National Monument · New Mexico

Trails in Petroglyph National Monument

36 named trails · 43 miles · 3 with the Park Service's own write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks mapEvery park with trailsPark on nps.gov

36 trails, A to Z.

Escarpment Trail

4.5 mi one way · about 250 ft of climbing · 5,111 ft–5,526 ft · native, sand surface · hiking

Visitor centers

5,472 ft 5,386 ft · 1.1 mi high 5,472 ft

Along the way Visitor Center

Rinconada Canyon the Park Service's write-up

90-120 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Rinconada Canyon

A petroglyph of a bird on a dark volcanic boulder.
This bird is one of around 300 petroglyphs you can see at Rinconada Canyon. Photo: NPS Photo/Daniel Leifheit

Rinconada Canyon Parking Lot Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 PM daily.

Rinconada Canyon offers an insight into the geologic, cultural, and natural resources of this region. From the parking lot a sandy path follows the northern escarpment, carrying you over sand dunes. As you walk into the canyon, the sounds and sights of the city fade away and may be replaced with the coo of a mourning dove or a collared lizard sunning itself on a basalt boulder. Here you see prehistoric and historic petroglyphs, rock wall alignments and shelters, and wildlife living in the vegetation growing throughout the canyon.

The geology of the area shows the remnants of volcanic eruptions of 200,000 years ago. The basalt from these flows capped the sandstone of the Santa Fe Formation. As the softer sandstone eroded away, the basalt broke off and tumbled down the hillside. This naturally occurring geologic action of weathering and erosion formed the volcanic escarpment as we see it today and is also where the Ancestral Pueblo People carved petroglyphs.

The Rinconada Canyon trail follows the northern escarpment, allowing the hiker views of a variety of petroglyphs. The trail is 1.1 miles long to the back of the canyon (2.2 miles roundtrip) and is moderately strenuous.

As with any hiking in the park, or the desert Southwest, carry plenty of water and drink often. Wear a hat, sunscreen, and sturdy walking shoes or boots. Watch out for rattlesnakes which inhabit the canyon.

DO NOT leave valuables visible inside your vehicle. Lock your vehicle and set alarm.

Accessibility Not stroller nor wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed. Natural earth surface with 3 slight inclines.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

North Rim Trail

3.4 mi one way · about 100 ft of climbing · 5,246 ft–5,330 ft · hiking, multi-use

5,246 ft 5,323 ft · 2.4 mi high 5,329 ft

Boca Negra Canyon the Park Service's write-up

5-60 Minutes · no dogs

Start Boca Negra Canyon

A petroglyph of a macaw parrot on a dark volcanic boulder.
This macaw is one of around 100 petroglyphs you can see at Boca Negra Canyon. Photo: NPS Photo/Daniel Leifheit

If you only have one hour to visit the monument, Boca Negra Canyon is the place for you.

Located off of Unser Boulevard, ¼ mile north of Montaño. Combined walking time is approximately 1 hour. Although each trail is very short, they vary in difficulty as follows: Mesa Point - strenuous, Macaw - moderate, Cliff Base - moderate.

This unit of petroglyphs National Monument is owned, staffed, and managed by the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division.

Open 8:30 am - 4:30 Petroglyph daily. Last entry at 4:00 pm is strictly enforced.Open 8:30 am - 4:30 pm daily. Last entry at 4:00 pm is strictly enforced.

Pets Pets are not allowed on the trails. (Service animals are allowed.)

Accessibility Boca Negra Canyon has partly paved paths but are not stroller or wheelchair accessible. An ADA view scope is available for viewing petroglyphs at the patio by the restrooms.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail

2.0 mi one way · about 150 ft of climbing · 5,189 ft–5,305 ft · earth surface · hiking

5,215 ft 5,216 ft · 0.7 mi high 5,216 ft

Piedras Marcadas Canyon the Park Service's write-up

1-2 Hours · dogs allowed

Start Piedras Marcadas Canyon

A petroglyph of a bird and a footprint on a dark volcanic boulder.
This bird and footprint are some of the 400 petroglyphs you can see at Piedras Marcadas Canyon. Photo: NPS Photo/Daniel Leifheit

If you are looking to see the most petroglyphs or for a trail that is open until sunset, Piedras Marcadas Canyon is for you. It is a 1.5 mile round trip hike that will take an hour or more to hike. This is also the most dog friendly petroglyph viewing hike, with leashed pets being allowed along the whole length of the trail.

Degree of difficulty : easy to moderate

Bicycles are not allowed.

Open daily sunrise to sunset.

Leashed pets allowed. Owners must pick up after their pets.

Amenities: None. No water, no restrooms.

Located off Golf Course Rd. at Jill Patricia Street, a 6 mile drive from the visitor center.

Accessibility Not stroller no wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed. Easy to moderate, level sandy trail.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

More hikes the Park Service describes

Write-ups that name no single mapped trail, in the Service's words.

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.