Petroglyph National Monument
Albuquerque, New Mexico is home to the site of many earthly and environmental treasures. One of these environmental places is the Petroglyph National Monument located on the west side of Albuquerque.
Petroglyph National Monument is famous for its variety of petroglyphs across its many trails on the west mesa of Albuquerque. A petroglyph is a designed drawing that is ancient and is still seen today along the trails. These petroglyphs hold a lot of significance, because they depict ancient symbols and the life of the ancestral peoples of the land near the Rio Grande here in Albuquerque.
Symbolic Petroglyphs
The petroglyphs detail history. Some petroglyphs depict the sun, animals, and the life of the daily ancestral peoples. The depictions and images are really deep etched into the rocks. Their symbolic meanings really hold special meanings.
Be sure to see the drawings and take time to really take a look at them. There are over thousands of petroglyph sketches.
Petroglyph Trails
One of the great parts of the Petroglyph National Monuments is the access to trails. There are over a dozen trails scattered on the lower part of the west mesa section of the National Monument. There are larger trails located on and near the extinct volcanoes, which lie within the Petroglyph National Monument boundaries.
Access is easy to these trails, there is not a lot of foot traffic, and it is dog friendly too. The trails are open year around every day from 8am to 5pm. Once you step foot onto the trails, you will realize the views of the city and the surrounding environment are breath-taking. The trails lead you around the petroglyphs and up to different scenic views.
Some of the best views from walking the trail are actually on top of the extinct volcanoes. There is access to the three extinct volcanoes. The views from the top of any of these three, allow you to see a 360 degree view of the area. You can take a day or two and enjoy these trails and walk across the landscape.
Petroglyph National Monument
The Petroglyph National Monument is incredible. They have many programs spread throughout the year, such as learning about the history behind the petroglyph symbols. The National Monument offers programs to children that are friendly and exciting, such as children can learn about ancestral Pueblo life, look at pottery, and learn about the petroglyph symbolic meanings. The programs offered at Petroglyph National Monument are perfect for family fun.
Next, the bookstore located at the station offers great materials such as books, merchandise, and videos for your knowledge. There are books to learn about Pueblo life, cooking books, and books about the New Mexico area.
Be sure to stop by and check out the Petroglyph National Monument. There are always opportunities to become a Junior Ranger, to volunteer with the Bookstore, and to find a seasonal trail work job.
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