City: Albuquerque, NM

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (505) 899-0205

Description: New Mexico has been big on art from the start, and at Petroglyph National Monument there are over 20,000 petroglyphs, mostly made between 400 and 700 years ago, but some may be up to 3,000 years old. Petroglyphs are images pecked or carved into the boulders using a rock or a stone chisel and a hammer stone. The monument is on Albuquerque’s 17-mile-long West Mesa escarpment and covers over 7,000 acres; it is one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America. The escarpment began to be created around 150,000 years ago, when a series of volcanic eruptions forced flows of lava from a large crack in the earth’s crust. The resulting black basalt rocks, with a patina created by natural cycles over time, later proved to be a natural canvas for Indian ancestors. By painstakingly pecking off the thin top layers of “desert varnish” or patina to reveal the lighter rock beneath, they created the high-contrast petroglyphs we can see today. Images are of animals and birds, human figures, mythological creatures, tribal symbols, geometric symbols, and many other cultural and religious symbols that clearly had great significance to the makers, considering the labor required to create them. The full meaning of some of the symbols remains unknown. The geographic positioning of each petroglyph in relationship to the landscape, the horizon, and other petroglyphs is also considered to have significance. While most petroglyphs were created by Pueblo, Apache, and Navajo peoples, some were made by early Spanish settlers. The escarpment is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Petroglyph National Monument was established in 1990 to protect this culturally important site. It is operated in a partnership between the National Park Service and the City of Albuquerque.There are four areas to explore in the monument. I recommend Boca Negra Canyon for first-time visitors who are mainly coming to see petroglyphs rather than for hiking opportunities, especially if you are coming as a family. Boca Negra Canyon has three trails from easy to moderately strenuous, all designed to lead you past some excellent and varied petroglyphs, with signs to explain the images. Round-trip times to walk these three trails are approximately 5, 15, or 30 minutes, respectively. If you take the 30-minute Mesa Point Trail to the top of the lava flow, you’re likely to want to pause for a while and take in the terrific views across Albuquerque to the Sandias and north to the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez mountains. Trails are partially paved but not level and a bit bumpy or narrow in places. They are not recommended for wheelchairs or strollers, and walkers are advised to wear hiking shoes. With that caveat these trails offer an accessible way for visitors of various ages and physical abilities to take a close look at some wonderful petroglyphs. You could well see lizards, hawks, roadrunners, snakes, millipedes, and other wildlife in this and the other areas of the monument. At Boca Negra Canyon there are restrooms, a shaded picnic area, and a water fountain. It is 2 miles north of the Visitor Center on Unser Boulevard, a quarter mile north of Montaño.Pets are not allowed in Boca Negra Canyon, except services animals on a leash. Pets are permitted in other parts of the park, also on a leash. As with any outdoor activity in Albuquerque, take sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and water, and heed advice provided by park officials at their Web site and in trail guides. Information on other areas to hike in the Petroglyph National Monument can be found in the Parks and Recreation chapter.Although you can head directly to any of the park trails, I recommend dropping by the Las Imágenes Visitor Center first. Here you can pick up detailed trail guides and other information, and the center has reconstructed petroglyphs that you can touch to discover how they feel. There are also books and other items for sale. The visitor center and park is open year-round for day use only, except on major holidays. Some park areas may be closed in bad weather. There is no fee to visit, but there is a car-parking fee at Boca Negra Canyon of $1 durng the week and $2 on weekends.The monument is sacred land to American Indians. In the interests of preservation, it is prohibited to touch the petroglyphs, and it is illegal to remove or in any way alter the petroglyphs or any objects in the monument.