New Mexico · National Monument trail

Piedras Marcadas Canyon Petroglyph Viewing Trail Stop 2

in New Mexico · centroid 8 mi from Albuquerque

You’ve reached stop 2 along the Petroglyph Viewing Trail in Piedras Marcadas Canyon. You have hiked .34 miles, or .55 kilometers. Most of these petroglyphs were made by the ancestors of today’s Pueblo peoples.

The Ancestral Puebloans used hand-held stone tools to remove the desert varnish, exposing the lighter color of the basalt’s interior. After centuries of weathering, older petroglyphs began oxidizing and this darkening confirms their authenticity and great age. Archeologists refer to these images as being made in the Rio Grande style.

This style developed rather suddenly around the year 1300, coinciding with a dramatic increase in the local population and the construction of many pueblo villages along the Rio Grande River. Elements frequently seen in Rio Grande style images include human figures, animals, and geometric designs. Why were these petroglyphs made?

States: New Mexico
Trail type: National Monument trail
Centroid nearest city: Albuquerque, NM · 8 mi · ~15 min drive
Centroid coords: 35.1893°, -106.6912°

About Petroglyph National Monument

National Monument

This trail is inside Petroglyph National Monument, a national monument managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/piedras-marcadas-canyon-petroglyph-viewing-trail-stop-2.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Piedras Marcadas Canyon Petroglyph Viewing Trail Stop 2 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

Stay nearby

Affiliate · disclosed

Driving in? The nearest documented metro is Albuquerque, NM — 8 miles away (~15 min drive). See accommodation in Albuquerque on Booking.com → RoamFound earns a small commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you. How we handle affiliate links.