Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail

The Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail is a 1.8-mile-long hiking trail in the Petroglyph National Monument, which is located in the northeastern portion of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Piedras Marcadas means "canyon of marked rocks' '. The parking lot for the trailhead is located at 9501 Golf Course Rd. NW, behind a Valvoline Oil Change. There is parking for about a dozen vehicles at the lot. There are no restrooms or access to drinking water at the trailhead. There are no fees to enter Piedras Marcadas Canyon. Be aware that this trail is about six miles away from the Visitors Center.This loop trail takes visitors past petroglyphs carved into dark rocks on a volcanic escarpment. Piedras Marcadas Canyon is home to the densest concentration of petroglyphs along a 17-mile volcanic escarpment. Up to 400 petroglyphs can be seen from the trail. The rocks are dark as they are covered with patina; a very dark, thin coating. The petroglyphs were carved 400 to 700 years ago by ancestors of today's Pueblo people as well as Spanish settlers by chipping away the dark coating to expose the lighter rock below. The images carved into the rocks include animals, human figures, handprints, shapes, and more. Some of the most common images include snakes, birds, spirals, and handprints.The sandy trail is easy to hike as it is quite level and any elevation gain is gradual. The trail is easy to follow and the petroglyph areas are roped off. There are informational signs by the trail. The petroglyphs are easy to see and photograph from the trail. Please note that there is no shade or benches along the trail. Bring plenty of water, especially during the hot summer months. Dogs on a leash are allowed in the trail. There are trash bins for waste at the trailhead.