding city.

Visiting. While you could spend a whole day exploring Petroglyph, parts of the park are accessible enough that even an hour will let you see several dozen petroglyphs. Before you go, know that Petroglyph is actually four sites: the visitor center and three outlying canyons with the petroglyphs. You don’t have to stop by the Visitors Center, but I recommend it so you can pick up trail maps, find out about any construction or closures, and get your National Parks Passport stamp if that’s your thing. I asked the volunteer there about which of the three sites I should visit, and it felt a little like I was asking him to pick his favorite child–that tells me all of them are unique, and all are worth visiting. I decided to visit Boca Negra Canyon and Piedras Marcadas Canyon leaving Rinconada for next time.

Looking up from the base of Mesa Point Trail in Boca Negra Canyon

I visited Boca Negra Canyon first, and this was my favorite part of the park. Boca Negra is the most accessible part of the park with a large parking lot and mostly paved trails. My favorite hike was Mesa Point Trail which climbs steeply up a ridge to an overlook where you can see Albuquerque to the south and the ancient volcanoes that formed these rocks to the west. All along the trail is a thick collection of petroglyphs, and you can get right up to most of them, but you definitely need some good shoes and good balance to enjoy this hike. Despite the steepness, it still only took about 25 minutes to hike the entire trail and all its short offshoots. In an adjacent parking area are two short trails, Macaw Trail and Cliff Base Trail. These trails stay near the bottom of the canyon, so they’re the easiest petroglyphs to visit and ideal for those with small kids or no desire for a longer, steeper hike. These two shorter trails will only take you about 15 min, and you will have seen enough of the park’s signature petroglyphs to say you’ve visited Petroglyph NM.

The trail at Peidras Marcadas Canyon is quite sandy

From Boca Negra Canyon, I drove to Piedras Marcadas Canyon further north. This area is a great alternative to Boca Negra Canyon, especially on a crowded day. One note of caution, when I plugged Piedras Marcadas Canyon into my phone’s navigation app, it took me to a cul-de-sac in a neighborhood. Don’t worry, if this happens to you, just make two lefts and follow Jill Patricia St a little further north–you’ll see the well-marked parking lot for the trail to your left as you approach the back side of the businesses on Golf Course Road. The Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail cuts behind some houses before you enter the canyon. The trail is long, sandy and has no shade, but it’s a pleasant hike when it’s not too hot, and you’ll get to see lots of unique petroglyphs, especially near the end of the trail. A rope keeps you from getting too close, and the petroglyphs here are a little further away and spread out than Boca Negra Canyon, but still worth visiting, especially if you want to avoid crowds.

Suggestions. There is very little shade in this park, so take a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water if hiking for any length of time. Make sure you know where you’re going as your navigation app won’t always bring you to the right place–checking in at the Visitors Center first may help you not get lost.  If hiking Piedras Marcadas Canyon, especially, bring some old shoes you won’t mind getting sandy. The trail is on a sand dune, and you’ll be dumping a lot of sand out when you get back to your car.

Nearby Towns Albuquerque (NM)

Other Nearby Attractions Salinas Pueblo Missions NM, Pecos NHP

Official NPS Website Petroglyph National Monument

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