Place

Piedras Marcadas Canyon Petroglyph Viewing Trail Stop 3

A field of boulders along a volcanic escarpment.
Stop 3 along the Piedras Marcadas Canyon Petroglyph Viewing Trail.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Cellular Signal, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

You are now at Stop 3 along the Petroglyph Viewing Trail in Piedras Marcadas Canyon, and have hiked .37 miles, or .6 kilometers.

There are many complex and dynamic reasons why the Ancestral Puebloans made petroglyphs along this volcanic escarpment. Some possible reasons are based on cultural and spiritual beliefs, like that volcanic landscapes are sacred spaces. Other reasons may include marking trade routes, recording a specific event, or simply communicating through imagery. The Ancestral Puebloans did not use a written language, so it is likely that some of these petroglyphs were used as symbols for communication.

Many who visit this landscape wonder what these petroglyphs mean or are supposed to represent. Learn more at Stop 4 approximately one tenth of a mile from here along this trail.

Petroglyph National Monument

Last updated: May 14, 2023