Petroglyph National Monument – National Park Units

If you are passing through Albuquerque and would like to stretch your legs and take in some history, you may want to plan a quick visit to Petroglyph National Monument. Located on the north west side of Albuquerque, it is easily accessible – just 3 miles north off the Interstate 40 (exit 154). The national monument is an oasis inside the city, protected lands surrounded by subdivisions.

Created as a national monument in 1990, Petroglyphs National Monument protects over 7200 acres within Albuquerque city limits. In all, over 23,000 petroglyphs have been found in this area, pecked into stone between 1000 BC and 1700 AD, most during the 13 and 14^th century. Plus there are archaeological sites that point to over 12,000 years of human history in this area.

It is the largest petroglyph site in North America, protecting over 15,000 images spread throughout the monument. While not the concentration of petroglyphs you might see other places, here you can get “up close and personal”. Please look but don’t touch!

There are 4 units where you can walk or hike (3 of them with petroglyphs) as well as the visitor center. Although there is no hiking right from the visitor center, you may want to start your journey from there to get a preview of what you can see and what these ancient pictures in stone may be telling you.

Piedras Marcadas

Piedras Marcadas (meaning “rocks marked”) is the northernmost unit of the park. It offers a 1.9 mile easy round trip walk on a sandy trail that winds along the base of a rocky mesa where you can see over 400 images. A rope barrier keeps visitors from walking too close to the rocks so you may want to take binoculars.

You will see all sorts of interesting art… animals, birds, snakes, people, clan symbols, hand prints, spirals, stars and more. There are even crosses, believed to have been carved by Spanish missionaries between 1700-1800.

It is not graffiti. Each of these pictures are believed to have a meaning and they believe they were placed deliberately, often on the south facing rocks which would have no snow and be warmer in winter.

The main trail goes out and back, but optionally, you can extend your walk to 2.7 miles by going up over the mesa for your return to the parking lot. There are no petroglyphs up there, but there are nice views of the city.

Keep your eyes open for wildlife. We saw several roadrunners!

Take water and wear a hat. There is no water, no bathrooms and no shade.

Boca Negra Canyon

Boca Negra Canyon (meaning “Mouth Black”) has three very short trails. They are not level and only partially paved. The Mesa Point trail has 119 foot elevation gain, so it is a bit more strenuous.

The nice thing about this unit is that you are really close to the petroglyphs. Great photo ops!

There is a picnic area with shade covers, restrooms and water.

Rinconada Canyon

Closest to the visitor center is Rinconada Canyon. This offers a 2.2 mile round trip hike, but you won’t see any petroglyphs until you have gone about ¾ of a mile. It is a sandy desert hike with a few climbs – basically it is a moderate walk in the desert and a nice place to walk with your dog. In fact, many of the walks here are pet friendly.

Volcanoes

One other area protected by the national monument is Volcanos. There are no petroglyphs, but there are great views of the cinder cone volcanos. Hiking trails are 1 to 4 miles in length, and give you a good understanding of how volcanic activity formed this mesa and surroundings.

All 4 units in Petroglyphs National Monument are worth a visit. In all, some 300,000 people enjoy this national monument each year.

Are you trying to visit all the National Parks, or National Park Units?

If your goal is to visit them, one or all, we’d love to help you strategize. Give us a call at (480) 609-3978 or drop us a note here. We always enjoy talking with people who share our passion for visiting these gems of the National Park Service.

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