EXTRAORDINARY LANDSCAPES. ENDURING STORIES.

Petroglyph National Monument

Images on a volcanic landscape
New Mexico
Scenic header: Handprints and other petroglyphs on boulders at Piedras Marcadas. · NPS Photo / Daniel Leifheit · Photo credits
TAKE TIME TO DISCOVER

Images on a volcanic landscape

Volcanic rocks preserve images made by Native peoples and later visitors. Several separate canyon areas offer different walking experiences within a culturally significant landscape.

Petroglyphs on dark boulders with a cloudy sky.
Handprints and other petroglyphs on boulders at Piedras Marcadas.
NPS Photo / Daniel Leifheit · Photo credits
A petroglyph of a hawk on a dark boulder with a cloudy sky and mountains in the background.
A petroglyph of a hawk at Mesa Prieta. It can be visited from the South Point trailhead.
NPS Photo · Photo credits
BUILD A MEMORABLE VISIT

What to explore

  • 01Boca Negra Canyon
  • 02Rinconada Canyon
  • 03Piedras Marcadas Canyon

Before you go

The visitor-information location does not itself provide access to all petroglyph trails. Choose the exact trailhead and check current access.

Give the place time

Choose a manageable walk, viewpoint or tour, and allow time for interpretation. Gateway areas help orient the visit; they are not exact entrance directions.

Make the details easy

Confirm the specific facilities, walking surfaces and vehicle access your group needs. Tours, transport and special access may require separate arrangements.

Official visitor information ↗Plan your visit →

Check the official source for current access, hours, fees, reservations, permits and alerts. Photos may show earlier conditions. Suggested highlights are visit ideas, not a guarantee that every area is currently open.