If you can only hike one trail in Petroglyph National Monument, make it the Rinconada Canyon Trail. Nowhere else in the park affords the solitude and variety of well-preserved petroglyphs than Rinconada Canyon. Pre-historic and historic petroglyphs are present everywhere, as are rock walls and evidence of ancient dwellings.

The trail starts out on a sandy path heading west along the basalt-laden north canyon wall

Possible depiction of a warrior with spear in right hand and bow and arrow in left

Mystery animal figures and simple faces are common images in Petroglyph NM - these in Rinconada Canyon

Figures were often intertwined - like a human and bird perhaps signifying man's admiration for flight or ascention of the soul

Lines commonly continued to encircle their subject - as with this bird petroglyph

Looking south at the big skies and broad sand dunes which fill Rinconada Canyon