Petroglyph National Monument

Government Shutdown Notice: During the federal government shutdown, access to and visitor services at Petroglyph National Monument will be affected. Please note the following:

• There will be no visitor services available. Emergency response may be delayed.
• Boca Negra Canyon: Normal hours of operation. Open from 8:30am - 4:30pm. City of Albuquerque Open Space Division is operating this area.
• Piedras Marcadas Canyon: Normal hours of operation. Open sunrise to sunset.
• Rinconada Canyon: Normal hours of operation. Vehicle access gate will be open from 8:30am - 5:00pm. Open from sunrise to sunset.
• Volcanoes Day Use Area: Vehicle access gate will stay closed, but visitors may park in the overflow parking area. Open from sunrise to sunset.
• The National Park Service Visitor Center located at 6510 Western Trail NW will be closed. The Visitor Center area and vehicle access gate to the Visitor Center will be closed.
• Restrooms will remain open at Rinconada Canyon and the Volcanoes Day Use Area.
• Law Enforcement Park Rangers will continue working to maintain life safety and to protect government property.

Looking towards Albuquerque's West Mesa, one can't help noticing the area's distinctive geology and topography. A closer look reveals many clues of an active cultural and geologic history.

Five dormant volcanic cones and a seventeen-mile basalt escarpment show how a series of eruptions over 100,000 years ago formed the West Mesa. The basalt boulders that tumbled down to the escarpment's edge later provided an ideal material for carving Puebloan and Spanish petroglyphs. Changing hands over the centuries, this land is now part of the Open Space network.

Established in 1990, Petroglyph National Monument is unique not only in its history and landscape, but in its management as well. This 7,244-acre monument relies on a partnership between the National Park Service and the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division to protect its nearly 20,000 petroglyphs and provide recreational and educational opportunities to the public.

When visiting Petroglyph National Monument, first visit the National Park Service's Las Imagines Visitor Center.

More Information

Get more information about the following areas within the Petroglyph National Monument:

• Piedras Marcadas Canyon provides trails to ancient petroglyphs.
• Boca Negra Canyon has three trails leading to ancient petroglys.
• Volcanoes - the remains of five dormant volcanic cores.