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Petroglyph National Monument
Category: Public Services & Government Landmarks & Historical Buildings Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
6001 Unser Blvd NWAlbuquerque, NM 87120
(505) 899-0205
14 reviews for Petroglyph National Monument
14 reviews in English
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Review from Sara P.
San Francisco, CA
9/6/2011
I loved seeing the Petroglyphs and got a workout at the same time! My aunt & I did the 3 easier trails because she's had knee problems and the park closes at 5. We got there at 3. We didn't want to be locked in!
We stopped by the Visitor Center first for information and maps then proceeded to the site. Its well marked so just follow the brown signs.
We saw enough Petroglyphs to satisfy our curiosity. I'd like to go back and do one of the harder trails.
Bring water!Listed in: The Land of Enchantment
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Review from Mark S.
12/13/2011
Petroglyphs NM is definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. The hikes aren't all the interesting or strenuous, but you're really here to seen the writings on the rocks. It's really interesting to check them out, and to see what ancient people were so interested in writing about. It's amazing that their writings have lasted this long! It really puts you into a historical perspective, imagining what life was like when there was literally nothing else but the rocks.
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Review from Jamie W.
3/21/2011 4 photos
Call me lazy, but the two shorter walks at the recommended park seemed like a lot better idea than trudging up half a mountain side. And guess what? After our twenty minute visit I saw as many petroglyphs as I will ever need in my lifetime. Don't get me wrong... they are Interesting but by no means is this a whole day or even half day adventure.
The non-auto pay for parking is a pain in the ass.
Kudos to the lovely lady working at the information center. People who work for the park service must really like their jobs because they are always SO nice.
I'd recommend this for a family outing, otherwise it's a see it once kind of deal. -
Review from david p.
7/2/2011
If you are planning to visit Petroglyph National Monument there are several options depending on your time, level of fitness, and interest in this sort of stuff. Start with a stop at the visitor's center to get an overview of the park. There are three canyons where you can see petroglyphs, two of which I visited.
The free Riconada Trail is about 2.5 miles out and back and is moderately strenuous because the trail is mostly loose sand. You'll need a good pair of shoes to do this trail. Supposedly there are a couple hundred petroglyphs on this trail but they are few and far between and you really have to work to find them. I mean you really have to work to find them. They aren't marked and you need a good eye to see them. The staff person at the visitor's center encouraged me to get off the main trail to look for them, which I did, but most remained elusive. Even without the petroglyphs, it's a nice hike through the desert southwest.
The park has done the work for you at three shorter trails in the Boca Negra canyon, but there is a $2 or $3 entrance fee to this section. There really is more bang for your buck at these trails, though, as the petroglyphs are more concentrated. If you are pressed for time and want a good introduction to this sort of art, I'd come here and skip Riconada. You can do all three trails at Boca Negra in under an hour, they aren't as strenuous (though one is a switchback trail up a small hill), and you can see a lot of petroglyphs since the trails walk straight up to them. The Macaw Trail is the most accessible of the trails at Boca Negra. There are also some interpretive signs that you don't get at Riconada. You could do one of these trails and get your fill of petroglyphs.
Recommended, just so you can tell your friends you saw some ancient tagging. -
Review from Ted R.
3/28/2010 2 photos
Just 20 minutes from the airport and all but in Albuquerque, I think this ancient art site is a must-visit. With minimal effort you see art that's over 1,000 years old and would be inspiring in any era. There are shorter and longer trails. Dozens of petroglyphs, in certain spots they are everywhere you look! People are on waiting lists in France to see such amazing sites.
Stop by the friendly visitor center with kind rangers, lots of informative books, gift-worthy garments and objects, restrooms and cheap water, just $1.25. Hydrate and enjoy.
It's worth way more than the dollar you have to pay to park at Boca Negra, which has great views of the New Mexican mountain ranges to go with the mind-blowing, Eastward-facing petroglyphs on black rocks. They're spiritual. Fascinating. Great art.
Yes, the graffiti is a drag. The darker petroglyphs are the legit ones. Ignore anything too light or white. The prototype visitor didactics are good. Support this place. It should be considered more of a treasure. Leave a donation at the visitor center and buy some stuff.Listed in: New Mexico Faves
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Review from Clint U.
Washington, DC
2/22/2008
Graffiti. It's in our genes. More specifically it seems it's more in male genes.
It's a form of human communication, whether it's telling a story or marking a territory.
If viewed as a scourge or nuisance to society, we label it graffiti. If we look
upon graffiti as art, it takes on the name of drawings. If it has archeological
significance, we might even label it petroglyphs.
American Graffiti. In this case, not the movie but American expression. We see
it on walls, buildings, subways, freeway structures...and on rocks. 700 years ago
the inhabitants of what is now known as Albuquerque, scuffed and marked images on
volcanic rock. For the next 300 years both American Indians and Spanish settlers
made over 20,000 images on these rocks..
