One of the largest petroglyph sites in North America is on Albuquerque’s west side.
Petroglyph National Monument, located off Unser Boulevard NW on Western Trail Road, stretches 17 miles.
The monument offers several cultural and natural resources, including five volcanic cones. Visitors can see images carved by Ancestral Pueblo peoples and Spanish settlers.
There are five main sites at the monument: Boca Negra Canyon, Rinconada Canyon, Piedras Marcadas Canyon and the Volcano Day Use trails.
The site was formed more than 100,000 years ago by a series of volcanic eruptions. The national monument was established in 1990 to protect nearly 20,000 petroglyphs and offer educational and recreational experiences to the public.
The petroglyph images hold cultural significance to Pueblo people and Native Americans. Archaeologists have dated some carvings in the monument as far back as 3,000 years ago.
The monument is open year round from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
