Petroglyphs National Monument, NM - 16 Miles of Exploration

State - New Mexico

Visitor Center Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/w5D8HvmTUchbvPbJ8

Park: Petroglyphs National Monument

Length: Each trail will be individually listed with mileage below

Fee: Free

Petroglyph National Monument offers several options to hikers whether they want a short, informative stroll or a full blown suffer-fest among ancient volcanoes. Northwest of downtown Albuquerque, a hiker can easily drive to several units that make up this park. I'll detail the ones that I found notable below. Keep in mind this park is urban. For those craving solitutude, manage your expectations.

VOLCANO AND PETROGLYPH TRAIL - 10.8 miles

As someone who is always training for the next ruck or the Bataan Memorial Death March, this hike was a solid suffer-rest for preparation. The trail is completely exposed to the sun with no chance of shade. A hiker will be better off completing this during the colder months. In early May, even with ample hydration, I got somewhat uncomfortable towards the end of the hike.

This trail, if taken counter-clockwise, takes a hiker along several volcanic cones. These cones were created over 130,000 years ago following a series of eruptions. As the trail signage states, a crack in the earth's surface, called a fissure, more than 5 miles long and a few miles deep opened up and spewed a "curtain of fire" and magma along what is now Northwest Albuquerque. As the lava cooled and blocked the fissure, small opening or vents formed. This process eventually created the cinder cones seen today.

Vulcan Volcano is most definitely the highlight. From there, the trail loops into the desert often following powerline paths and multi-use track. I will be honest, this loop portion beyond the cones is not particularly scenic or remarkable. This is a wonderful trail for mileages or training. However, if you're wanting to check out the volcanic remnants and call it a day, this may not be the most appropriate hike. There are other trails leading from the same trailhead which stick solely to the cinder cones. This trail also has no petroglyphs for viewing. A hiker will need to head over to the other units for petroglyph sightings. More below.

The highlight of the trail was my first sighting of a horned lizard. He was not mutually thrilled to spot a giant hiker, myself, yelping for joy.

BOCA NEGRA CANYON TRAIL - 0.7 miles

Boca Negra Canyon is the essence of Petroglyph National Monument. At only 0.7 miles in length, this trail offers up a wealth of human and geological history in a tight punch. The Monument in its entirety contains nearly 23,000 petroglyphs created from 1000 BCE to 1700 AD. Pictures were carved into the volcanic basalt boulders that rise above Albuquerque.

The petroglyphs have various images with subjects ranging from faces, people, animals, geometric shapes, and weather patterns. Half the fun is scanning around the trail to see the images ingrained in rock.

RINCONADA CANYON TRAIL - 2.2 miles

The Riconada Canyon Trail is longer, but is more pleasant trail than Piedras Marcadas Canyon (see below) given that the latter is surrounded by more urban development. Ancestral Puebloans chose to create these images in stone for several reasons. Perhaps it was the sacred nature of volcanic landscapes, revered in some Native American beliefs. Or perhaps these images denoted trade routes. Either way, the rocks up and down the escarpment harbor images of human-like figures, spirals, animals, and some Spanish colonial symbols. The petroglyphs can be elusive. Bring a hat and sunglasses on zesty, sweltering NM days, as you'll need them to combat the glare of the sun as you scan for images.

Many of these symbols draw multiple interpretations from passing hikers. A couple exploring the rocks ahead of me noted that the above image looked like a UFO abducting an unfortunate bovine. And you know, I can really see it.

PIEDRAS MARCADAS TRAIL - 1.9 miles

While I enjoyed the small workout and jaunt this trail provided, I did prefer the Riconada Canyon and Boca Negra Trails. Piedras Marcadas Canyon is home to the densest concentration of petroglyphs along the 17-mile volcanic escarpment, with an estimated 5,000 documented images of the monument's total of 20,000, per the NPS website. If you've got a "collect them all" mentality when it comes to park trails, this is an easy and short option to add onto the itinerary.

--Happy Hiking!