Petroglyph National Monument — Attraction in Four Corners States

I had the opportunity to visit Petroglyph National Monument during the first week of October 2021 while I was in Albuquerque for the hot air balloon festival. I chose the Piedras Marcadas Canyon trail to visit because it is only 1 1/2 miles long and was supposed to have 400 petroglyphs. It turned out to be the correct choice.

The Piedras Marcadas Canyon abuts a residential neighborhood. The trail is not too difficult but good exercise and there is plenty to see. I saw and photographed many of the petroglyphs. I wish I understood what they represented but many were obviously animals and people. Was this truly a communication tool or the graffiti of the time? The other interesting thing is that one will quickly realize that the rocks of the area are volcanic in origin. That only makes it more interesting. I never knew that the southwestern U.S., Arizona and New Mexico, was a mix of red sandstone and extinct volcanos with some large lava fields and cinder cones for miles. When I arrived at the end of the canyon, I realized that I could climb to the top of the ridge and walk around rim of the canyon back toward the beginning of the trail. Of course I climbed to the rim and walked around.

All and all, it was a nice hike but remember to wear a hat, wear appropriate footwear (not flip flops or sandals), wear sunblock if it is very hot out and bring water and a snack. Make sure to also pay attention to the insects and lizards of the area. I think that this is important to see because many of us think that there was little on what we now know at the United States of America. There were obviously people there because scientists have dated many of the petroglyphs from the 12th through the 17th centuries but some may date back to 2000 BC according to the National Park Service.

If you happen to be in Albuquerque, make time to see this historical site and appreciate the pre-European history of this country. And this is a freebie unlike many of the national parks...

My friend and I were spending a few days in Albuquerque and decided to visit Petroglyph National Monument. Both of us had been to sites with petroglyphs that were difficult to locate or far from the trailhead, so we were extremely happy to discover that the National Monument has detailed information about all the trails open to the public and what a hiker might expect to encounter. There are three areas where the petroglyphs are most concentrated; we chose Boca Negra Canyon, as we had limited time and it was the shortest trail (less than 1 mile).

We were delighted and surprised to find out that, despite its brevity, the trail passes by dozens and dozens of petroglyphs, right from the start! The glyphs have been well-preserved and not disturbed by visitors; virtually all of them were clearly seen.

The trail itself is of moderate intensity; there were areas with railings, steps, and a boardwalk but many areas where the hiker must climb over rocks to ascend the hill (total elevation gain less than 120 feet). However, we were able to hike to the summit and back down in under an hour, and viewed so many petroglyphs along the way, that we considered it time well spent!

A bonus at Boca Negra is the availability of restrooms, water fountains, shaded seating area, and picnic tables. The other two trails do not have these amenities, so plan accordingly.

Many thanks to the National Parks Service for its highly informative trail information! We obtained the leaflet at the Information Center, and strongly recommend any visitor to the monument stop there first to chat with the rangers and pick up the trail leaflet.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Petroglyph National Monument, and highly recommend it to any visitor to the Albuquerque area. No matter what your hiking ability is, you will be able to see and enjoy these images that are records of the ancient civilization in...

There are 3 primary trails to hike to see the petroglyphs. We chose the Piedras Marcadas Canyon Petroglyph Viewing Trail. You have to drive about 3 miles from the Visitor Center to get to this trail. You have to drive to the other 2 trails too. We were surprised the petroglyphs were located in a very dense, highly populated neighborhood surrounded by businesses and housing developments. The parking lot at this location is small. You have to walk between houses to get to the beginning of the trail. We chose to do the 5.3 mile hike (the map says it is 3.3 miles - it is wrong) and it was strenuous as the sign indicates. Rocky, hilly, sandy terrain. Recommend you are in good health and take plenty of water. It is a bit harder than it appeared. If you just do the 1.9 mile hike, it is easy to moderate with sandy terrain and slight inclines which makes walking a bit harder (like being on a sandy beach). The petroglyphs are interesting. The rock formations are dark stone so seeing the petroglyphs is a bit challenging as some are faint from weathering conditions (or people messing with them - please don’t do this). There was no information on the trail that described what some of the symbols may mean. The map provided at the Visitor Center is outdated and inaccurate. It looks like it was created in 1932 - haha! Wished were would have gotten our own Google earth view prior to the hike. The long hiking trail is poorly marked - you need a good sense of direction for this one. Thankfully we have excellent sense of direction and met another couple who knew the trail. They agreed the map is not good. Overall, the hike and seeing the petroglyphs was a good experience. Oh, no bathrooms at this trail, so plan ahead. Recommend do...