A Day In The Park: Petroglyph National Monument

There are currently 433 units managed by the National Park System, according to nps.gov. These units include national monuments, national historic sites, national historical parks, and a whole host of other protected areas in addition to what we consider “national parks.” In truth, all these units are parks. So, the Traveler is going to be including other park units for this Day In The Park series. 

Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico is a unit of the National Park System highlighting past cultures while nestled within the present culture. Although it feels like you are out in the middle of nowhere while hiking the Petroglyph’s trails, this park could be considered an urban park, broken to several areas, each of which are located right next to portions of the bustling Albuquerque metropolis.

This national monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, with over 24,000 designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago. 

What do these etchings represent? Perhaps they are a record of travels, or a map from Point A to Point B, or they tell a story, or they embody some significant spiritual meaning. The conjectures are endless and these carvings symbolize an ageless record of human expression and history.

There are several parts to Petroglyph National Monument, not all of which display rock carvings. The Volcanoes Day Use Area points the visitor to this portion of New Mexico’s volcanic and geologic past. The Escarpment Trail near the Visitor Information Center provides a good sense of the ecosystem traveled by Native Americans and settled by the Spanish. This trail also connects to the Rinconada Canyon Trailhead. If it’s petroglyphs you want to see, then the Boca Negra, Rinconada, and Piedras Marcadas canyons, along with the South Point Day Use Area, will all provide hundreds of petroglyph examples along trails ranging from under a mile (1.61 meters) to over two miles (3.2 kilometers) in length, roundtrip.

While all the park trails are open year-round, individual trail hours may vary, opening anywhere between sunrise and 9 a.m. and all closing at 5 p.m. 

Depending upon your energy level, how much time you choose to spend in the park, and how early you start, it’s possible to visit most, or perhaps even all these different areas. You won’t need to worry about where to stay should you choose to spend more than a day here, since Albuquerque offers a wide variety of lodging and dining options for every budget.

Before starting out on any trail, stop off first at the Visitor Information Center to pick up park brochures, ask questions of the park staff, watch a video, and check out the books and other offerings.

Once you are parked and just prior to starting out on your petroglyph adventures, remember to hide your valuables and lock your vehicle. Because of Petroglyph National Monument’s proximity to such a large city, break-ins are always a possibility.

Take plenty of water with you, since there is none out there. Summers are especially hot and even the autumn and winter seasons are arid.

Bringing your pet? It’s required they be leashed and you might want to consider paw protection since the dusty/rocky trails get extremely hot during the day.

The three canyon trails are not ADA-accessible currently, but there are other areas within this park that do accommodate accessibility.

If you plan to photograph petroglyphs with your smartphone or SLR, mornings and afternoons are the best time to clearly spot the etchings. During the height of the day, it’s more difficult to make out the carvings, although use of a circular polarizer helps to an extent.

While Petroglyph National Monument may not be your end destination, it is definitely worth a visit on the way to your planned destination.