The Petroglyph National Monument has four major areas to view the petroglyphs and
volcanoes. Boca Negra Canyon, Rinconada Canyon, Ridras Marcadas Canon and Volcanoes.
Most require a long hike over unpaved areas to reach the artifacts. Boca Negra
Canyon has the easiest viewing where you can walk just 5 minutes to see some of
the petroglyphs. Because I had limited spare time and still dressed in my business
suit, I elected to see Boca Negra.
At Boca Negra Canyon there are three viewing areas. Mesa Point Trail takes you
up a 200 foot hill to view the rocks. The Macaw Trail is a 5 minute walk. The
Cliff Base Trail takes about 15 minutes to see everything.
Yes, this does not have the impact of a Grand Canyon, but if you have an hour or
more to spend and want exercise on some interesting trails and scenery, this is
a recommended stop. Don't bring your business shoes or designer sneakers here,
there are many rocks on the trail to scuff your shoes.
And remember the next time you see graffiti under an overpass or on the subway,
those items could be in a museum or national park 1000 years from now. -
Review from Derek B.
San Francisco, CA
11/12/2008
Yeah I don't know about this place.
They need to do a better job of protecting the petroglyphs. Basically there are a lot of fake ones that people have done over the past several years and while some of them are pretty obvious, it can be confusing and kind of annoying.
And the real ones we did end up seeing were not really all that exciting. I can't believe I'm saying this because I love the National Park Service, but maybe they should just round up all the real ones and put them in a museum somewhere.
If you've been here, you know you agree at least a little. -
Review from Christine P.
Mesa, AZ
5/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great hiking, great petroglyphs. It is just outside the city and well worth the trip. The visitors center is very helpful. The hike is the perfect amount of workout but not too strenuous. The views from the top are amazing.
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Review from Christiana R.
San Francisco, CA
10/26/2010 3 photos
I'm glad I was able to visit this site during my trip to Albuquerque. Like others mentioned, there are 3 trails in which you can hike through to see the ancient petroglpyhs. Unfortunately, I was able to only walk the 2 shorter trails because when my sister and I started our trek up the longest trail, we saw a rattlesnake!!! You better believe we left dust clouds as we ran down that hill. I've never freaked out so much in my life... the sad thing is that I love snakes...just not in the wild like that! So my advice is to be aware of where you walk....but other than that, enjoy your hike and take in the beautiful rocks, history, and petroglyphs! This site is definitely worth the drive and I highly recommend visiting the Petroglyph National Monument.
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Review from Mikkela T.
12/27/2010
Thirsty. This place makes me so thirsty! Sure, there are some interesting rocks and all, but mostly, I feel a great thirst! (Sorry, maybe I should come at sunset or sun up so that I'll feel more "soul"). But, it's nice that it's here so that one can feel some zen in the universe. Thirst for life.
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Review from H. W.
Brooklyn, NY
12/23/2010
Found this to be a disappointment and a waste of time. There are no trails at the visitor center so after winding your way there you're directed back onto the road to one of 2 sites. The site closer to the visitor's center is an unpaved loop trail of sand, like at a beach. It is unmanned and locals seem to use it exclusively to walk their dogs. The site is not well kept at all and the glyphs we encountered were mostly graffiti. The visitor center itself was rather inhospitable with rangers seeming to want to get people out of there.
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Review from kiki d.
Sunnyvale, CA
5/29/2008
The petroglyphs are interesting but not amazing. Pretty but not beautiful and awe-inspiring. If you have a few extra hours in Albuquerque or are looking for a scenic place to picnic, then check it out.
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Review from Erica T.
Reno, NV
1/10/2010
While in ABQ, we went to see some ancient stone carvings at the Petroglyph National Monument. I wish we had more time to spend and could have explored the longer hikes throughout the park. (Maybe next time?) What we did see was pretty cool! My only wish is that there was more information posted about what the symbols mean, there placement, etc. Also, it is a shame that vandals would deface this ancient monument by putting their own "petroglyphs" in the rocks, but it's pretty easy to distinguish the graffiti from the real deal.
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Review from Glaciala A.
Providence, RI
1/1/2010
I love national parks/national monuments, etc. Petroglyph is pretty neat because you can hike throughout the park (which is quite large in terms of area), and see lots of the petroglyphs. Of course, wherever you go, some of the petroglyphs might be fakes (alluding to other posters). However, if you've read books/visited the visitors center/researched on petroglyphs before you go, you'll be able to distinguish certain ones that are fake. Also, you'll have a better appreciation for what is known/unknown about the drawings. Get a trail map and don't be affraid to try some of the trails away from the visitor's center.
