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 Reporter |
Summary: The hiking in, around, and on top of the Volcanoes within Petroglyph National Monument is a fun and quick excursion. What makes this hike unique are the sweeping vistas of Albuquerque, the Rio Grande valley, and the Sandia Mountains across the valley. The are numerous trails and junctions found throughout the volcanoes making it possible to piece together hikes to one, two, or all three volcanoes. Most of the trails are easy enough for smaller children with an occassional shade area with benches to rest. Also, if you're an avid mountain biker, the trails are open and available to bikes and if you enjoy wide open riding then this would be a great place to try. The trails that I reported on didn't cover every square inch of where you could possibly hike. Therefore, the distance and elevation profile are only for the trails I hiked that day. Trailhead: Head west on I-40 from Albuquerque until you reach Paseo Del Volcan. Get off the interstate and take a right. You'll drive 4.8 miles until the turn-off to the Volcanoes. Turn off onto the dirt road toward (right turn) the Volcanoes. You'll pass through a gate and come to the trailhead within a quater mile of when you left the road. There is no permit fee for hiking here. There's also a bathroom at the trailhead as well. (Lat:35.08022 Lon:-106.47392) Trail Guides for The Volcanoes - Petroglyph National Monument: Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Winter, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Horses, Ranger Contact: Petroglyph National Monument - www.nps.gov/petr - (505) 899-0205 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Sean Benesh, who has posted 21 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Catherine on 11/10/2009 I did this hike this past Sunday, and it was perfect! The view of the city was great, and because it's fall, there was this beautiful orange thread running through the city. The area closes at 5pm, and I got there at 3 so I was a little worried I wouldn't make the entire trek. With all the stopping and picture-taking, I still completed the 2.5 mile walk in about an hour. Here's the link to the website: http://www.nps.gov/petr/planyourvisit/vol.htm. Just FYI, there were plenty of people there enjoying the walk so I didn't feel scared. Additionally, I didn't run into any rattlesnakes or other scary critters!
Reviewed by CMF on 5/28/2007 I went with my wife and three boys. As we were traversing the southern most trail (leading to the southernmost peak, or the one on the far right coming from the parking lot) we came upon the mother of all rattlesnakes. I'm not sure if it was a Western Diamondback or a Prarie, but this guy was not about to let us continue on the trail without a strike or two...surprisingly aggressive. After talking with my neighbors here, it turns out this is sort of "rattlesnake central" for hiking trails in New Mexico. I definitely will go back, but probably in the fall or winter when they're all hibernating. If you do go in the summer, this is definitely an area where you want to wear hiking boots and/or jeans, and bring a walking stick with you! Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: New Mexico Hiking, New Mexico Trails, New Mexico Hikes, Bernalillo County Hiking, Bernalillo County Trails, Bernalillo County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||